On Thursday evening, the NBA world literally struggled to choose which way to look. Victor Wembanyama drained a game-winning fadeaway over Oso Ighodaro with 1.1 seconds remaining, clinching the San Antonio Spurs' first playoff berth since 2019. Meanwhile, in Miami, Luka Doncic dropped 60 points on 18-of-30 shooting to push the Los Angeles Lakers to their eighth consecutive win.
Both players were already neck-and-neck in the MVP race, and Thursday just made it closer. On Friday, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith and Brian Windhorst joined Shae Cornette on First Take. Cornette asked the two analysts the question that is everybody's ask at this point: "Which would you rather have on your team, Luka or Wemby, right now?"
Interestingly, they both picked Wembanyama. The reason came down to one thing: defense.
Windhorst was the first to respond, and at the very beginning, he admitted how difficult the choice was, just a day after the two registered historic performances for their respective squads. "You're putting me in a bad spot," the veteran analyst stated.
"But I'm going to go with Wemby, and I'm going to give you the answer as to why. Somebody's got to deal with Shai...and if I got to unseat that beast and his incredible ability to get into the paint and score and create all of those problems for me defensively, I have to go with the defensive ace," he further added.
Numbers indeed support the argument. When Wembanyama is on the court, the Spurs hold a 109.8 defensive rating. When he sits, that figure balloons to 117.9. Opponents reportedly shoot significantly lower percentages at the rim when the Frenchman is in the paint. He's averaging a league-leading 3.0 blocks per game this season, way ahead of the next player on the list.
But it's not just the rim protection. Wembanyama's 8-foot wingspan allows him to contest shots he has no business affecting, and his fluidity lets him switch onto guards without getting torched. His very presence warps offensive game plans.
He has already shown his defensive brilliance, finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting as a rookie. But this year, he legitimately looks the overwhelming favorite to claim the award. While that is the highlight of his game, Wembanyama's offensive efficiency has been solid as well. He's putting up 24.3 points and 11.2 rebounds per game while shooting 50.6% from the floor. This is something that Smith noted with a lofty comparison.
"Let's just say it offensively. He's a 5-inch taller version than the 7-foot Kevin Durant. That's what he is, who, by the way, plays elite defense as an eraser, not just at the glass. I've seen him go out and block three-point shots...It's not even close to me. Of course, the answer to this question is Victor Wimbeyama," Smith said.
Notably, Wembanyama himself has also been candid about his individual goals. Earlier this month, he told reporters: "I want to win the MVP and the Defensive Player of the Year."
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Luka Doncic Is Making a Case for Himself With Scoring Surge
Doncic, meanwhile, is doing everything he can to make the MVP-race a debate. The league's leading scorer has averaged 40.9 points over the Lakers' eight-game win streak, including Thursday's 60-point game that broke the record for most points scored by an opponent at Miami. He's shooting 42.2% from three during this stretch. Little wonder he received MVP chants on Thursday during the Lakers' road game in Miami.
Doncic did not hide his feelings about the love he received from the fans. "I think every player wants to hear it," he said. "I got a lot of goosebumps, so it was pretty special." The MVP ladder reflects the debate. Wembanyama sat at No. 2 behind reigning winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander entering Thursday. After Doncic's explosion, he jumped Wembanyama on Friday morning's update. They've been trading positions for weeks.
Both players are having MVP-caliber seasons while carrying their teams to contention in a loaded Western Conference. But when the playoffs arrive, and possessions become critical, Wembanyama's two-way dominance separates him. Doncic can outscore anyone, but Wembanyama can outscore you and then erase your best looks at the rim.
Keldon Johnson, who endured the Spurs' rebuilding years, put it plainly after Thursday's win: "He's playing at an MVP-type level. It's hard to deny when he's doing what he's doing on both ends of the court." That last part is what holds the key. Both ends.
