Spurs Coach Campaigns for Wembanyama as MVP Contender

Mitch Johnson believes the young star deserves to be in the running for the league's top individual award.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson is making a case for Victor Wembanyama to be considered as a contender for the NBA's Most Valuable Player award this season. Wembanyama, in just his third year, is putting up MVP-caliber numbers and has helped transform the Spurs into a Western Conference contender.

Why it matters

Wembanyama's rapid rise to stardom has been a major storyline in the NBA this season. If he were to win MVP, it would cement his status as one of the league's elite players at just 21 years old and further validate the Spurs' decision to select him with the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

The details

Wembanyama is averaging 24.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game this season, leading the Spurs to a 38-16 record and the second seed in the Western Conference. Coach Johnson believes Wembanyama's impact on the team's success makes him deserving of MVP consideration, even with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder viewed as the frontrunner.

  • The Spurs finished 13th in the West last season before drafting Wembanyama with the first overall pick.
  • This season, the Spurs have improved to the second seed in the West with a 38-16 record.

The players

Victor Wembanyama

A 21-year-old French basketball player who was the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and is in his third season with the San Antonio Spurs.

Mitch Johnson

The head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, who is advocating for Wembanyama to be considered as an MVP candidate this season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The star player for the Oklahoma City Thunder who is currently viewed as the frontrunner for the NBA MVP award.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's realistic just in the sense that I know how much he impacts every game that we play, and leaves imprints in so many different ways on all of the games that we play. We're gonna go as far as he takes us... Up until this point, he has been the face of the franchise, and in my opinion, that means he should be in the conversation.”

— Mitch Johnson, Head Coach, San Antonio Spurs (SiriusXM)

What’s next

If Wembanyama continues his strong play and helps lead the Spurs to a top seed in the West, he could gain more traction as an MVP candidate and potentially challenge Gilgeous-Alexander for the award.

The takeaway

Wembanyama's rapid rise to stardom has been a revelation, and his coach's belief that he deserves MVP consideration underscores just how impactful the young phenom has been in transforming the Spurs into a contender in the West.