NBA: according to the traditional pre-season survey, Victor Wembanyama given MVP of the 2026-2027 season

Happy New Year? Victor Wembanyama tops most predictions in the traditional pre-season survey of managers of the 30 NBA teams, who estimate Thursday that the Frenchman will be the best player (MVP) of the 2026-2027 financial year.

They are 23 of the 30 managers, or 70% of them, to give Wemby MVP, after a season where he took the Spurs to the finals and where he finished third in the prestigious award, behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. The 2.24m Frenchman is well ahead in the polls of Jokic (10%), triple MVP, and Minnesota fullback Anthony Edwards (7%).

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The title of best defender also

Expectations are enormous around the French giant who, at only 22 years old, must confirm his status as an essential star of world basketball. NBA managers see him crushing the competition next season to be voted best defender of the year for the second time in a row, with 97% of the votes in his favor ahead of his compatriot Rudy Gobert (3%).

He is acclaimed in many categories, including that of the most versatile player of next season, the best international, and the one who forces opposing coaches to make the most adjustments to counter him. Fifteen of the 30 managers give the San Antonio Spurs of Wemby, finalists in June, winners of the next season ahead of Oklahoma City (43%).

This traditional pre-season survey, however, calls for caution because managers have been wrong in recent years about the future champions. 80% predicted another victory for the Oklahoma Thunder last season, while the New York Knicks won for the first time since 1973.