Spurs won't allow SGA to run away from Wemby in the MVP race

It seems impossible to some, but Victor Wembanyama is still closing the gap on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the MVP race. Max Kellerman just gave a ringing endorsement for the third-year extraterrestrial, allegedly from France, and the 15 remaining games in the season give him plenty of time to gain the support of others.

"The MVP of the league is either Jokic or Wemby, and SGA is up there. My vote would go to Wemby if I had one right now." - Max Kellerman

Most places you look will have SGA at the top with Wemby or Jokic in second. The race has come down to those three with less than a month to go, but nobody will snub their nose at a vote for the Joker. He's averaging another 30-point triple-double. However, the correct answer, as Max clearly understands, is the 7'5" guy playing in San Antonio.

Wembanyama should win MVP based on production and narrative

Right now, Defensive Player of the Year is the only award any of the Spurs' personnel are favorites to win. Not MVP. Not Coach of the Year. Not the Most Improved Player of the Year. Not Sixth Man of the Year. So, who is responsible for this jump in production and winning?

I want San Antonio to catch OKC in the standings because I think it would be an amazing accomplishment, but that stands on its own. I'm not one of the people who believe the Silver and Black should have to pass the Thunder for Wemby to win MVP. He's already done enough. As long as he continues to play like he did against the Rockets, Celtics, and Hornets, the trophy should go to him.

As his peers continue to acknowledge, Wembanyama isn't an ordinary player, so you can't treat him like one. Don't place Defensive Player of the Year as the centerpiece and think you've done a proper job of setting the table for a monster with an appetite as massive as Wemby's.

Take the recent loss to Denver. San Antonio lost because they gave up 136 points. They don't give up 130+ very often. The last time they did was against the Knicks on December 31, but that still ended with a win, 134-132. If Vic is in the game, the Nuggets likely don't hit that number.

The Spurs have overachieved every which way after only winning 34 games last season, and the driving force behind it is clear as day. It's not like Houston's leap last season, where they thrived mostly based on defense. They did everything as a collective with no real superstar. San Antonio has reached the top five on offense and defense with a clear-cut alpha dog putting up video game numbers.

Seasons like this are exactly the kind of story the NBA should be celebrating, and the proper way to do that would be to reward the effort during NBA award season. Kellerman already sees the vision. He's the first of what will be many dominoes to fall in line.