2021 NBA champion outlines how Victor Wembanyama can win MVP: "Because their roster is a**"
Last season, Victor Wembanyama put the NBA on notice, breaking a number of league records while putting himself in elite company alongside some of the greats, such as Shaquille O'Neal, thanks to his stellar play.
In addition to winning the Rookie of the Year award, he also earned consideration for the Defensive Player of the Year award as well.
The way 2021 NBA champion Jeff Teague sees things, if the San Antonio Spurs wind up making it into the postseason, Wembanyama could very well wind up in MVP discussions.
As Teague claimed on the latest episode of his "Club 520" podcast this week, the Spurs' roster is so bad that if Wembanyama is able to lead the team to a playoff berth, the league may have no choice but to put him in MVP consideration.
"I think he got a chance to be MVP this year, to be honest. He damn near can win MVP this year because he's averaged 20 points, ten rebounds, about five blocks. I think the Spurs ain't gonna be top 4, but I think they gonna make the playoffs," Teague said.
"If they get to the sixth to seventh seed and win the play-in in the West, he might win MVP because they roster is a**," he added.
You can see the conversation in the video above, beginning at the 20-minute mark.
Looking at Victor Wembanyama's stats throughout his rookie season, and the 2024-25 season ahead for the Spurs star
Last season, Victor Wembanyama proved that all the hype surrounding the French star was more than warranted as he turned out a number of jaw-dropping performances over the 71 games he played.
While averaging 29.7 minutes per game, he averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and a league-best 3.6 blocks per game.
At the same time, he also became the first rookie since Shaquille O'Neal to log a 40-point, 20-rebound game, a feat most recently accomplished by the four-time NBA champ in 1993.
In addition, he also became the first rookie to log 250 blocks in a season since O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning both accomplished the feat during the 1993 season. But that wasn't all, Wembanyama also became the first rookie in NBA history to eclipse 1,500 points, 250 assists, and 250 blocks in a season.
Heading into the 2024-25 season, the Spurs star has high hopes after winning a silver medal in the Paris Olympics this summer. Following the team's second-place finish, the French star put the NBA on notice while speaking with media members in Paris:
“I’m learning, and I’m worried for the opponents in a couple of years.”
With the Spurs' offseason addition of Chris Paul, Wembanyama will have an experienced mentor guiding him this season alongside coach Gregg Poppovich.
Given that he was in consideration for the Defensive Player of the Year award last season, the San Antonio star could make a run at both the DPOY award and the MVP award if the Spurs make a postseason appearance as Jeff Teague indicated.