Wembanyama Reaches 65 Games and Remains in the MVP Race

It took just one night for the San Antonio Spurs to confirm what has already become obvious: Victor Wembanyama continues to rewrite expectations and standards.

In a 139-120 win over the Dallas Mavericks, the French big man posted 40 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks while also reaching a key milestone: 65 games played, the minimum threshold for eligibility for end-of-season NBA awards – a requirement that still leaves major names like Nikola Jokic in limbo.

A detail far from insignificant, especially for a player widely viewed as the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year.

A dominant performance despite the pain

Returning after missing one game with a rib contusion suffered against the Philadelphia 76ers, Wembanyama played just 26 minutes – but that was more than enough to make his mark. By the end of the first quarter alone, he had already posted 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting, along with 5 rebounds and a block, immediately setting the tone.

Throughout the game, signs of discomfort were visible, with the French star repeatedly reaching toward the injured area. Still, his effectiveness never dropped:

I tried to protect the rib as much as possible without disrespecting the game. It went well – it didn’t bother me too much, only on certain contact plays

Victor Wembanyama

Head coach Mitch Johnson also addressed his player’s condition:

He’ll be sore tomorrow, but he came out of the game well

Mitch Johnson

Record numbers: tied with David Robinson

The performance against Dallas marked Wembanyama’s fifth game this season with at least 40 points and 10 rebounds, tying David Robinson (1993-94) for the most such games in a single season in Spurs history.

A clear sign that his present is already elite—even while his ceiling remains far from reached.

The 65-game debate: Wembanyama weighs in

After reaching the required threshold, the French star described the milestone as:

A box to check

Victor Wembanyama

But he didn’t stop there. He also expressed sympathy for players like Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards, and Luka Doncic, all hurt by injuries and therefore at risk of missing out on awards.

Then he flipped the discussion, posing a direct question to reporters: does it really make sense to set a games-played threshold?

His logic was simple and compelling:

A player who appears in 50 games at 35 minutes per game totals 1,750 minutes. Someone who plays 75 games at 20 minutes totals 1,500. What’s the real impact?

Victor Wembanyama

A reflection that challenges the current NBA system, suggesting total minutes played might be a fairer metric than games played.

If I had already reached 65 games, I probably wouldn’t have played

Victor Wembanyama

A statement that opens another discussion entirely: how much is the current system influencing players’ decisions on the court?