San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama surprisingly received a vote for the NBA Most Improved Player award.
The NBA announced on Friday night that Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker was the overwhelming winner of the MIP award, which typically goes to the player who has the highest increase in scoring average from the previous season. Alexander-Walker increased his scoring average from 9.4 points per game last year with the Minnesota Timberwolves to 20.8 points per game in his first season with the Hawks. As the NBA noted, Alexander-Walker became the fifth qualified player in the last 35 seasons who increased their scoring average year-over-year by 11+ points.
Alexander-Walker was the clear winner of the award, earning 396 points, far ahead of second-place Jalen Duren, the center for the Detroit Pistons, who had 254 points, and Portland Trail Blazers swingman Deni Avdija, who finished third place with 135 points. But taking a look at the other players who were given votes, there is one who stands out from the pack.
Wembanyama, who was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year and who is a finalist for the NBA Most Valuable Player award this season, was given one single third-place vote for the Most Improved Player award.
There is no doubt that Wembanyama had an amazing year, but the spirit of this award is to recognize lesser-known players who had significant jumps in their scoring average and/or their overall game. Someone like Alexander-Walker fits the award perfectly, but to see a superstar like Wembanyama get a vote for the MIP award when he is up for the MVP award is odd.
Victor Wembanyama is an Elite Talent, but Not the MIP
Everyone knows that Wembanyama is an elite talent, but he is not the MIP, and he should not have been given a vote to win the award.
Last year, Wembanyama averaged 24.3 points per game, 11 rebounds per game, 3.7 assists per game, 3.8 blocks per game, and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting .475/.352/.836 in 46 games. Those were incredible numbers, and they would have had him in consideration for the MVP award last year, but he didn’t meet the 65-game threshold to qualify for the NBA awards.
This year, Wembanyama played 64 regular-season games plus the NBA Cup Final, averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 3.1 blocks, and 1 steal per game on .512/.349/.827 shooting splits. These are incredible numbers, and they have Wembanyama in the thick of the MVP race. But he barely increased any of his numbers from last season, so it’s very odd to see him get consideration for the MIP award. Even if it’s just one third-place vote, some more deserving players should have gotten that vote instead.
Victor Wembanyama Will be MVP Favorite for Years to Come
At just 22 years of age, Wembanyama will be an MVP favorite for many years to come. He is the best defensive player in the league, and his scoring was slightly more efficient this season, too. As long as he stays healthy, he will be in the thick of things for the MVP award every year he plays 65 games and meets the award’s minimum games played threshold. But he’s not the MIP, and he shouldn’t have gotten a vote for it, not when players such as Alexander-Walker, Duren, and Avdija took such massive leaps in their games, not to mention others like Neemias Queta and Ryan Rollins.
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