Spurs' Victor Wembanyama Moves to 2nd in NBA MVP Ladder, Closes in on SGA

If the Spurs superstar continues and usurps SGA, he will beat Derrick Rose's record of being the youngest NBA MVP in history.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:05pm

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Victor Wembanyama has risen to second in the NBA MVP standings, usurping players like Nikola Jokic and Cade Cunningham. The Spurs superstar is now closing in on Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who currently leads the MVP race. Wembanyama's impressive stats and his role in leading the Spurs to the second-best record in the league have put him in contention to become the youngest NBA MVP, potentially beating Derrick Rose's record.

Why it matters

Wembanyama's rise to the top of the MVP race so early in his career is a remarkable achievement, showcasing his immense talent and impact on the Spurs' success. If he can surpass Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and win the MVP award, he will make history as the youngest player to ever receive the honor.

The details

Wembanyama has been on a tear lately, averaging 24.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game, leading the Spurs to an impressive 48-18 record. He has usurped players like Jokic and Cunningham to move up to second in the MVP standings, closing in on Gilgeous-Alexander, who leads the race with his own impressive stats and the Thunder's league-best 52-15 record.

  • After about 67 games in the association, Gilgeous-Alexander still remains atop the MVP race.
  • Wembanyama rose to second in the NBA MVP standings despite being ranked fourth in the past week.
  • If Wembanyama pulls off the MVP award, he will become the youngest NBA MVP, potentially beating Derrick Rose's record of being 211 days past his 22nd birthday when he won the award in 2011.

The players

Victor Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs superstar who has risen to second in the NBA MVP standings, closing in on the top spot.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Oklahoma City Thunder superstar who currently leads the NBA MVP race, with impressive stats and his team's league-best record.

Nikola Jokic

The Denver Nuggets player who was previously in the mix for the MVP award, but has been usurped by Wembanyama in the standings.

Cade Cunningham

The player who was also previously ranked higher than Wembanyama in the MVP standings, but has now been surpassed by the Spurs superstar.

Derrick Rose

The former NBA MVP who currently holds the record for being the youngest player to win the award, which Wembanyama is now aiming to beat.

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What they’re saying

“A lot of people have narrowed down the NBA MVP discussions to Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic. These two have been neck-and-neck in the race for a few months now. However, many did not expect Victor Wembanyama to enter the fray this early.”

— Jay Postrado, Author

What’s next

If Wembanyama can stay healthy and the Spurs can secure the league-leading record, he will have a strong case to be crowned the NBA MVP, potentially becoming the youngest player to ever win the award.

The takeaway

Victor Wembanyama's rapid rise to the top of the MVP race is a testament to his immense talent and impact on the Spurs' success. If he can surpass Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and win the award, he will make history as the youngest NBA MVP, further solidifying his status as one of the league's brightest young stars.