ESPN analysts Stephen A. Smith and Brian Windhorst both chose Victor Wembanyama over Luka Doncic for their ideal playoff teams, pointing to his defensive impact as the deciding factor. With the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers both surging, this debate highlights the premium on two-way players in the postseason.
The NBA’s two brightest young stars delivered historic performances on the same night, forcing a debate that had been simmering for months into the open. Victor Wembanyama‘s game-winning fadeaway lifted the San Antonio Spurs to their first playoff berth since 2019, while Luka Doncic‘s 60-point outburst propelled the Los Angeles Lakers to an eighth straight win.
Both are frontrunners for the MVP award, but when ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and Brian Windhorst were asked on First Take which player they’d rather have for a playoff run, they both chose Wembanyama. The reason, they insisted, was defense.
Windhorst admitted the choice was difficult, stating, “You’re putting me in a bad spot.” But he added, “I’m going to go with Wemby… Somebody’s got to deal with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander… I have to go with the defensive ace.”
Smith was even more emphatic, comparing Wembanyama to a taller Kevin Durant: “He’s a 5-inch taller version than the 7-foot Kevin Durant. That’s what he is, who, by the way, plays elite defense as an eraser.” You can watch Smith’s full argument on First Take.
The numbers validate this take. When Wembanyama is on the court, the Spurs boast a 109.8 defensive rating; when he sits, it jumps to 117.9 according to StatMuse. Opponents shoot significantly lower percentages at the rim with him in the paint, and he leads the league with 3.0 blocks per game. His 8-foot wingspan allows him to contest shots far from the basket, and his switchability prevents offensive mismatches.
This defensive prowess earned him a second-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting as a rookie, and this season he’s the overwhelming favorite for the award. Yet his offense remains potent: 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 50.6% shooting per game.
Meanwhile, Doncic is on a scoring tear, averaging 40.9 points during the Lakers’ win streak, including a 60-point game that set a record in Miami. He’s shooting 42.2% from three in that stretch and received MVP chants from Heat fans.
Keldon Johnson, who experienced the Spurs’ rebuilding years firsthand, captured the sentiment: “He’s playing at an MVP-type level. It’s hard to deny when he’s doing what he’s doing on both ends of the court.”
This isn’t just about regular-season stats. In the playoffs, every possession magnifies weaknesses. Doncic’s scoring brilliance can carry a series, but Wembanyama offers a ceiling-raising two-way impact. He can score efficiently in the half-court while simultaneously neutralizing the opponent’s best perimeter player. That combination is rare—think peak Giannis Antetokounmpo or a young Tim Duncan—and often the difference between a conference finals appearance and an early exit.
Wembanyama has publicly stated his goal to win both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. With the Spurs clawing back into contention and the Lakers riding Doncic’s heroics, the Western Conference playoffs could feature a thrilling showdown between these two generational talents. But if analysts are building their ideal playoff roster today, they’re leaning toward the player who doesn’t need the ball to dominate the game.
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