Victor Wembanyama isn’t just protecting the rim for the San Antonio Spurs. Rather, he is erasing entire offensive game plans of the opponents. The Spurs center is averaging 4.2 blocks per game in March while anchoring a defense that has carried the squad to a 50-18 record, the franchise’s first 50-win season since 2016-17.
Naturally, it did not sound out of place when the 7’4″ Frenchman spelled out a lofty ambition on Saturday after leading the Spurs’ 115-102 win over the Charlotte Hornets with a 32-point, 12-rebound, eight-assist performance.
“In my mind, it’s taking great care of my body because I also want to win the MVP and defensive player of the year. I’m trying to press the gas now until the end of the season; really take care of my treatment, take care of my sleep, take care of my routine and show up for my team,” Wembanyama told reporters.
That boldness struck a chord with the Boston Celtics‘ NBA champion Kendrick Perkins. The former center turned ESPN analyst praised Wembanyama not just for the ambition, but also for its authenticity.
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama reacts to a playBrad Penner-Imagn Images
(Brad Penner-Imagn Images)
“Wemby, thank you bro. Like, seriously thank you. Because for so many years players have tried to either [expletive] on certain accolades, individual accolades, or downplay being the face of the league,” Perkins said. “Wemby has done a complete opposite, and he is not doing it as a front—it comes from a real, authentic place. And this is what you call setting a bar.”
Perkins tied Wembanyama’s mentality to a lineage of stars who spoke their goals into existence. “You should want to win the MVP. I remember when Giannis was young, he said, ‘I will win the MVP one day.’ Like, speak that [expletive] into existence.”
Highlighting the 22-year-old’s edge on the court, Perkins further added, “The way he approaches the game, if your [expletive] don’t have on a Spurs uniform, he ain’t [expletive] with you. And I love it.”
Victor Wembanyama Could Join Rare Company With MVP-DPOY Pursuit
Wembanyama has backed up his words with his performance this season. He climbed to second in the NBA’s official MVP Ladder this week, passing Nikola Jokic and closing in on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
On the defensive end, his case is even stronger. He leads the league in blocks at 3.0 per game and has anchored a Spurs defense that ranks among the best in the NBA. San Antonio is second in the Western Conference and trails the Oklahoma City Thunder by just four games for the top seed in the West.
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama dunks the ball versus the New York KnicksBrad Penner-Imagn Images
(Brad Penner-Imagn Images)
What makes Wembanyama’s declaration particularly striking is the rarity of the achievement itself. In NBA history, only three players have won MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season: Michael Jordan in 1988, Hakeem Olajuwon in 1994, and Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2020. That’s it, in more than 40 years since the DPOY award was introduced.
Jordan did it while averaging 35 points per game and leading the league in steals. Olajuwon did it while also capturing Finals MVP and an NBA championship. Giannis did it while leading Milwaukee to the league’s best record, though the Bucks fell short in the playoffs that year.
The Spurs have won 18 of their last 20 games, and since the end of January, they’ve lost just once with him in the lineup. His two-way impact has transformed San Antonio from a rebuilding project to a legitimate contender in a loaded Western Conference.
The only tricky part is availability. Wembanyama has played 53 games so far, and he can miss only two more before becoming ineligible for the awards under the NBA’s 65-game rule. No wonder that at this point in the season, Wembanyama is giving a fair share of attention to his health, alongside destroying the offenses.
Related: Victor Wembanyama Responds to Jaylen Brown’s ‘Alien’ Comment
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.