Victor Wembanyama had one of the most impressive rookie campaigns in recent memory, setting new records while more than living up to the hype. He was the unanimous Rookie of the Year, becoming the first player since Kevin Durant as the only player since 2005 to win the award entering the year as the odds-on favorite.
Much is expected from Wemby in year two, and now he’ll have a savvy, veteran presence to learn from as San Antonio reached a one-year deal with future Hall of Famer Chris Paul. CP3 might not be what he once was as he enters his 20th year in the league, but he was still serviceable a season ago in Golden State, averaging 9.4 points and 6.8 assists.
So how might Paul’s addition impact the Spurs?
From a statistical point of view, it might not mean much. San Antonio’s starting point guard Tre Jones had an eerily similar stat line to Paul last year, averaging 10.0 points and 6.2 assists. However, the Spurs lacked depth at the position, so Jones and Paul might form a potent one-two combo without a strong drop off when the other is on the bench.
On the other hand, CP3’s thrived when playing with dominant big men, which Golden State lacked a year ago. It was one of only two seasons in which he averaged less than seven dimes. The other campaign was the 2019-20 season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who also had no notable big men.
However, he’ll now get to play with Wemby. No one will forget Paul’s heyday with Blake Griffin, nor his three seasons in Phoenix with DeAndre Ayton, whose production took a hit last year after parting ways with Paul.
The big question is if CP3 grows that same chemistry with Wembanyama, and what it might mean for the Spurs’ young superstar’s MVP chances. Wemby’s odds to win MVP range drastically from book-to-book. For example, while he has the ninth-best odds at both, he’s +2200 at DraftKings, yet +3500 at FanDuel.
If history’s any indication, despite his advanced age, Paul’s arrival might be a boon to Wembanyama's growth as he looks to reach the next level.
