The statistical foundation of Kevin Garnett’s 2004 MVP season

Garnett earned 120 of 123 first-place votes from the Pro Basketball Writers’ Association, finishing with 1,219 total points and beating runner-up Tim Duncan, who earned 716 points, by a margin of 503. He averaged 24.2 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 5.0 assists during the 2003-04 season. This performance made him one of only two players to average 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists for five straight seasons, alongside Larry Bird. The Timberwolves finished with a 58-24 record and a nine-game winning streak. This success allowed Minnesota to win the Midwest Division and the top seed in the Western Conference. Garnett was the number five pick in the 1995 NBA Draft. The roster included Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell. Garnett was a premier scorer and rebounder, and he was also one of the league’s top defenders. In the playoffs, the Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets in five games. They then played the Sacramento Kings in the conference semifinals. The series went seven games, with Minnesota winning Game 7 on their home court with a score of 83-80. Garnett scored 32 points and grabbed 21 rebounds in that Game 7 victory. They lost the Western Conference Finals to the Lakers in six games. The Lakers added Gary Payton and Karl Malone for the 2003-04 season. Jermaine O’Neal received two first-place votes, while Peja Stojakovic received one.

Comparison of big man archetypes

Traditional big men like Shaquille O’Neal lacked shooting, passing, and ball-handling skills. O’Neal averaged 53% from the free-throw line and did not act as a primary playmaker. Garnett provided high-level passing and perimeter defense. Scottie Pippen criticized Garnett for being productive but unproductive, noting that his points lacked impact on winning. You know how difficult it is to find a player who combines rebounding with elite distribution. Garnett recorded 1,859 steals and 2,037 blocks over his career. He is one of only two players to record 1,500 of both. He is also one of 11 players to reach career totals of 25,000 points and 10,000 rebounds. Garnett holds 16 career triple-doubles, all with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Garnett was named to the All-Defensive First Team nine times. This tied him with Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Gary Payton. He also led the NBA in rebounds per game four times. Nikola Jokic follows this trajectory, averaging 31.5 points, 13 rebounds, and 9.7 assists during the 2024-25 season.

Wembanyama’s 2025-26 start

Victor Wembanyama leads the NBA in blocks with a 3.1 average in 2025-26. In his first three games this season, he averaged 33.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 6.0 blocks. He shot 56.9% from the field. Wembanyama earned Western Conference Player of the Week honors for Week 1. He recorded 40 points and 13 rebounds in 26 minutes against Philadelphia. His performance against Dallas included 40 points and 15 rebounds. The Spurs won that game 125-92. Wembanyama is nursing a sore left ribcage after a collision with Paul George. He played at least 20 minutes to satisfy the 65-game rule for award eligibility. Wembanyama remains a candidate for the MVP award and the defensive player of the year. The Spurs made their first postseason appearance since 2019 starting next weekend. Coach Mitch Johnson said Wembanyama’s body held up tremendously throughout the season. Wembanyama is the first player since Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-2000 to average 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game. He recorded 1.7 steals per game in his first three contests. Will his defensive production stay this high throughout the playoffs?