San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama Receives Stunning MVP News

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama didn’t hide his feelings when asked. He had no problem spilling exactly what’s inside him. 

But that is who he has been over his three years in the NBA, maybe even his entire life. 

Wembanyama, 22, is having as good a season as one can ask from a third-year pro. His stellar play has been the biggest reason the Spurs have gone from a 34-win team to 60-plus-win team in just one year. 

He’s gotten MVP consideration for that reason. And for that reason, he made sure to let the world know that getting the Michael Jordan Trophy, not next year or in three or four years, but this year is near the top of his priorities list. 

Perhaps it was too little, too late for the 22-year-old rising superstar. 

His late-season surge — which isn’t said to diminish his play in the early or middle-part of the year — coupled with his comments on winning the award actually did a whole lot in earning his serious recognition for the award, but the competition has simply been brutal. 

Wembanyama won’t like it if he happens to come across this anonymous player poll.

Victor Wembanyama Sees Little MVP Backing From His Peers 

It is that time of year again. 

For the last several years, The Athletic has surveyed over 150 random NBA players to get their input on the NBA MVP award. Again, the players have spoken. And again, there is a clear winner. 

Officially known as The Athletic’s 2026 Anonymous NBA Player Poll, it is a fun way to get a scope on what the players — those who are out there watching these great players up-close-and-personal — think about the race to the most coveted individual award in basketball. 

For the second year in a row, the players tabbed Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the league MVP. 

No surprise there. Gilgeous-Alexander, 27, has been the best player in the NBA all season for two consecutive years. He assembled a historic campaign last season on a team that won 68 games, so he only came out this season shooting a cool 55% from the floor and yet again averaging over 30 points per game for an Oklahoma City team that has once again secured the top seed in the NBA.

Then, you scan the rest of the poll and find something rather unexpected. Let’s just say Wembanyama may feel some type of way. 

The San Antonio star was not second, third, fourth or even fifth in the ranking … he came in way down there at No. 6 with just 5% of the vote. Ouch.

Even Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic and Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham — both of whom will likely be ineligible to even receive one official MVP vote — slotted higher than the 22-year-old Frenchman. 

Wembanyama’s MVP Push Suppressed by Late-Season Adversity

Right now, the Spurs have something bigger on mind: get Wembanyama healthy and back in the lineup.

Earlier this week, the star big man went down after a collision delivered impact to his rib area. Wembanyama exited the game in the first half and was subsequently ruled out of the rest of the game. 

Before that moment, Wembanyama was catching steam in the MVP race, and San Antonio, which was still well in play for the top seed in the league, could’ve helped his case by continuing to pile wins. 

Instead, Wembanyama not only left that game but missed the next one. The Spurs have a game tonight at home against the Dallas Mavericks, but Wembanyama’s status is still uncertain. 

Wembanyama has still yet to clinch eligibility for postseason award, so if he is unable to play again in the regular season, no MVP conversation will even matter. It may not have had anyway considering Gilgeous-Alexander’s majestic play since October. 

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