According to FanDuel, Victor Wembanyama has the second-highest odds to win MVP this season; Luka Doncic is right behind him at third, and they’re set to face off on ESPN on Wednesday night. Wemby is having a seismic season so far, and the Spurs are off to an impressive start, but none of the teams they’ve played so far featured a talent the likes of Luka. He’s an enigma Vic has yet to conquer, and he knows it.
Victor Wembanyama comments on playing Luka Doncic and the Lakers on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/WUfSPyWpQu
— Spurs Nation (@Spurs_Nation) November 4, 2025
Doncic has dominated this matchup long enough
All eyes will be on this matchup. Two of the league’s most unique talents are about to go head-to-head on National TV, so expect fireworks. Victor Wembanyama loves a challenge; he’s proven that against the best players in the NBA repeatedly. But the last time he played the Slovenian savant, he turned in one of his lesser performances with 17 points, nine rebounds, one block, and four turnovers.
That was the first game of last season when Doncic still donned the Mavericks’ colors. The two haven’t seen the same court since. Now, as they prepare to go blow for blow, Wemby stands across from his former, yet still his, rival atop the mountain. However, standing on equal ground doesn’t guarantee you’ll topple the menace who has repeatedly dominated their meetings.
In the four games Vic has played against the former beloved Dallas star, Luka is averaging 27 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, and two steals per game. As always, it will take a team effort to slow down the offensive guru. He’s on a mission this year—showing up to training camp in the best shape of his career, after being shipped to LA without so much as a heads-up.
Everyone has to pay the price for Nico Harrison’s brash business decision now. The Lakers’ point-forward is putting up 41 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists per game this season. So, thanks for that, Nico. Fortunately, he’s still a turnstile on defense for the most part, and his three-point shooting is down significantly.
It might have been easier to key in on him with LeBron James still expected to be sidelined if Austin Reaves wasn’t also having an out-of-body experience to start the year. The fifth-year guard from Oklahoma has been dropping 31 points, five rebounds, and nine assists a night. It’s the best playmaking duo the Spurs have seen yet. They have their weaknesses, though.
Despite the firepower those two bring, the Lakers (117.7) are only a few percentage points better than the Silver and Black (117.0) in offensive efficiency. The Spurs (108.2), on the other hand, boast the better defense over LA (115.2) by a mile. There’s never been a better time for Wembanyama to make a statement by taking down Luka in front of a national audience. The MVP voters will love it.
