Spurs' Victor Wembanyama Demands MVP Crown

Victor Wembanyama made a strong MVP pitch after San Antonio’s win over Miami, laying out three points: "defense is 50 percent of the game," his head-to-head dominance of OKC, and that "offensive impact is not just points." He leads the league with 3.0 blocks per game and a 4.0 combined steals and blocks mark, while scoring 24.3 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 34.6 points and OKC’s likely best record keep the race close. Merlin sees a shift in what voters must weigh. At 22, Wembanyama already alters shots and spacing just by being on the floor, a kind of unseen value beyond the box score. Voters often favor scoring and team record, but Wemby’s head-to-head wins and elite defense make the outcome uncertain. "My goal is to make sure that there is no debate," he said.