Wembanyama Leads NBA MVP Picks as Spurs and Thunder Chase Title

Victor Wembanyama enters the 2026-27 NBA season as the leading candidate for Most Valuable Player, while the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder emerge as the leading championship contenders. Preseason predictions published by DAZN on October 20 unanimously selected the Spurs center for MVP, reflecting his growing influence after San Antonio reached the NBA Finals last season.

Wembanyama received all three MVP votes from DAZN analysts Eric Blum, Ryan Songalia and Joshua Valdez. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder ranked just behind him in the publication's preseason assessment, setting up a contest between two players whose teams are expected to challenge for the championship.

The Ringer's updated player rankings, published October 19, also placed Wembanyama first overall. The 22-year-old Frenchman became the youngest player to reach the top position in the ranking's history, overtaking Gilgeous-Alexander after San Antonio's postseason run.

According to The Ringer, the Spurs recorded a plus-12.9 net rating with Wembanyama on the floor during the playoffs. That figure fell to minus-2.0 when he was off the court. The publication also noted that Wembanyama became the NBA's first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year in his third season, while continued development of his offensive game remains an important focus.

Championship projections published by ESPN on October 20 identified San Antonio and Oklahoma City as the leading contenders entering the season. The New York Knicks, the reigning champions, and the Philadelphia 76ers also feature prominently in the preseason outlook following significant roster changes in Philadelphia.

DAZN's conference predictions reflected the competition between the two Western Conference powers. Blum picked San Antonio to defeat Oklahoma City, while Songalia and Valdez favored the Thunder to advance over the Spurs.

In the Eastern Conference, Songalia and Valdez selected the Knicks, projecting victories over the 76ers and Toronto Raptors, respectively. Blum instead backed the Detroit Pistons to defeat New York, citing the team's potential to improve if it finds more consistent shooting.

The Rookie of the Year predictions favored Cameron Boozer of the Memphis Grizzlies, who received two of DAZN's three selections. Blum chose Caleb Wilson of the Chicago Bulls as his alternative.

For the All-NBA First Team, Wembanyama, Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets appeared on all three analysts' ballots. Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers received two selections, while Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns of the Knicks, and Cade Cunningham of the Pistons each appeared on one ballot.

Roster depth also remains a defining factor in the league's competitive landscape. The Ringer's rankings identified Oklahoma City as the team with the most players in its Top 100, placing seven on the list. San Antonio followed with six, alongside the Portland Trail Blazers.

The rankings also highlighted the changing positions of established stars. Stephen Curry ranked 11th, Kevin Durant 15th and LeBron James 21st, leaving all three outside the preseason top 10. Kawhi Leonard, at 35, was the only player older than 31 in that group, ranking eighth overall.

Detroit center Jalen Duren experienced one of the steepest declines in the latest rankings, falling from 24th in March to 46th. The Ringer reported that his average points in the paint dropped from 14.6 per game during the regular season to 7.7 in the playoffs, before he agreed to a five-year, $200 million contract with the Pistons.

Despite the individual rankings and differing conference predictions, the preseason assessments point to a competitive championship race, with San Antonio and Oklahoma City positioned at the center of the Western Conference picture and the Knicks seeking another deep postseason run.