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'DPOY, MVP & Most Improved': Veteran Journalist Backs Case for One Player to Win All

Originally posted on AirJordanChronicles | By Utsav Sinha | Last updated Apr 2, 2026 2:13 PM ET

An exciting conversation popped up during the HalfTime show of the San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors game on April 1, 2026, where a noted journalist named the player who he thought should win the DPOY, MVP, and Most Improved honors this year.

Well, it was the senior NBA reporter Brian Windhorst who made this claim. And the player whom he backed to win the three awards is the Spurs forward, Victor Wembanyama. An X update from LakeShowYo displayed Windhorst telling the panel, “You can make a case that Victor should win Defensive Player of the Year, MVP, and Most Improved.”

He also tried to establish his point, comparing Wembanyama’s presence on the court with the legend Shaquille O’Neal. With due respect to others, Windhorst said, “I would not take my eyes off Shaq. I don’t care what Penny is doing, I don’t care about Dennis Scott, with all due respect. [But] I’m just watching Shaq. This is what I do with him.”

Brian Windhorst on Wemby:

"You can make a case that Victor should win Defensive Player of the Year, MVP and Most Improved"

pic.twitter.com/ISuPhpRTgF
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) April 2, 2026

Windhorst has previously praised Wembanyama throughout the 2025-26 campaign. Earlier in the year, he called the Spurs center the clear, “no debate” choice to build a franchise around. He even picked him over Luka Doncic in team-building discussions because of his defense.

Looking at the numbers in 61 games, Wembanyama is averaging 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks. The Spurs are on pace for 56 wins and outscore opponents by 16.8 points per 100 possessions when he is on the court.

For MVP, he is sitting right next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Most Improved Player award is the biggest stretch of the three. But his jump in shooting efficiency and overall health this year makes it an interesting conversation.

Why Victor Wembanyama’s Season Is Pushing the NBA to Rethink Awards Recipients?

Besides Windhorst, noted analyst Stephen A. Smith also backed Wembanyama as the favorite for both MVP and DPOY after watching him dominate. The official NBA MVP Ladder even moved Wembanyama into the top spot during a strong winning streak in March.

Wembanyama told reporters he is taking extra care of his body because he wants to win both MVP and DPOY. He laid out a simple argument for himself.

The Most Improved Player debate is a bit more complex. Wembanyama’s basic stats look a lot like his 2024-25 numbers, where he averaged 24.3 points and 11 rebounds. The difference this year is that he is shooting better from the floor and the three-point line.

A single player winning DPOY, MVP, and Most Improved in the same year is highly unlikely. Still, the fact that the media is having this debate shows how much Wembanyama has grown.

So, do you think he will be able to pull off this miracle of winning all three of these awards in the current season?

This article first appeared on AirJordanChronicles and was syndicated with permission.

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