Victor Wembanyama discussed his ambitions, personal development, training methods and outlook on life in a 60 Minutes interview, saying he believes he should win the NBA MVP award in the 2026-27 season.
Asked about his previous MVP comments, the San Antonio Spurs center did not back away from his ambition.
“I should win it this year though,” Wembanyama said.
The 22-year-old is averaging 28.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.2 blocks and 3.0 assists through six games this season. He finished third in the 2025-26 MVP voting after averaging 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks in 64 games.
Wembanyama also discussed the challenge of building a career without a blueprint for a player with his combination of size and skill.
“Being comfortable not knowing, being comfortable finding out my own answers,” he said about his approach. He described the process as “walking through the fog,” explaining that the moments when he finds clarity make the uncertainty worthwhile.
The Spurs star identified alley-oops as one of his favorite parts of basketball, emphasizing the connection required between teammates.
“It’s like a telepathy,” Wembanyama said. He also discussed how his perspective changed after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his shoulder in 2025.
“Life’s so short, I don’t even want to waste it being somebody else,” he said.
That experience influenced his approach to life beyond basketball. Wembanyama explained that he wants to be less guarded and more comfortable showing his personality.
His training routine also reflects his curiosity. He described the importance of foot strength and posture, saying that the feet influence the development of the knees, hips and back. He also discussed his barefoot walking habits and preference for minimalist shoes.
Wembanyama traveled to China in the summer of 2025 to train kung fu and meditate alongside Buddhist monks. He recalled that his first meditation session lasted one hour and 40 minutes, describing the experience as difficult after previously having little experience with the practice.
He also spoke about lessons from former Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, particularly the importance of humility.
“After a win, you’re rarely as good as you thought you were. And after a loss, you’re rarely as bad as you thought you were,” Wembanyama recalled Popovich telling the team during film sessions.
The interview also touched on Wembanyama’s view of his NBA Finals experience against the New York Knicks. He said being portrayed as a villain after the incident involving Jalen Brunson did not bother him during the series, but acknowledged that the episode exposed his limits.
“Going out there, you need to play basketball. You don’t need to beat the [expletive] out of people,” he said.
Wembanyama and the Spurs are 4-2 through six games of the 2026-27 season.
