Naming Spurs MVP of the season not named Victor Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs season has officially concluded. The Silver and Black took their fans on an unexpected ride with way more lows than many were prepared for. There was a ton of speculation about what the starting lineup would look like before Coach Popovich confirmed the suspicions that he would put Jeremy Sochan in the point guard position.

The expectation of impact on the defensive side of the floor seemed sensible. Wanting more size and length to defend the increasing number of ball handlers with size, like Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is a reasonable desire. Unfortunately, the defense was just as disjointed as the offense.

It didn't take long for the fan base to turn on the idea of Sochan at point guard and once Coach Pop stopped experimenting with the likes of Branham in the first unit, things changed with one major tweak: the insertion of Tre Jones.

The Spurs' MVP other than Victor Wembanyama was Tre Jones

When Tre Jones entered the starting lineup, the way the first unit performed was night and day. Granted that Zach Collins was relegated to the bench around the same time, which had a positive impact on the spacing and flow of the offense as well but the impact Jones had was evident from the beginning.

As a player with actual point guard experience, he was able to get the team into their sets better. He could pass complete entry passes at a much higher rate than his teammates and he knew how to organize the team. Out of the Spurs players who played the majority of the season, Jones had the highest offensive rating at 110.8.

The defense also improved, showing that the initial thought of benefit from Sochan's starting was erroneous. Putting Jones on the bench meant playing a worse defender overall with the first unit and there is no disputing that both Keldon Johnson and Malaki Branham aren't as sharp on the defensive end as the Duke alumni. There is only one player on the team with higher win shares than Victor Wembanyama: Tre Jones.

He continuously improved his jump shooting throughout the year, making himself a real threat from the perimeter. The professionalism and steady hand he possesses are net positives the Spurs will need in the long run. He may not end up being the long-term starter for the Silver and Black but you need strong depth on your bench to make deep runs. It is good that San Antonio already has a guy many consider to be a core piece because of how well he plays his role. It is a luxury.