San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, back, greets teammates before an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Denver.
In a normal NBA season, Victor Wembanyama would probably win the Most Valuable Player award.
The San Antonio Spurs big man checks all the usual boxes. Crazy statistics? Check. Narrative? Check. The clear best player on one of the best teams? Check.
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As of April 4, Wembanyama’s stats are ridiculous. On just 29.2 minutes per game, Wembanyama is averaging 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals and a league-high 3.1 blocks per game.
In just his third NBA season and at 22 years old, Wembanyama has cemented himself as one of the NBA’s best young players ever.
Not only do his statistics put him in MVP conversations, but so does his narrative. He’s led the Spurs to a 59-19 record, which is second in the Western Conference. The 59 wins are the most by the Spurs since 61 in the 2016-17 season. Since Wembanyama was drafted, the Spurs have massively improved each year. They won 22 games his rookie year, then 34 last year. Now San Antonio is contending for an NBA title.
The only problem with Wembanyama’s MVP case? It comes during an all-time MVP race. That’s not hyperbole. This season will be remembered as one of the great MVP races in NBA history.
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Usually, by this time of the season, a clear MVP can be seen or there’s an argument between two players. Not this year. There are four players who could win MVP and it would make sense.
Besides Wembanyama, there’s Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic in the MVP mix. Any of the four make sense as the MVP.
Gilgeous-Alexander is in the midst of one of the most impressive stretches for a guard in NBA history. The defending regular season MVP and NBA Finals MVP is averaging 31.6 points, 6.5 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game for the Thunder, who lead the West at 61-16.
The Lakers and Nuggets are next to each other in the standings. The Lakers are a third-place 50-27, while the Nuggets are in fourth at 50-28.
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Earlier in the season, the Lakers were seen as a bit of a dumpster fire. Since Christmas, Los Angeles is 31-17. Doncic leads the NBA in scoring with 33.5 points per game, and adds 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game.
Jokic has been his normal self, plus a bit more. He’s set to average a triple-double for the season with per-game averages of 27.7 points, 13.0 rebounds and 10.8 assists.
With four season performances like that, any of Wembanyama, Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic and Doncic could win MVP and it would be reasonable.
This NBA MVP race will be remembered in the same way races like 2003, 2006 and 1990, among others, are remembered. All-time great players delivering all-time great seasons.
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You know how good the 1990 race was? Hakeem Olajuwon averaged 24.3 points, 14.0 rebounds, 4.6 blocks and 2.1 steals per game and was seventh in voting. Michael Jordan was third with per-game averages of 33.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.8 steals. The winner in 1990 was Magic Johnson, who led the Lakers to a 63-19 record and averaged 22.3 points, 11.5 assists and 6.6 rebounds per game.
It’s highly unlikely any MVP race reaches the level the 1962 race did. Bill Russell won the MVP with 18.9 points and 23.6 rebounds per game, and he was followed by Wilt Chamberlain (50.4 points, 25.7 rebounds), Oscar Robertson (30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, 11.4 assists) and Elgin Baylor (38.3 points, 18.6 rebounds).