San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama just landed quite a massive take heading into the NBA season.
The San Antonio Spurs will be one of the most interesting teams to watch during the 2025-26 NBA campaign, and while there is certainly more to the Spurs than just Victor Wembanyama, let's face it: he is the center of attention, and for good reason.
Wembanyama is one of the most unique players this league has ever seen, standing 7-foot-5 (two inches up from his rookie year) and possessing an incredible all-around repertoire on both ends of the floor.
But just how good with Wembanyama be in his third NBA season? Is there a chance he seriously contends for an MVP award this soon?
Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey thinks it's a possibility, noting how productive the 21-year-old has been during the preseason.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images."In just 19.6 minutes, Wemby is averaging 17.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.0 steals," Bailey wrote. "If he maintains that kind of production into the regular season and with starter minutes, and if the San Antonio Spurs buck expectations and win close to 50 games, Wembanyama has a real chance to be an MVP candidate. That may not be enough top [Nikola] Jokić or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but some third- or fourth-place votes could be in play for Wemby."
That is certainly a mouthful given that the Spurs won just 34 games last season, although their win total was definitely affected by Wembanyama missing the final couple of months due to blood clots.
San Antonio is playing in the rugged Western Conference, so a 50-win campaign seems a bit ambitious given how young and inexperienced the team still is. Plus, we also have to take Wembanyama's health concerns into account.
When he was on the floor last year, Wembanyama was brilliant, averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.8 blocks over 33.2 minutes per game on 47.6/35.2/83.6 shooting splits.
The talent is there, and the production has already been evident, too. One day, the Frenchman will unquestionably be a top MVP candidate. But will it happen as quickly as his third season?
It seems somewhat doubtful considering everything that Wembanyama is up against heading into the new campaign, but I guess we can't rule anything out entirely, right?