Skip to main content

Wembanyama's daunting goal almost guarantees an MVP in his third season

If the Spurs win 60 games, I don't care what Shai Gilgeous-Alexander does, the MVP must go to Wembanyama.
Mar 16, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts against the LA Clippers in the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Mar 16, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts against the LA Clippers in the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

After the Spurs dispatched the Clippers last night, Victor Wembanyama was asked how it feels to win 50 games, leading the organization to that number for the first time in nine years. His response wasn't one of satisfaction, and it only revealed that the hunger dwelling in this alien organism's system is as insatiable as we've ever seen.

Crippling adversity notwithstanding, this team won 34 games last season. Winning 50 the very next year would be seen as a huge accomplishment to most, but Wemby is not most people. When you look into his eyes, it's clear that he means every word genuinely. Not because he's arrogant, but because he's driven by high expectations he sets for himself.

Ultimately, he's also right if you don't allow yourself to be satisfied by arbitrary milestones. Yeah, the Spurs have won 50 games, but the reality is that there are still 14 games left to go, so why wouldn't you be reaching higher? As the late great Kobe Bryant would say, "Job's not finished."

Wembanyama's MVP case would be undeniable with 60 wins

If San Antonio can make that kind of turnaround in one season, they'll be in rarified air. There aren't many teams who made jumps that large so quickly, and most of them added a hall-of-fame player to do it.

The Celtics made a 32-win jump when they drafted Larry Bird in the 70s; the Spurs made a 36-win jump when they added Tim Duncan; and the Suns took off to the tune of 33 more dubs with a Steve Nash addition. There are a few other circumstances, but not many, and they usually all involve adding a legend or an eventual legendary player reaching their peak level.

At this point, we're not just talking about the numbers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been outputting ridiculously high production all season, so he'll have a fair argument in that arena. I do believe Wembanyama's defense should be the great equalizer, and his ability in on that end exceeds SGA's by several miles.

That's no slight to the reigning MVP. It's a fact we all know to be true, and the same goes for every other player in the league. That's what being a generational talent is all about; making everyone else look pedestrian. Nobody does that better than Wembanyama. He has the production to come close enough to SGA to win the award based on the narrative of the season and jump from the team.

The Spurs were only projected to win somewhere between 41-44 games. If they breach the 60-win mark, the NBA would have to reward the Alien with the MVP trophy. He would be embodying the spirit of that award in all ways it was originally intended. Adding at least 26 wins to the total as the best player on both ends of the floor and finishing with the number two seed in the West is more than enough.

Or we riot. We could do that, too. (I'm kidding... a little.)

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations