San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama came off the bench Saturday after missing a month due to a left calf strain, and his return resulted in 22 points in 21 minutes as his team defeated the now 24-2 Oklahoma City Thunder 111-109 in the NBA Cup semifinals.
That performance prompted Wembanyama to ask this question to reporters as he smiled, per ESPN’s Michael C. Wright: “Can you win the MVP and the Sixth Man [of the Year award] in the same year?”
That is technically possible, although it would be quite difficult for a player off the bench to win MVP. One player has won both awards in different years, as Basketball Hall of Fame center Bill Walton earned 1977-78 NBA MVP and 1985-86 Sixth Man of the Year honors.
Regardless, Wembanyama isn’t going to be in the Sixth Man of the Year running any time soon. Saturday is the only time he’s ever come off the bench in his three-year career, and he’ll presumably return to the starting lineup shortly as he works his way back to a full workload.
The 21-year-old is averaging 25.8 points on 50.4 percent shooting, 12.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.5 blocks and 1.1 steals for the 18-7 Spurs, who sit fourth in the Western Conference.
San Antonio has also made a big leap after finishing 34-48 last year, and now the Spurs will be playing the New York Knicks on Tuesday in Las Vegas for the NBA Cup.