Why Victor Wembanyama Is the Early MVP Favorite for 2026-27
Victor Wembanyama enters the 2026-27 NBA season as the rare player whose award case starts before opening night. The Guardian’s season preview treats the MVP as his to lose and argues that, barring a significant injury, nobody should take either MVP or Defensive Player of the Year from him. That is a forecast, not a guarantee. It rests on a clear arc: a surprise Finals berth, a high finish in MVP voting, and a Finals loss that ended with the Knicks celebrating on his floor.
A Finals Loss as Fuel
The Guardian describes Wembanyama as content to play the villain and entering the season on a mission to tear through opponents. The edge comes from the Finals, where a late turnover decided Game 2. The preview says he will spend 82 games proving he does not choke again. That detail matters because NBA awards are not decided by numbers alone. A dominant season with a redemption story attached can shape a voter’s case. The loss is context, not evidence that he will win.
The Two-Way Case
Wembanyama’s strongest argument is that he affects both ends. The Guardian calls him a one-man defensive system who can also score 30 points a night. That combination explains why the preview sees him as the Defensive Player of the Year favorite and the leading MVP candidate. Winning both in the same season is rare. The Guardian notes that no player has done it since Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2020. The preview also frames Wembanyama’s physical impact in terms usually reserved for LeBron James at his peak.
What Could Break the Prediction
Health is the first caveat. The Guardian’s forecast is explicitly conditional on Wembanyama avoiding a significant injury. A second variable is load: the preview’s vision requires him to carry a defensive system and score 30 a night across a season. That is a demanding role, and the preview does not offer a medical projection. The piece also mentions voter fatigue, a reminder that award races are shaped by more than raw production. Wembanyama may be the early favorite. He still has to play the games.