Victor Wembanyama is holding firm at No. 4 on the NBA’s MVP Ladder, and while that’s a testament to his consistently elite play, it also raises a few eyebrows - and fair questions - about how we evaluate MVP candidates in today’s game.
Let’s start with the obvious: Wemby has been nothing short of phenomenal. In January alone, he’s averaging 25 points and 9 rebounds - and he’s doing it in just 25 minutes per game.
That kind of efficiency is rare, especially when you pair it with elite rim protection. He’s second in the league in blocks, and his presence in the paint continues to warp opposing game plans.
Teams are no longer challenging him at the rim the way they did earlier in his career. That’s not regression - that’s respect.
But here’s where things get tricky. Despite his two-way dominance, Wembanyama remains behind Luka Dončić on the MVP list - and that’s where the debate heats up.
Luka’s numbers are gaudy: 34 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds per night. He’s a nightly triple-double threat and the engine of everything Dallas does offensively.
But let’s not pretend this is a stat-padding award. Luka’s defensive struggles are well-documented, and his team is currently sixth in the West.
Meanwhile, the Spurs sit second in the conference - and they’ve done it without their second-best player, Devin Vassell, for a stretch. Wembanyama’s defensive impact is a big reason why San Antonio hasn’t slipped.
The difference in value becomes even more apparent when you consider how teams approach these two stars. Luka forces defensive adjustments.
Wemby forces offensive rewrites. Teams are actively avoiding the paint when he’s on the floor.
That’s not something you can capture in a box score, but it’s the kind of presence that changes a game - and a season.
And then there’s Nikola Jokić, still holding onto the No. 2 spot despite missing 13 straight games. Let’s be clear: Jokić is a generational offensive talent, and his value to the Nuggets is undeniable.
But when Wembanyama missed 12 games earlier this year, he was promptly dropped from the MVP conversation and didn’t reappear until weeks after returning. If availability matters - and it should - then the same standard has to apply across the board.
That’s not a knock on Jokić; it’s a call for consistency.
San Antonio’s offense has taken a hit since Vassell went down, but Wembanyama has responded in a way that speaks volumes about his growth and leadership. He’s upped his three-point attempts, and after a shaky start to the season from deep, he’s now hitting 39% from beyond the arc. At 7-foot-5, that’s not just impressive - it’s unfair.
What we’re seeing from Wembanyama isn’t just highlight-reel stuff. It’s foundational. He’s anchoring one of the league’s best defenses, adapting his offensive game to meet the needs of the moment, and leading a young, injury-riddled team to a top-two spot in the West - all while playing fewer minutes than the other MVP contenders.
So, yes, it’s encouraging to see Wemby getting MVP recognition. But if we’re truly evaluating value, it’s time to ask whether he’s being undervalued - especially when his peers are getting the benefit of the doubt on one end of the floor, or simply being grandfathered into the conversation despite extended absences.
Victor Wembanyama isn’t just meeting expectations. He’s obliterating them. And that should matter more than the usual offensive box score fireworks.