Victor Wembanyama to Continue NBA Award Trend?

On the heels of winning the silver medal in the Paris Olympics, Victor Wembanyama is primed for more success in the 2024-25 NBA season. According to DraftKings , the San Antonio Spurs start center and Cleveland Cavaliers Evan Mobley are tied in odds for the Most Improved Player award at +1000.

The Most Improved Player award has become quite the cliche in the NBA universe. Before, it was a chance to reward a player for finally exceeding expectations; now, it seems to be a vehicle honoring sophomore-year players with another award. Wembanyama is touted as the best prospect since LeBron James. The hype alludes to more prominent awards than the MIP.

While Tyrese Maxey and Lauri Markkanen won the award as players past their sophomore season, Ja Morant's 2021-22 campaign drives the cliche home.

What more would the Spurs center accomplish to exceed expectations in his second season?

Wembanyama averaged 21 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks for the 2023-24 season. Aside from counting stats, Wembanyama became the first rookie in NBA history to make the All-Defensive first-team. On a larger scale, Wembanyama finished runner-up to Rudy Gobert for the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Wembanyama will win numerous awards in his career; Most Improved Player shouldn't be a goal or even a possibility, considering his potential outweighs the award.

Nonetheless, Las Vegas projects the Spurs center as the likely winner; typically, the house wins.

Related: Victor Wembanyama Was In Tears After Olympic Final Against USA

The Spurs will likely win the award, continuing the trend of sophomore talents obtaining it but losing its meaning by the year.