Two MVP candidates. Two wins. Two completely different ways of getting there.
On Monday night, Victor Wembanyama dropped 41 points on just 4 free throw attempts in 31 minutes. Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 47 points on 25 free throw attempts in 41 minutes. Both players led their teams to victory. Both are legitimate MVP candidates. The contrast couldn't be starker - and it's reigniting the debate about how this game should be played.
Let's start with Wemby. The San Antonio Spurs phenom didn't just score efficiently - he set a record. His double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) came in just 8 minutes and 31 seconds, the fastest in NBA history. He finished with 41 points on 17-of-27 shooting, plus 16 rebounds and 3 blocks. He dominated the Bulls so thoroughly that coach Gregg Popovich sat him for most of the fourth quarter.
Four free throw attempts in 31 minutes. Four.
Now let's talk about SGA. The Oklahoma City Thunder superstar has mastered the art of getting to the line. He's one of the best in the league at drawing contact, at making defenders foul him, at exploiting the rulebook to his advantage. And Monday night, he put on a clinic: 47 points on 25 trips to the charity stripe.
Twenty-five free throw attempts in one game.
Look, both approaches work. SGA's Thunder have the best record in the Western Conference. Wemby's Spurs are building something special around their generational talent. But watching these two games back-to-back? The difference in style is jarring.
Wembanyama plays above the rim. He's 7'4" with guard skills and a seven-foot wingspan. He doesn't need to hunt fouls - he just shoots over everybody. His game is pure, beautiful basketball.
