Luka Doncic and Victor Wembanyama are destined to be two players who wrestle for NBA MVPs over the next few seasons. Before that, they will go head-to-head on Wednesday night when the San Antonio Spurs visit Crypto.com Arena to face the Los Angeles Lakers.
Both superstars have been sensational to start the year. Wembanyama has averaged 26.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, 4.7 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game, leading the Spurs to a surprisingly strong 5-1 start.
Doncic, meanwhile, has been otherworldly in his four appearances. Thus far, the Lakers superstar has posted 41.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, guiding the Lakers to a 3-1 record with him in the lineup. When asked about Doncic ahead of their matchup, Wembanyama did not even pretend to have anything but admiration.
Victor Wembanyama comments on playing Luka Doncic and the Lakers on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/WUfSPyWpQu
— Spurs Nation (@Spurs_Nation) November 4, 2025
Wembanyama said, "Luka is one of the hardest players to scout, because he understands and masters the game more than almost anybody else. So, it's always a great challenge. I don't think I've ever won against him."
Luka Doncic is the standard that Victor Wembanyama should be chasing
It is almost surreal to remember that Doncic is already in his eighth season in the NBA. After a dominant run with Slovenia at EuroBasket 2025, Luka has brought that form over to the Lakers, who are now reaping the rewards of his individual brilliance.
Granted, no one expects Doncic to keep up this unbelievable level for the entirety of the 2025-26 season. Well, Austin Reaves might, but his superstar teammate has called him stupid for thinking that.
Wembanyama's praise of Doncic should remind everyone that his peers are equally as captivated by the standard he's set as anyone else. For the Spurs superstar, this is exactly the type of player you look to and want to emulate, in terms of trajectory.
Doncic followed up a strong rookie campaign in 2018-19 with an immediate second-year explosion. The former Dallas Mavericks superstar went from Rookie of the Year to All-NBA First Team, leading his team to an unexpected postseason ascent in the process.
Wembanyama was robbed of the opportunity to do the same in his second season due to blood clots. However, with the Spurs phenom back in the lineup and healthy this year, things in San Antonio appear to be back on schedule.
For Doncic, Wembanyama will be one of his main rivals in pursuit of the first (overdue) MVP trophy of his otherwise brilliant career. The superstar point guard needs to keep building on his strong start to secure that individual honor before the young man giving him praise starts to become a regular fixture who is constantly threatening his claim to that award.