Victor Wembanyama Shares His NBA MVP Criteria: Awards Watch

Each week Filmogaz.com checks the status of the major individual award races. The latest update includes odds and recent trends ahead of Wednesday’s games.

The writer has voted on NBA awards since 2019. The process uses game observation and statistical review. The 65-game rule remains critical for eligibility.

MVP race

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the betting market at roughly -750. Victor Wembanyama is the primary challenger at about +1000. Nikola Jokić sits behind them with longer odds, and Jaylen Brown and Luka Dončić round out the top five.

Top players and notes

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder — market favorite.
• Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs — surged into contention after a public case for the award.
• Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets — odds lengthened even after a strong recent four-game stretch.
• Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics — maintained high production after Jayson Tatum’s return.
• Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers — continues to lead the league in scoring.
• Honorable mentions: Kevin Durant, Donovan Mitchell, Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham.

Cade Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung. He may miss the remainder of the regular season. If he does, the 65-game rule likely makes him ineligible for major awards.

Wembanyama’s MVP criteria

Victor Wembanyama outlined three criteria he thinks matter in MVP voting. Filmogaz.com reviewed those points and compared the top candidates.

• Defense as half the game. Wembanyama argues defense is undervalued in MVP decisions.
• Season-altering value. He cited the Spurs’ wins over Oklahoma City as changing momentum.
• Offensive impact beyond scoring. He stressed playmaking and gravity, not just points.

Filmogaz.com compared those criteria across the three frontrunners. The results show different strengths and weaknesses.

Defensive and offensive comparisons

• Wembanyama: leads the league in blocks by a wide margin. Spurs defense worsens by 10.2 points per 100 possessions without him. Players shoot about 8.9 percentage points worse when he defends.
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: strong perimeter defender with roughly 1.5 steals and one block per game. Team defense is steady either way.
• Nikola Jokić: solid positional defender historically, but has struggled defensively since returning from injury.

• Wembanyama: averages about 24.3 points. He creates roughly 5.5 points per game with assists. Spurs offense drops 6.5 points per 100 possessions when he sits. Team true shooting falls from 61.7 to 57.1 percent with him off the floor.
• Gilgeous-Alexander: averages near 31.5 scoring points. He produces about 17.5 points via assists. Thunder offense declines 10.4 points per 100 possessions when he is out. True shooting shifts from 61.6 to 57.1 percent with him off.
• Jokić: averages around 27.9 points. He leads in points created by assists at roughly 27.8 per game. Nuggets offense drops 13.1 points per 100 possessions when he is off. True shooting moves from 64.1 to 57.6 percent without him.

Voters must decide how to weight defense, scoring, and overall impact. Consistency favors Gilgeous-Alexander. A late surge could boost Wembanyama’s case.

Defensive Player of the Year

Victor Wembanyama is the heavy favorite at around -5000. Chet Holmgren and Rudy Gobert trail as challengers.

Over the last two months, Wembanyama averaged roughly 3.7 blocks and 1.3 steals per game in 28 appearances. The Spurs become very difficult to score against when he plays.

Peers and opponents have publicly acknowledged his disruptive presence. The race may conclude with Wembanyama earning the award.

Rookie of the Year

Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets sits atop the rookie leaderboard. Cooper Flagg and VJ Edgecombe remain in contention.

Flagg returned from a foot injury but has struggled with shooting efficiency. His free-throw shooting and rate of attempts at the line improved after his return.

Knueppel’s consistent production in meaningful games strengthens his case during the postseason push.

Sixth Man of the Year

Keldon Johnson of the Spurs currently leads the betting market. Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Naz Reid are the closest competitors.

Public attention and recent performance have pushed Johnson to the top. The battle remains tight heading into the season’s final weeks.

Coach of the Year

Joe Mazzulla of the Celtics leads the odds, followed by Mitch Johnson of the Spurs. J.B. Bickerstaff of the Pistons remains a strong candidate.

The award often rewards teams that exceed expectations. The Spurs and Celtics both surprised observers this season.

Most Improved Player

Nickeil Alexander-Walker currently sits as the front-runner. Jalen Duren and Jalen Johnson remain in the conversation.

Deni Avdija fell in this race after a difficult March following injury. Duren’s stretch without Cade Cunningham produced eye-catching numbers.

Across five games after Cunningham’s absence, Duren averaged about 25.8 points and 10.6 rebounds. His shooting line in that span was roughly 64.7 percent from the field and 87.2 percent from the line on 9.4 attempts.

Filmogaz.com will follow developments as the regular season winds down. Odds and statistics reflected here were current entering Wednesday’s games.