Victor Wembanyama’s MVP hopes dashed by lack of player support
Mathieu Warnier, Media365: published on Friday, April 10, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Candidate for NBA regular season MVP, Victor Wembanyama, has seen his hopes quashed by a survey showing he does not receive the support of his peers.
Victor Wembanyama aims to leave his mark on the NBA. With averages of 24.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 3.1 blocks per game over the 63 games played this season, the Chesnay native is a crucial piece for the San Antonio Spurs. Thanks to the Frenchman, the Texan franchise is having an exceptional season with 61 wins and 19 losses, securing the second spot in the Western Conference behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. These performances have put the “Alien” in the MVP discussion, a first for a French player.
To achieve this, Wembanyama needs to convince a jury of 100 NBA journalists from around the world. While players don’t get to vote for the winner of the Michael Jordan Trophy, their opinions can sway the decision. A survey conducted by The New York Times with 159 players playing in the North American championship showed that only 5% of them view Wembanyama as the best player of the season. This places him sixth in a ranking dominated by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.
The Thunder Canadian received 39% of the votes, while the Nuggets Serbian convinced 21% of the voters. Behind these two and ahead of “Wemby,” we find Luka Doncic, Jaylen Brown, and Cade Cunningham with 8.2% of the votes. Although not eligible for end-of-season awards due to not reaching the required 64 games, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry still have support, receiving 1.3% and 0.6% of the votes, respectively. Player surveys have been a precise indicator over the past three seasons, as the player favored by peers ultimately convinced the jury at the end of the regular season.
