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LeBron James is already sizing up the 2026-27 season—and he’s betting on Wembanyama for MVP and the Thunder to make noise in the West.
In a teaser for his Mind the Game podcast, LeBron dismissed any doubt about Wembanyama’s MVP chances, responding “I don’t see why not” when asked if the 2026-27 campaign could be the San Antonio Spurs star’s first MVP season. The endorsement carries weight: James has won four MVPs himself and has spent two decades reading the league’s power structure better than almost anyone. Wembanyama, who finished third in last season’s MVP voting, is already one of the league’s ascending superstars—a 7’4″ defensive anchor and secondary playmaker who gets more dynamic every year. LeBron’s signal isn’t a prediction so much as a permission slip for voters to take Wembanyama seriously if he sustains his trajectory.
Wembanyama’s MVP Case Isn’t Just Hype
What makes LeBron’s take credible is the specificity of where Wembanyama sits in the hierarchy. Third in MVP voting after two seasons suggests he’s not a fad—he’s a foundational player entering his prime. A jump to first isn’t implausible if the Spurs win more and he increases his scoring or playmaking efficiency. The MVP race is rarely decided by one stat; it’s decided by narrative, team record, and voter fatigue with the incumbents. LeBron knows all three dynamics. His public endorsement signals that Wembanyama has crossed a threshold where a monster year wouldn’t surprise the basketball mainstream.
The Thunder’s Unfinished Business
LeBron also backed the Oklahoma City Thunder as championship contenders, a take that tracks the actual landscape. The Thunder reached the Western Conference Finals last season but couldn’t get past Wembanyama and the Spurs, hampered by injuries. A healthy Oklahoma City roster has the depth, defense, and shot-making to challenge in the West again. LeBron’s co-sign is a reminder that the Thunder aren’t a one-year wonder—they’re a structure problem for opponents, not a flash in the pan.
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