The San Antonio Spurs are officially back in the playoffs after seven long years of rebuilding. Victor Wembanyama’s MVP-level performance is key to this triumph. His monstrous outing against the Phoenix Suns culminated in a game-winning jumper that ended the postseason drought.
Victor Wembanyama’s MVP-Level Play Sends Spurs to Playoffs
Wemby’s MVP Campaign Continues
After surpassing Nikola Jokic in the MVP race, Wembanyama’s hopes for the award lie in the final stretch of the season. Luckily for his fans, he is playing his best basketball ever. With 34 points and 12 rebounds against the Suns, Wemby showed why he is becoming the dominant big man San Antonio has dreamed of. Despite only being 22 years old, his past occasional timidity has turned into calculated aggression on offense.
Thursday’s game gave Wembanyama his first true MVP moment. He hit a beautiful fading jump shot akin to the heroics of Kevin Durant. Although he has had otherworldly performances, this one sent his whole team into a frenzy. It is one thing to dominate; it is another to hold for the last shot with immense pressure on you and sink it. If there is one thing NBA fans hate, it is watching a player win MVP and choke in the playoffs. That’s why Wemby’s teammates serenaded him with “MVP” chants after the win.
Comfort in the clutch is what separates great players from legends.
The Spurs Return To Their Comfort Zone
Did you know that, a few years ago, the Spurs were the all-time leaders in win percentage? How about the fact they made the playoffs 22 years in a row? Or that they only missed the playoffs nine times in their first 40 seasons? The Spurs of old rarely knew mediocrity or the depression of being a bottom-feeder team. The rare instances of missing the playoffs were often followed up with the drafting of all-time greats such as Tim Duncan or David Robinson. That is, until their seven year drought.
After an underwhelming return for superstar Kawhi Leonard in 2018 and years of draft prospects not panning out, many began to point fingers at the gold standard organization. Gregg Popovich, one of the greatest coaches of all time, was criticized for not adjusting to the modern NBA — even though he also served as the team’s general manager. In the age of “super teams,” it was thought that San Antonio needed to break the bank looking for talent, not slowly rebuild.
Despite replacing Popovich and GM R.C Bufford, the team’s vision stayed intact. The Spurs’ extended drought was caused by an unwillingness to bail out their rebuild in free agency and their need to draft a superstar. After years of struggle, Victor Wembanyama has reached and surpassed superstardom. The Spurs can anchor another dynasty with his abilities.
The Spurs build to win championships, not just to make the playoffs. Will the Spurs be contenders for two decades again? Only time will tell.
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