Inside the Epic Rivalry Shaping the 2026 NBA MVP Race: Assassin or Alien?
Wemby should be the first consensus Defensive Player of the Year. And yes, defense should be a factor in MVP voting. It has always mattered. After losing the race the year prior, defense is what put Michael Jordan over the top in 1988 when he won MVP over Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. It’s why Tim Duncan won MVP in 2002 over Jason Kidd and Shaquille O’Neal. In my years of voting, it’s why Giannis won in back-to-back years. It’s why Jokić didn’t win until 2021, only after he finally got in shape and became a positive interior defender. Defense certainly played a part in why SGA won last year too.


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