Victor Wembanyama has 17 blocks in his last 3 games and is averaging nearly as many blocks this season as the Jazz, Nuggets and Bucks.
The NBA is fortunate to have Victor Wembanyama, a gift from the basketball gods. And this isn’t an exaggeration, not even by a stretch, as in 7-foot-5.
Here’s why:
He’s a true alien, not some normal-sized NBA player who’ll seemingly make multiple All-Star teams and enjoy a fine career. There are plenty of those. Instead, he brings freakish height and is far more skilled than anyone over 7-foot-2 the league has ever seen (no, Ralph Sampson is not his equal).
His impact has been quick, steady and certifiable in his third season. He’s already among the best players in the league, and his team, the San Antonio Spurs, is among the best teams in the league.
His two-way ability is more balanced than anyone’s, meaning he’s irresistibly watchable on offense and defense.
His ceiling is so high that there’s great anticipation and imagination about how legendary he could become.
Finally, and hardly least: His worldliness and maturity are seldom, if ever, seen in young players. Basically, he gets it.
So, to summarize: Wembanyama is a talent who checks all boxes and is equipped to not only last for more than a decade but leave a lasting impression along the way.
He’s certain to collect Kia MVP awards in the future … but why not start now?
As the Kia Race to the MVP grinds down to the last remaining strides, Wembanyama has shattered any notions about his readiness. Yes, he’s just 22, but there’s no need for him to wait his turn or pay his dues, those unspoken rules that seem to punish players his age if their talent is loud.
Wembanyama is ready now because the evidence is compelling enough, and if he does capture the award this season, he’ll become only the second 22-year-old, after Derrick Rose, to do so.
And he’ll have his chance. There’s a new No. 1 on the Kia MVP Ladder and it’s the player who’s influencing wins at both rims and has his team within range of securing the top seed in the West.
In his quest to get that award, Wembanyama seems ahead of schedule. And that schedule, for a player who came with considerable expectations, was greased to begin with.
Setting the stage this week: The clash of perhaps the best guards in the NBA, and certainly the highest on the MVP Ladder, happens Thursday when Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander square off (9:30 ET, Prime Video). If they spend considerable time guarding each other, it gives each a chance to demonstrate where they are defensively, because both are tough assignments for anyone. Also, the Lakers look to strengthen their case for No. 3 overall in the West, so there’s a bit on the line.
The stat to know: Only four players since Michael Jordan have led the NBA in scoring with at least a 33-point average: Kobe Bryant, James Harden, Joel Embiid and Dončić, who’s currently at just over 33 points and on pace to do it for the second time, matching Harden. Bryant, Harden and Embiid are all former Kia MVP winners, while Dončić is seeking his first.
What they are saying: “This season, he’s been able to be in positions and moments of really just taking control … I think now, this season, he’s been able to take more ownership. We all knew he could do it. It’s just when guys get more of an opportunity, they get to show it.” — Jayson Tatum, on Boston Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown, No. 5 on the Ladder.
1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Last week’s ranking: No. 3 ⬆️
Season stats: 24.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.1 blocks
His case: Wembanyama is transforming into a historic defender in such a short period of time. Usually, that’s the toughest part of the game for a young player to master. Wembanyama is different in that he entered the league with solid defensive instincts and, coupled with his enviable size, is making a massive impact here in his third season.
He has 17 blocks in his last three games and is averaging nearly as many blocks per game this season as the Utah Jazz (3.8 bpg), Denver Nuggets (3.9) and Milwaukee Bucks (3.9) are as a team this season. Finally, Wembanyama is doing this despite averaging under 30 minutes a night. His stats would expand with more minutes.
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Last week’s ranking: No. 1 ⬇️
Season stats: 31.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists
His case: The game has never seen a guard average 30 points and do so this efficiently. Taking that a step further — very few big men who averaged 30 have been this efficient. Gilgeous-Alexander also has the most 30-point games in under 30 minutes per game and the least turnovers per game by a 30-point scorer. That also reflects his historic efficiency.
Essentially, he rarely costs his team whenever he has the ball, either from missed shots or mistakes. That translates into winning. He’s shooting 72% over his last four games and has 30 or more points in 41 games, second to Dončić.
3. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Last week’s ranking: No. 4 ⬆️
Season stats: 27.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, 10.8 assists
His case: After a rare and brief slumber following his injury absence, Jokić has resumed a pace that only he can keep (as in being a triple-double threat every night). The last three games in particular were classic if typical Jokić — 23-point triples in all three, and the most recent game, he nearly went 20-20-20. He’s one of only three players to drop that stat line.
Also, consider this about his recent stretch of games: in the last two, he has 36 assists and just three turnovers. Both were part of a grueling back-to-back in which the Nuggets crossed a time zone. All told, Jokić is poised to become the first player to lead the league in rebounds and assists in the same season, while finishing top-six or seven in scoring.
4. Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers
Last week’s ranking: No. 2 ⬇️
Season stats: 33.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists
His case: The league’s leading scorer is nearly averaging a triple-double and is ripping through a torrid March with games of 60 points, 50 points and three with 40 points. He’s averaging 39.5 ppg over his last 11 games. Also, he has elevated the Lakers to a lofty spot in the West and potential home-court advantage at least in the first round of the playoffs.
One reason for the surge is that the Lakers’ defense — and Dončić’s defense — has improved since the season began. He’s averaging 2.5 steals over his last 11 games, which shows growth in Dončić. He didn’t always put defense first, partly because he burns more energy than most on offense.
5. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Last week’s ranking: No. 6 ⬆️
Season stats: 28.6 points, 7 rebounds, 5.2 assists
His case: There’s something to be said about executing a takedown of Gilgeous-Alexander and the West-leading Thunder on Wednesday, and Brown did so spectacularly. Brown had 31 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, two steals and a clutch jumper to seal that win.
But one game hardly defines his MVP candidacy. Brown has tug-boated the Celtics virtually all season during Jayson Tatum’s injury absence and has Boston within striking distance of first place in the East. That guarantees the last few weeks will be suspenseful in that regard if nothing else. He’s fifth in scoring and among the top rebounding guards in the league.
The next 5:
6. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons ⬇️
7. Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks ↔️
8. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers ⬆️
9. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers ⬇️
10. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves ⬇️
And five more (listed alphabetically): Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks; Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets; Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons; Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers; Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at spowell@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.
