Victor Wembanyama on the brink of Spurs history not achieved in last 22 years originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Victor Wembanyama just put together one of the most impressive playoff runs with the San Antonio Spurs. They closed out the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 6 with a convincing 139-109 victory, where the 22-year-old recorded 19 points and 6 rebounds. This is the first time since 2017 that they reached the Western Conference Finals.
Now, the conversation has extended well beyond the hardwood because he is in the running for the NBA's most coveted individual honor. Wemby, who previously recorded a 39-point masterpiece in Game 3, is a finalist for the 2025-26 Kia MVP, with the winner to be announced on NBA on Prime on Sunday.
Victor Wembanyama's historic regular season puts him in rare Spurs company
Wembanyama averaged 25 points and 11.5 rebounds in 29.2 minutes per game this season. At 22 years old and playing on a minutes restriction, he became the first player to average 25 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000.
With Wemby on the floor, the Spurs outscored opponents by 17 points per 100 possessions. He was also voted the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year in NBA history.
He followed his historic regular season by averaging 19.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 4.2 blocks per game against the Timberwolves in the second round.
According to an official announcement from NBA Communications, the 2025-26 Kia MVP winner will be revealed on NBA on Prime this Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The 7' 4" is a finalist alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.
If Wembanyama wins, he will break a 22-year drought for San Antonio. Just to recap, the last Spurs to win the award were David Robinson in 1995 and Tim Duncan in 2002 and 2003.
Where Victor Wembanyama stands among the finalists
Wembanyama could become the first player to win MVP in his third season since Derrick Rose did it 15 years ago. However, Oklahoma City's SGA is the clear frontrunner in the MVP race.
The Thunder's guard took 88 of 100 first-place votes in ESPN's final straw poll, finishing 300 points ahead of Wembanyama. NBA.com's Shaun Powell pointed to Gilgeous-Alexander's steady production from opening night to the final buzzer as the deciding factor.
Still, data from Opta shows that Wembanyama's defensive impact is unmatched, as his presence alone changes how opponents attack the rim.
The MVP announcement comes the night before Wemby and SGA face off in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Monday, and whether or not the Spurs center takes home the trophy is a matter of hours.
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