Timing matters in the NBA, especially when it comes to awards. Some players start hot and fade. Others build momentum late and force voters to reconsider everything.
Victor Wembanyama is doing the latter at the perfect moment and leads the Spurs to a remarkable second place in the Western Conference.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is playing his best basketball now
Wembanyama has taken another leap in recent weeks. His confidence grows by the day, and he recently said:
“I believe I’m the most impactful player defensively in the league. Second argument would be that we almost swept OKC in the season and we dominated them three times with their real team and four times with the, you know, more rotation players. My third argument would be that offense impact is not just points.”
And indeed, he is arguably the best two-way player in the MVP race, and his overall presence becomes more consistent towards the end of the season. He is no longer just flashing potential; he is dictating games.
That shift is crucial. Awards are not just about season-long numbers; they are also about narrative and momentum. Right now, Wembanyama creates both off-court and on-court.
The 65-game threshold puts him firmly in the race
Availability matters more than ever under the current rules. With the 65-game requirement for major awards, many players fall out of contention regardless of performance.
Wembanyama has now cleared that threshold, just by a hair, but he ultimately did. That changes the conversation immediately.
He is no longer a “what if” candidate. He is officially eligible and impossible to ignore since the league has introduced more severity on this matter.
This is, e.g., a strong case against Luka Doncic, who has to apply for the special exemption rule because he missed the threshold by a hair.
A late Wembanama surge could sway MVP voters in the NBA
This is where timing becomes everything. Like in many competitions, the last impression usually lasts. Voters tend to remember what happens closest to ballot submission.
A dominant late stretch can reshape perceptions, especially in a tight race. The Spurs almost got into first place by almost sweeping OKC – a team with a historically strong season tha tries to win back-to-back.
Wembanyama is building that exact case. He is not just producing. He is peaking when attention is highest. If that level continues, it becomes increasingly difficult to justify placing him anywhere but at the very top of ballots.
Wembanyama has become a superstar faster than expected
The bigger picture may be even more significant because the Spurs became a legitimate contender. This season they were supposed to grow further, not to compete already.
Wembanyama was always expected to become a superstar, but the timeline appears to be accelerating. Therefore, he is not just a future MVP candidate; he may already be there.
That has implications beyond awards. It shifts how the San Antonio Spurs are viewed across the league – this could be the beginning of a dynasty.
What once looked like a long-term project is quickly turning into a present-day contender. And at the center of it all is a player peaking at exactly the right time.