Spurs Schedule watch: Wembanyama escalates MVP push after division clinch, playoff drought snapped
spurs schedule attention is intensifying after Victor Wembanyama’s Monday win over the Miami Heat delivered a division title and ended a six-season playoff drought. The Spurs center scored 26 points in the victory at Kaseya Center in Miami, then publicly framed the NBA MVP race as something he wants to close decisively. As of 8: 00 PM ET on Tuesday, the next immediate checkpoint is Wednesday’s matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies, where his season-long case will be under another bright light.
What changed Monday night
In Monday’s win over the Heat, Wembanyama’s 26 points came in a moment that carried weight beyond a single box score: it helped San Antonio clinch a division title and end the franchise’s six-season playoff drought. Immediately after, Wembanyama addressed the MVP discussion directly, making clear he views the award as within reach — and something he intends to separate himself in before the season ends.
“I have thought about it, ” Wembanyama said. “I think right now, there is a debate. There should be, even though I think I should lead the race. I’m trying to make sure that at the end of the season, there’s no debate. ”
Spurs Schedule spotlight: the Wednesday Grizzlies game and the numbers behind the bid
Wednesday’s matchup with Memphis arrives with Wembanyama carrying season averages of 24. 3 points, 11. 2 rebounds, and 3. 0 blocked shots per game. Those numbers form the backbone of his campaign, but Wembanyama also laid out a structured argument for why he believes he deserves the award.
His first point centers on defense: “Defense is 50% of the game and that it is undervalued so far in the MVP race. I believe I’m the most impactful player defensively in the league, ” Wembanyama said.
His second point points to head-to-head performance against Oklahoma City this season, describing a near season-sweep and multiple wins against what he called their “real team. ” His third point broadens the offensive evaluation beyond scoring: “The third argument would be that offense impact is not just points, ” he said.
Other candidates remain firmly in the picture. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder guard, swept the regular-season and NBA Finals MVP awards last year on the way to his first championship, and he is again in MVP discussions for the 2025-26 season. The field also includes Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, identified as the NBA’s leading scorer, and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, a three-time MVP who currently holds slightly better odds to win the award this year, with Wembanyama third in those odds.
Another key factor hanging over every contender is eligibility: new NBA rules require a minimum of 65 games played for a player to be eligible for the MVP award.
Immediate reactions from the Spurs’ bench and the MVP voter conversation
Inside the Spurs organization, coach Mitch Johnson backed Wembanyama’s candidacy from a daily, eye-test perspective.
“I think he’s close, ” Johnson said. “All those guys you named are deserving; a couple of them already have that award. And I’m very biased. I get to see one of those guys every single night. ”
Beyond the locker room, MVP voter conversations are also shifting in real time. On a Tuesday edition of First Take, ’s Stephen A. Smith said Wembanyama has “done changed my mind” about who he is leaning toward voting for in the MVP race, highlighting Wembanyama’s defensive excellence and San Antonio’s success against Oklahoma City in their head-to-head matchups this season.
Quick context and what’s next
Wembanyama is the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year, and he has now tied his MVP push to team achievement with San Antonio clinching a division title while breaking a long playoff absence. At the same time, the MVP field remains crowded with recent winners and elite scorers still in the mix.
Next up, the spurs schedule points directly to Wednesday’s Grizzlies matchup, where every possession will double as proof in an award race Wembanyama says he wants to end “with no debate. ”
