Can Victor Wembanyama be a Prime MVP Candidate this Year?

Victor Wembanyama image

📖 Published on: January 22nd, 2025

✍️ Updated: January 22nd, 2025

⏳ 10 mins read

Victor Wembanyama and his otherworldly performances has been really quite a spectacle to remember, and it cannot be denied that there are a lot of talks as to how he has been able to make some headway as a rising star this season. However, now that he has entered the MVP race, it is expected that he will continue to make some impressive strides at this point.

Can Wembanyama be a Viable MVP Candidate?

This season has been a landmark campaign for Victor Wembanyama so far, with all of his stats going up and showing a vast improvement from the generational talent that many fans have waited for in years. At this point, it cannot be denied that Wembanyama has indeed shown that he can be the next face of the league, elevating his game to another level and proving that he can thrive in the NBA.

Wembanyama is seen as a generational player in the NBA image

For the first time since LeBron James, another generational, highly anticipated talent enters the fray of the MVP race, and one can say that the expectations are indeed sky high for the French phenom now more than ever. And we are just seeing a small part of his career at this point, and we may well know that there’s going to be a lot of talk about how Wembanyama can deliberately impact the NBA at a bigger scale.

So far, this has been a season of growth and success for Wembanyama, the Spurs are already better than they were in Wembanyama’s rookie season. Considering that he’s building off a promising year with the Spurs now more than ever, and he’s indeed ready to bring a bigger part of his game into fruition with the MVP race now including him on a grand scale.

What are the Odds for Wemby to Win the MVP?

As one can expect, Victor Wembanyama isn’t really that expected to be gunning for the MVP award this early in the season. There are a lot of big names who are making impressive strides in the 2024-25 season right now, and yet here’s Wemby, a second-year player who’s coming off with a win in the Rookie of the Year award and now he’s showing that he’s worth the gamble for the Spurs at this point.

There aren't a lot of players who have won the MVP award in their second year, but they have managed to do so more than most people would expect.

List of MVP Winners in their Second Season:

Player, Team Season Won PPG RPG APG
Bob Pettit, St. Louis Hawks 1955-56 25.7 16.2 2.6
Bill Russell, Boston Celtics 1957-58 16.6 22.7 2.9
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Bucks 1970-71 31.7 16.0 3.3

Bob Pettit of the St. Louis Hawks (currently Atlanta Hawks) was the first second-year player to win the MVP award in his second season, where he averaged a whopping stat line of 25.7 points, 16.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists on 42.9% shooting. Boston’s legendary Bill Russell would go on to be the next person to pull off the same feat when he won MVP by averaging 16.6 points, and a whopping 22.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.

The last player to win the MVP award in his second year was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in his time with the Milwaukee Bucks, who averaged a massive stat line of 31.7 points, 16.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on a staggering 57.7% shooting from the field. Considering the fact that Wembanyama has been on a roll in his second year, it is fair to say that he may well have a chance of pulling it off at this point.

2025 NBA MVP Odds (Updated as of January 22, 2025)

Rank Player, Team Best Odds to Win
1 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder -145
2 Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets +130
3 Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks +1200
4 Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics +2000
5 Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs +7500

Based on the odds, it is still unlikely that Wembanyama will end up at the top spot of the MVP race at this point, considering the fact that the likes of Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic are performing at a much higher level than most would expect. Now more than ever, the MVP race is expecting to be quite a blast for many punters, and if you are feeling a little bit lucky, you can always seek out the GambleSpot Parlay and Odds Calculator to get a grasp of your potential winnings.

How Can Wemby Improve his MVP Case this Season?

At this point, we have seen Wembanyama come up with multiple impressive games, and he has certainly upped his stats to a whole new level. That may well be enough to add more spice to his case for the MVP, and we can all expect him to continue bringing his game to a bigger level now more than ever.

Victor Wembanyama Stats (Updated as of January 22, 2025)

Points per Game Rebounds per Game Assists per Game Blocks per Game Field Goal Percentage
25.1 10.8 3.8 4.0 47.9%

Lead the Spurs to a Winning Record

Wembanyama will need support to lead the Spurs to a winning record. While there is excitement surrounding the potential of the Spurs’ young core, none of these players have the kind of experience that can single-handedly lift a team to the playoffs. There's no question that Wembanyama is a transformative talent. His combination of size, skill, and versatility gives him the potential to be a top-five player in the league sooner rather than later.

The Spurs need a winning record if Wemby is making a case for the MVP image

He can anchor the defense, stretch the floor, and score in ways that no one at his height should be able to. The Spurs are already on the rise for a winning record so far, and they are even chasing for a Play-In spot at this point, which just says a lot about how he can make the best of his MVP case if he carries them to a winning record.

Continue His Consistent Campaign

Consistency is key for any MVP candidate image

For Wembanyama, the key to becoming a consistent force in this season will be finding ways to smooth out the rough edges in his game. The transition from international competition to the NBA is no small feat, but by honing a few critical areas, Wembanyama can lay the foundation for a consistently dominant campaign. Improved shot selection will lead to a more efficient offensive game. Wembanyama is still adjusting to the pace and athleticism of the NBA, and not every shot he takes is a good shot. Over time, refining his decision-making will not only lead to higher shooting percentages but also build trust with his teammates and coaches.

As Wembanyama adjusts to the physical demands of the NBA, increasing his strength and conditioning will help him become more consistent over the course of the season. This is particularly important for his longevity in the league. Staying injury-free will ensure that he can maintain a high level of performance throughout the grind of the 82-game season and beyond.

Clinch a Playoff Spot

Can Victor Wembanyama help the Spurs clinch a playoff spot in 2025? It’s certainly possible, but not guaranteed. Wembanyama has the talent to make an immediate impact and elevate the Spurs to another level, particularly on defense and as a scoring option. However, his success will be tied to the development of his teammates, the team’s overall health, and how they adapt to the high level of competition in the Western Conference.

Clinching the playoffs may serve as a big talking point image

If Wembanyama continues to develop at the rate many expect, there’s no reason the Spurs can’t be in the mix for a playoff spot. A return to the postseason might not happen in 2024, but with Wembanyama at the center of their plans, the future looks incredibly bright for the Spurs – and even result in an MVP finish for Wemby.

Does Wembanyama Deserve to Win the MVP?

While Wembanyama’s individual talent is undeniable, winning MVP typically requires a player to lead a team that is not only competitive but ideally among the best in the league. Historically, MVP winners come from teams that finish with a top seed in their conference. In 2024-25, the Spurs are still very much in the process of rebuilding, and while Wembanyama's presence alone has elevated their outlook, the team may not yet be a top contender.

Victor Wembanyama has the potential to be an MVP-caliber player in his second season, but to actually win the award in 2024-25, a lot of things need to align. He will need to stay healthy, improve his consistency, and most importantly, lead the Spurs to a competitive record that will get them into the top tier of the Western Conference.

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