On Saturday, the San Antonio Spurs took a 115-102 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Spurs center Victor Wembanyama totaled 32 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, and four blocks over 31 minutes.
At postgame media availability, Wembanyama expressed that he will be campaigning to win the NBA’s Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards during the final stretch of the regular season.
“Right now, in my mind is taking great care of my body cause I also want to win the MVP and the DPOY. So, I’m trying to press the gas from now until the end of the season. Really take care of my treatment, take care of my sleep, take care of my routine, and show up for my team.”
If successful, the France native would join an exclusive list of legendary basketball players. Only Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Giannis Antetokounmpo have won the MVP and DPOY awards in the same season.
An MVP Candidate
Since being drafted by the Spurs with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Wembanyama has served as a defensive specialist. The two-time All-Star led the league in blocks for 2024 and 2025.
This season, Wembanyama is averaging 24.3 points and 11.2 rebounds over 52 games. He is ranked second on the latest edition of the NBA’s MVP Ladder, behind Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
So far, Wembanyama’s third year in the NBA has included an NBA Cup championship game against the New York Knicks and a stint with Team World for the All-Star Game tournament.
San Antonio holds the second spot in the Western Conference standings with a 49-18 record. The franchise has not had a 49-win season since 2017. Based on the Spurs’ progression, the 22-year-old is poised to make his playoff debut next month.
Whether or not Wembanyama finished with major postseason honors, the seven-foot-four center has revitalized the Spurs into serious title contenders.