The MVP race just got a whole lot more interesting, and his name is Victor Wembanyama.
In ESPN's latest mock ballot released April 3rd, the San Antonio Spurs phenom finished second with 63 second-place votes, trailing only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who garnered 88 first-place votes. But here's the thing, folks - the gap is closing, and Wembanyama is coming fast.
Let's talk about what we're witnessing here. A 7'4" player who can do everything - block shots like Dikembe Mutombo, shoot threes like Dirk Nowitzki, and handle the ball like a guard. We've never seen anything like this, and I mean never.
The Spurs have gone 27-2 since the start of January - the best stretch of basketball by any team this season. That's not a typo. Twenty-seven wins in twenty-nine games. And Wembanyama is the engine making it all run.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has had a phenomenal season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, no question about it. Last year at this time he had 77 first-place votes, so he's actually increased his support. But the narrative is shifting, and narratives matter in MVP races.
What makes Wembanyama's case so compelling is the transformation. The Spurs started the season as an afterthought. Now they're the hottest team in basketball, and their second-year center is redefining what's possible on a basketball court. He's averaging career highs across the board while anchoring the league's best defense over this stretch.
Can a sophomore win MVP? It's rare, but we're living in unprecedented times. Wilt Chamberlain did it. Wes Unseld did it. And neither of them were 7'4" with a three-point range.
We've got a month left in the regular season, and this race is far from over. SGA has the narrative of consistency and the Thunder's elite record. Wembanyama has the wow factor and the hottest team in basketball.
That's what sports is all about, folks - watching greatness unfold in real time, and trying to figure out who deserves to be crowned the best.
