OKLAHOMA CITY — Victor Wembanyama has been named the 2026 Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player after leading the San Antonio Spurs past the Oklahoma City Thunder and into the NBA Finals.
Wembanyama received the Earvin “Magic” Johnson Trophy after the Spurs defeated the defending champion Thunder 111-103 in Game 7 on Saturday night. The victory sealed a 4-3 series win and sent San Antonio to its first NBA Finals since 2014.
The 22-year-old forward-center was unanimously selected by the media voting panel. Across the seven-game series, he averaged 27.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.7 blocks in 37.7 minutes per game, underlining his impact on both ends of the floor.
In the deciding game, Wembanyama finished with 22 points and seven rebounds as the Spurs held off a late Thunder rally. Julian Champagnie added 20 points, including six three-pointers, while San Antonio’s depth proved decisive against an Oklahoma City team missing Jalen Williams through injury.
Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points and added nine assists, but Oklahoma City could not find enough support to extend its title defence. The result ensured the NBA will have a new champion for the eighth consecutive season.
Wembanyama’s award marks another major milestone in his rapid rise. In his first trip to the NBA playoffs, he powered the Spurs through a demanding seven-game series and confirmed his status as one of the league’s defining young stars.
San Antonio will now face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, a rematch of the 1999 championship series. Game 1 is scheduled for Wednesday in San Antonio.
