How Wemby Can Win NBA MVP This Season

To think, the 21-year-old Wembanyama began his third NBA season appearing unstoppable.

The Spurs opened the 2025-26 season undefeated through five games, a feat the franchise never achieved even when Tim Duncan led the team to five NBA championships and annual playoff appearances during his 19-year career (1997-2016). Wembanyama became only the sixth player in NBA history to post at least 40 points and 15 rebounds in a season opener. During the Spurs’ five-game undefeated streak, Wembanyama ranked 10th in the NBA in points (30.2), first in rebounds (14.6) and first in blocks per game (4.8). Wembanyama didn’t look physically limited after missing the back half of his second NBA season to heal blood clots in his right shoulder. Wembanyama appeared more efficient as he operated close to the basket along the post, a stark contrast to last season when he mostly operated from behind the perimeter. 

Barring a major injury, Wembanyama has become the heavy favorite to win this season's Defensive Player of the Year award. Wembanyama also could become a regular-season MVP candidate. And with San Antonio (8-2) trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder (10-1) in the Western Conference standings, Wembanyama could lead the Spurs to their first playoff appearance in seven seasons as an NBA title contender.

“I don’t think anybody feels comfortable putting a ceiling on him,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said.

Victor Wembanyama 2025-26 stats

Nonetheless, Wembanyama has bumped his head recently.

In the Spurs’ loss last week to Phoenix, Wembanyama posted nine points and nine rebounds on 4-for-14 shooting while recording more turnovers (six) than blocks (four) and as many fouls (four). In the Spurs’ follow-up loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Wembanyama finished with 19 points and eight rebounds while still struggling with his accuracy (5-for-14), fouls (six) and turnovers (five). With only one block, the Spurs’ 7-foot-4, 235-pound center looked as comfortable as he does when he ducks his head before entering a doorway.

“The quickness in which the double [team] comes is so much faster than in the past,” Wembanyama said. “It feels like teams are very prepared. They’re ready to scheme defensively against us. We do that as well. But at the end of the day, when we’re on the court, we need to face this kind of defense. I don’t think it’s something we can figure out just like this. But it’s going to make us much better real quickly.”

Wembanyama demonstrated this past week how quickly he can adjust.

In the Spurs’ win over the Houston Rockets on Friday, Wembanyama had 22 points on 8-for-16 shooting and eight rebounds, but he still had more fouls (five) and turnovers (four) than blocks (two). In San Antonio’s victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, Wembanyama tallied 18 points on 8-for-19 shooting and three blocks, but he still committed five turnovers.

In the Spurs’ win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday, Wembanyama finished with 38 points while shooting 11-for-19 from the field and 6-for-9 from 3 along with 12 rebounds, five blocks and five assists. Wembanyama still collected four fouls and three turnovers, but that’s hairsplitting an otherwise-dominant performance.

The Spurs predicted this would happen even during Wembanyama’s recent struggles. It also helped that Spurs point guard De’Aaron Fox played in the past two games after missing the previous eight with a strained right hamstring.

“Vic can get right back on track,” second-year Spurs guard Stephon Castle said. “He works hard. He has the right mindset. So I don’t really think we need to keep relaying the same message to him. I think he gets it, and he’ll figure it out.”

But how Wembanyama figures out this new puzzle doesn’t exactly mirror how traditional big men adapt to the NBA.

Yes, Wembanyama has increased lean muscle and weight in hopes of better absorbing the league’s physicality. Wembanyama has dealt with persistent double teams. Yet, opponents have defended Wembanyama much differently than traditional big men, a product of his versatility and the modern game.

The Suns and Lakers assigned multiple guards to Wembanyama out on the perimeter to limit his 3-point shooting, to increase the chances of forcing a turnover and to stifle his driving attempts. Despite the vast size discrepancy, Wembanyama often struggled to drive to the basket for a few reasons. He didn’t have as much space to run a pick-and-roll. If Wembanyama drove to the rim, he met the team’s center and a help defender since they both stayed close to the basket. 

“We need to get him the ball in better spots,” Johnson said of Wembanyama. “We need to get to our starting spots earlier. He needs to be more demonstrative and demand the ball. When he doesn’t, he should yell at everybody in the gym, including his teammates and myself. He’ll be fine. We’ll be better.”

Sometimes, Wembanyama tried to force his will. The tactic didn’t always work. Amid the physicality, Wembanyama has taken double-digit free throws in five games. But he also has finished with single-digit attempts in three other games and zero attempts in two others.

Amid that inconsistency, the Spurs have called on Wembanyama to play more forcefully. As Johnson said, “if they’re not going to protect him, he’s got to protect himself.” Yet, Wembanyama has struggled with foul trouble partly because of that approach. When Wembanyama has lowered his shoulder, he has often collected his next foul.

“I just need to be put in the situation where I can do that,” Wembanyama said. “If they’re not going to back up, there are going to be other options available.”

The Spurs expect that Wembanyama will adjust quickly.

Wembanyama enjoys chess and reading partly because it enhances his critical-thinking skills and relaxes his mind. Following losses, Wembanyama often asks the Spurs’ coaching staff for game footage so he can dissect his shortcomings on the team plane. The Spurs admired Wembanyama’s resilience, discipline and positive attitude while recovering from a blood clot last season that limited him to only 46 games. That absence eliminated the Spurs’ playoff chances. It also made Wembanyama ineligible for any individual awards per the NBA’s policy that candidates have to play in at least 65 regular-season games.

“He is as clear and as at peace as any young individual that I’ve ever been around in terms of who he is and who he wants to be,” Johnson said of Wembanyama. “There’s so much noise, opinion, excitement and visibility that goes into every single thing that he does. I don’t want to speak for him, but I don’t think it affects him. I don’t think it ever deters what he believes he can be, what he needs to do or reaches what he needs to reach.”

That’s partly because Wembanyama listens more to the organization than the general public.

Although he traveled this past offseason to China, Costa Rica, Japan and France, Wembanyama stayed connected to the Spurs. He worked out at their training facility earlier in the summer. Despite his ensuing overseas trips, Wembanyama still talked with the Spurs’ rookies via Facetime (Dylan Harper, Carter Bryant, Kam Jones) following the NBA Draft. Wembanyama worked out extensively with former Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon to improve his footwork and post-up game. 

Johnson observed that Wembanyama has maintained a “very strong connection” with former Spurs coach Gregg Popovich during his final season and since overseeing the front office after recovering from a mild stroke. Wembanyama appears just as receptive to Johnson’s feedback.

“I just try to coach him hard because I know he wants to be coached hard,” Johnson said of Wembanyama. “I know he wants to be held accountable. I know that he wants to be pushed to be the best version of himself. That’s my job to help him be that.”

How much help will Wembanyama need to dominate a game without any major blemishes? He conceded some uncertainty only because of the lack of practice time available during an NBA season. Otherwise, Wembanyama maintains the same confidence and patience he usually displays on the court, even when opponents try to impede his greatness. 

“I’ll do what I need to do, what I can,” Wembanyama said. “But I’m not stressing over it.”