What's Wright - Is Victor Wembanyama MVP? NBA Playoff DREAM scenarios + NFL stars in Olympics? | Nick Wright

Welcome in to episode 436. Shirts are unintentionally matching, March Madness is rolling, and yes, I fired money into a survivor pool despite not living college hoops all season. The NBA stretch finally has weight, Wemby said out loud he’s the MVP, and KD just cracked the top five in scoring while ranking far lower in shot attempts, which is a wild efficiency flex.

Is the best‑player‑alive belt actually up for grabs between SGA, Luka, Wemby, and Jokic once the playoffs start?

If OKC wins the title and SGA stacks regular season and Finals MVPs, he takes the crown. If Luka drags a lower seed through three series as an underdog and wins it, he likely wins the plurality. If the Spurs win it, Wemby becomes the obvious answer. For Jokic to hold it, Denver needs a deep run while the East winner doesn’t produce a stronger claim.

Wemby made his MVP case at the podium. You in or out on that?

Defense matters, but MVP voting has never treated it as equal to offense; we literally give separate All‑Defense and DPOY because MVP skews offense. Wemby’s defense is singular, but I’m not granting hypothetical offense he isn’t asked to shoulder, and extra usage usually dings defense. My ballot today: Shai, Luka, Wemby, Jokic, then Cade for now with Jalen Brown and Jalen Brunson right there.

I still think Wemby’s total impact makes him most valuable.

I get it, but their offense doesn’t revolve around him the way their defense does, and they’re ten and five when he sits. He’s phenomenal, I just want to avoid fast‑forwarding his offensive résumé or rewriting how MVP has always been decided.

Lakers just dropped one to Detroit. You walking back putting them in that top tier with the Spurs and Celtics?

No panic on one loss; the concern is the thin record versus the Celtics, Spurs, and Thunder. I still see a Lakers‑Spurs series as close, and playoff reps matter when your rotation has been deep into June while the Spurs’ core is green.

Back‑to‑back twelve‑point nights for LeBron. New normal?

It’s by design. Swiss‑Army‑knife Bron, defending and cutting, is what helps this group most, and he doesn’t need to chase All‑NBA this year.

Luka’s tech got rescinded. Should he burn one on purpose to reset?

Yes. Grab one against Brooklyn, sit Washington on the back‑to‑back, and be clean before a spicy OKC stretch so a heat‑of‑the‑moment tech doesn’t cost a bigger game.

Thunder get J‑Dub back and face my Celtics. Which side does this tell us more about?

Neither will look like June. Tatum’s working back his legs and shot but boarding like crazy, and OKC’s depth holds whether J‑Dub is in or out, which is the point—they’re built to absorb absences.

Still riding with the Celtics to win it all?

Yes, mostly because the East path is cleaner while the West has three real threats. By the Finals, Tatum will have months post‑injury, and Boston won’t be as beat up as whoever survives the West.

Which playoff matchups are you rooting for?

Give me Sixers‑Knicks in round one if Embiid’s upright. Out West, the seven‑eight play‑in looks like Suns‑Clippers, and I’d love Suns‑Spurs and Thunder‑Clippers. The Lakers’ dream bracket is the one on the board now: Rockets first, Nuggets‑Wolves as a round‑one fistfight, OKC hoping someone else softens them, and a path that avoids the Thunder until late.

You’ve been meh on this tournament’s opening week. Why?

NIL and the portal stripped mid‑majors of continuity, so the charming upsets dried up. I’m pro‑players getting paid, but the churn dulls the early rounds; we can workshop fixes in the offseason.

Seattle locked up their young wideout for big money. Thoughts?

Puka’s next for a raise, AJ Brown’s trade cost just went up, round‑one receivers on rookie deals are gold, and it even raises a Darnold extension question.

NFL guys got rolled in flag football. Reaction?

That version is tag with laterals, not football, which is fine—just a different sport. Credit to the flag specialists for owning their lane.

Travis Kelce signed for three years. Surprised?

The headline number’s misleading. It’s effectively one year at twelve million with incentives, plus accounting years and a massive roster bonus that won’t hit; reporting it as fifty‑plus million average misinforms fans and sets up needless drama later. Let’s be straight about cap mechanics.

Great show. Like, rate, subscribe, and we’ll see you Thursday and Friday. And yes, the Alligators public defender is coming.