The San Antonio Spurs remain the hottest team in the NBA. Victor Wembanyama wants to capitalize on the momentum and have a say in the MVP conversation.
The Spurs have now racked up eleven consecutive wins, with an easy victory over the Brooklyn Nets last night. Victor Wembanyama only had to play 26 minutes and scored just twelve points (3/9 FG) for the second game in a row. However, Wemby’s defensive influence remains enormous, and the Frenchman is considered the favorite for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Wemby must play at least 20 of the Texans’ remaining 23 games, otherwise any awards will be out of the question. Nevertheless, the center stated that such an award is very important to him. “I know I’m in the MVP discussion and of course that’s one of my goals,” Wemby clarified after the win in Brooklyn. “The best argument for that is success with the team. That’s the basic requirement and I realize that I have to step on the gas again in the last few weeks to win this trophy.”
Will Wemby become the youngest MVP?
With a record of 43-16, the Spurs are currently second in the West, so the former top pick already has this argument on his side, as only the Oklahoma City Thunder (45-15) and Detroit Pistons (43-14) are ahead of them. In addition, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic still have to reach 65 games. SGA can miss six more games, while the Serbian can only miss one.
If Wembanyama wins the award this season, he would be the youngest MVP in league history. Derrick Rose currently holds that title, having won in 2011 at the age of 22 years and six months. Wemby would then be a few months younger than the former Bulls guard. Wembanyama is averaging 23.7 points and 11.2 rebounds this season, and he leads the NBA in blocks for the third consecutive season with 2.8.
