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He didn’t crack the top five in the Kia MVP rankings this week or this season, but he’s got people talking.

We’re literally talking about Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs’ fast-rising center at No. 6, whose arrival begins on so many levels.

Wemby owns two 42-point games, the last at Christmas, and a 10-block game in December. There are five days left in December, but here are his averages for the month: 29.1 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.7 blocks per game.

If he maintains the same energy in January, not only is his breakout season official, but his first serious All-NBA appearance is all but assured.

As for the MVP? There is tough competition. For Wemby to become a finalist in his second season would be a massive achievement. And he tends to win several such awards in the future anyway.

So it’s a Wemby-only take on this week’s Kia MVP rankings, which could soon see a shake-up.

Set the stage this week: Wembanyama not only makes the case to be a top-10 MVP contender, he also secures the pole position for Kia Defensive Player of the Year. Therefore, his Sunday fight against Rudy Gobert is twofold: a French pair and perhaps last season’s DPOY versus this season’s DPOY.

The stats you should know: Wembanyama shot 90 3-pointers in December and posted a 38.9% shooting percentage. Stephen Curry made 109 3-pointers in December and shot 37.9%.

What they say: “My God, he’s different. The league will be in good hands when all the old guys are done.” — Knicks guard Josh Hart on Wembanyama after a 42-point, 18-rebound, four-block effort on Christmas.

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1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Last ladder: No. 1
Season statistics: 30.7 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 9.4 apg

His case: Although the Nuggets continue to receive mixed reviews – and that’s a good thing – “The Joker” shows little sign of stress or wear and tear. He has a game with two assists, but that’s more due to his teammates’ inability to convert his passes into balls.

However, as the NBA season moves away from Christmas, the games won factor weighs more heavily here in the rankings. It wouldn’t necessarily eliminate Jokić from the conversation, but it makes for serious conversation.

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2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Last ladder: No. 2
Season statistics: 32.7 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 6.0 apg

His case: After complaining about the Bucks not appearing on the Christmas table, Antetokounmpo sat out the next night because of back spasms that had plagued him for the past week.

Nonetheless, Antetokounmpo is still breathing in the healthy steam from the recent Emirates NBA Cup title, and that should be enough to keep him higher up the rankings.

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3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Last ladder: No. 3
Season statistics: 31.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 6.1 apg

His case: He delivered emphatically in consecutive games, scoring 41 points against the Wizards and then dropping 45 points against the Pacers to pull off a comeback win on Thursday.

Unlike the two players rated before him, Gilgeous-Alexander controls a conference leader that will move in his favor as the season progresses.

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4. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Last ladder: No. 4
Season statistics: 28.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 7.8 apg

His case: Red alert – a calf strain could jeopardize Dončić’s MVP chances. Before suffering the injury this week, he missed eight games this season. If he is forced to miss an extended period of time due to this latest injury, he risks missing the 65-game threshold for qualifying for the awards.

It would be unfortunate if a five-time All-NBA player didn’t make it a sixth time in addition to MVP consideration, despite the statistical numbers.

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5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Last ladder: No. 5
Season statistics: 29 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 5.6 apg

His case: He was pretty much the only bright spot (32-15-4) for the Celtics in their Christmas loss to the Sixers, capping off another strong month. So far in December, Tatum is averaging 29.5 ppg, 11.8 rpg and 5.3 apg.

Consistency, wins and a greater presence on the boards will keep Tatum in the top five.

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The next 5:

6. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
7. Karl Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
8. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
9. De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
10. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

And five more (ordered alphabetically): Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks; Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers; Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns; Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets; Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

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Shaun Powell has been covering the NBA for more than 25 years. You can email him here, his archive can be found here and Follow him on X.

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