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Victor Wembanyama should be MVP favorite after NBA Finals loss adds extra motivation

Wemby is using the pain for gain.
ByTyler Watts
San Antonio Spurs, Victor Wembanyama
San Antonio Spurs, Victor Wembanyama | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The San Antonio Spurs' NBA Finals loss has motivated Victor Wembanyama throughout the offseason. Fans know he doesn’t really need any extra juice. Wemby is arguably the most self-motivated player in the NBA, but this pain is pushing him to a new level. That should make the 22-year-old the MVP favorite and terrify the rest of the NBA.

The 7’4 big man jumped into the best player in the world conversation last season. He averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steal, and 3.1 blocks in 29.2 minutes per game. Wemby won Defensive Player of the Year and finished third in MVP voting. His shooting efficiency made a leap, and he’s not stopping there. There is room to grow in several areas, including his passing chops.

Playoff heartbreak is often the best motivation for superstars. Michael Jordan lost to the Pistons three straight years in the postseason before breaking through in 1991 to win his first of six titles. LeBron James lost in the NBA Finals twice before winning a ring in 2012. Wemby just had his heartbreak, and the big man is using it to reach a new level.

Victor Wembanyama admits the NBA Finals loss is the best motivation

Wemby wants to win. Spurs fans knew that from the moment he arrived in San Antonio. He was excited to join the organization because of their success. The 22-year-old wants to be the GOAT. He knows that means winning championships and MVP honors.

Nobody expected the Spurs to reach the NBA Finals last season. They were a young squad with virtually no playoff experience. Wemby proved his greatness by upsetting the defending champion Thunder to win the West, but San Antonio fell short in the NBA Finals.

That has been a tough pill for the 22-year-old star to swallow. He admitted to losing sleep over it at Media Day and even said he “couldn’t imagine a better motivator” when asked about the experience.  

Wemby didn’t need any extra fuel, but he got it. Anyone who questioned his response to this loss already got their answer.

Victor Wembanyama is ready to win MVP

Wemby is the best defender on the planet. It is his offensive game that prevented him from winning MVP last season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won the award two straight years, and no player has won three straight since Larry Bird from 1984 to 1986. Nikola Jokic won three times in four years before SGA’s takeover, so he is unlikely to win again. Luka Doncic is the biggest challenger among the first-time winners.

Another offensive leap makes Wemby undeniable. He was 13th in scoring last season. The Spurs are a deep team with no reason to overtax their superstar. Wembanyama will have to make the leap with his efficiency and playmaking. The Spurs want to keep him around 30 minutes per game to make sure he is fresh and ready for the playoffs.

Year four is often when NBA players make a significant gain. Add in the motivation of losing in the NBA Finals, and Wemby could be downright terrifying for the opposition. This could be an all-time great season, and losing to the Knicks may just fuel it.

Winning MVP takes team success, otherworldly production, and a strong narrative. The Spurs don’t want to cede any ground to the Thunder, so fans can expect them to be chasing the NBA’s best record. Wemby has the narrative of becoming the best player in the world and redeeming himself after losing in the NBA Finals. That sounds like a strong recipe to take home the award.

The San Antonio Spurs should be better. Their young squad gained valuable experience and has the motivation from falling short in the biggest moment. Victor Wembanyama has used the fuel to reach a new level. It should make him the favorite to win MVP and have the rest of the league worried. Nobody could contain Vic last season. An even better version is downright unfair.

Wemby will be in the GOAT conversation if he continues on this trajectory. He plans to win MVP and a title this season. Do not count him out. The 22-year-old is known for exceeding expectations and doing the seemingly impossible. This is just another shot.

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