Wemby Says He'd Vote for Himself as NBA MVP amid Race vs. SGA, Jokic, Cade Cunningham
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may be the frontrunner for the NBA MVP, but Victor Wembanyama knows who he would vote for if it was up to him.
"Of course," he told Sam Amick of The Athletic when asked if he would vote for himself in the race.
The San Antonio Spurs star is part of a crowded race for the NBA's most notable individual award and is competing with Gilgeous-Alexander, Cade Cunningham, Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić.
Cunningham's chances took a major hit Thursday when ESPN's Shams Charania reported the Detroit Pistons guard was diagnosed with a collapsed lung and will be sidelined for "an extended period of time."
Still, the Western Conference contenders are strong enough on their own, which may prevent Wembanyama from taking home the trophy.
Even if he doesn't win it this season, the Spurs big man is well positioned to win multiple MVPs during his career. After all, he is just 22 years old and already has a resume with a Rookie of the Year, two All-Star selections and two block titles.
He is leading the league in blocks per game again this season at 3.0 and is arguably the best defensive player in the league. He is also averaging 24.2 points and 11.1 rebounds a night while shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 35.9 percent from deep.
Wembanyama is the ultimate matchup nightmare and a primary reason the Spurs are 51-18 and in second place behind Gilgeous-Alexander's Thunder.
"Playoff basketball is still a dream for us," Wembanyama said. "It's a lot of anticipating, but we've still got to stay in the moment and attack 82 games of the regular season. We can't skip steps. But it's definitely super exciting. It feels like another step. As a kid, you know, this is also something I dreamed of, so I'm already predicting on it. But you've got to stay in the moment."
He would surely trade an MVP trophy for playoff success, even if he would vote for himself.
