Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs Teammates to Be Overshadowed In NBA Award Talks?

Victor Wembanyama is the best player on the San Antonio Spurs and is the runaway favorite to win the Defensive Player of the Year award in only his second NBA season. He will also likely receive MVP votes, although the Spurs' expected record this season will keep him out of legitimate contention.

Shockingly, the highly-touted former first-overall pick and generational talent is the favorite to win the Most Improved Player award, according to most sportsbooks. While the award used to be reserved for veteran role players who broke out later in their career, recently the MIP has gone to lottery picks who live up to expectations, like Ja Morant, Brandon Ingram, or Lauri Markkanen.

With sky-high expectations thrust on his shoulders at just 18 years old, it was a foregone conclusion that Wembanyama would be the best player in the world. The MIP award should be reserved for players who exceeded expectations, and the Spurs have two legitimate candidates.

Both Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan are high-level NBA defenders. Vassell's offensive game has come together in recent years and he has emerged as a solid shooting threat, while Sochan, who has only played in two seasons, is looking to break out on offense this year.

Vassell was drafted 12th in 2020 and Sochan was selected ninth in 2022, and both have lived up to the pre-draft expectations of being solid NBA role players. Neither was a draft-day afterthought, so their inclusion in MIP talks is not without flaws. However, as the Spurs look to cobble together more wins than last season and play competitive basketball, Sochan and Vassell's improvement will be paramount to team-wide success.

Wembanyama, Vassell, Sochan: Expected Improvement

While Wembanyama is expected to take a massive leap, if Sochan can add a complete offensive game next season, his improvement will mean just as much to the Spurs as Wembanyama's next level. Wembanyama's sophomore leap is expected and anticipated, and even if he doesn't meet expectations, he will still be the anchor of an improving team.

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If Sochan and Vassell jump to fringe All-Star talents or make an All-Defensive case, there's no reason why they should not be in the running for the MIP award over a player who is expected to be an all-time great.