The Southwest Division was sadly defined by injuries. Guys like Victor Wembanyama, Ja Morant, and most of the Pelicans roster made this division a disappointing one for fantasy players this season. You also can’t mention the Mavericks without referencing the Luka Doncic trade. This division was just full of bad luck, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t any positives. This article will focus on the Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, and New Orleans Pelicans. It goes through each team’s fantasy MVPs for the season. Let’s dive into the fantasy MVP from each of these five teams.
2024-25 Fantasy MVPs: Southwest Division
Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson
For me, the Houston Rockets fantasy MVP this year was Amen Thompson. This was a really close race between Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green. But the draft value Thompson gave fantasy owners was the deciding factor. In his second season, Thompson averaged 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. The second-year player also averaged 2.7 stocks (steals + blocks) this season and has emerged as one of the most electric players in the NBA. It also helps that Thompson was the best rebounder at the small forward position. The Rockets may have been the only team in this division that did not disappoint us this season. Again, Sengun and Green were awesome players this season, but Thompson earns Houston’s fantasy MVP.
Memphis Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jaren Jackson Jr. once again picked up the slack for this Memphis team with Ja Morant being out for 30+ games. He averaged 22.2 points, 2.0 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game this season. JJJ also continued his defensive dominance while averaging 2.7 stocks as well. Jackson also made his second All-Star team and is becoming a two-way star in today’s league. Morant, Desmond Bane, and Scotty Pippen Jr. were also great fantasy contributors from the Grizzlies this season. Nevertheless, Jackson wins Memphis’ fantasy MVP this year for his elite play and consistency.
Dallas Mavericks: P.J. Washington
The Dallas Mavericks might have had the worst season in their franchise’s history. Not in terms of their record, but what happened to their team through injuries, trades, and more. Kyrie Irving tore his ACL, Luka Doncic got traded, and Anthony Davis got injured after three quarters playing in a Mavs jersey. All of this led to poor fantasy production, leading to P.J. Washington being this team’s fantasy MVP. Washington was not bad by any means, averaging 14.7 points, 2.3 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game. He also averaged over a block and a steal per game, and the only negative from P.J. was that he missed 25 games by the end of the year. He also added 14 double-doubles to a good resume for the 2024-25 season. So, with Kyrie getting injured, Washington gets the fantasy MVP for the Mavs.
San Antonio Spurs: Chris Paul
Who would have thought that in his 20th season, Chris Paul would be the fantasy MVP on the same team as Victor Wembanyama? Paul’s longevity has been completely overlooked, and for the second time in his career, he played all 82 games this year. The veteran guard averaged 8.8 points, 7.4 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game this season. Not great on a per-game basis, but playing 82 games and being so consistent is an extremely valuable trait in fantasy basketball. He also had 12 double-doubles this season and filled whatever role the Spurs needed him to play this season. Wembanyama would have certainly won this award had he played the whole season, but CP3 walks away as the Spurs’ fantasy MVP this season.
New Orleans Pelicans: Trey Murphy III
Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans in fantasy points during this injury-riddled season. Dejounte Murray and Zion Williamson were great in their limited games, but it wasn’t enough to take the award away from Murphy. Trey Murphy III averaged 21.2 points, 3.5 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game for the Pels this season. Trey has also been one of the top three-point shooters in the league, and continued that by making 3.0 per game as well. CJ McCollum was also a very good choice for this award, and Yves Missi was one of the better rookies in the NBA this season. But Murphy is the Pelicans’ fantasy MVP this season.
The Last Word
As we went through the names on this list, it was a very unlucky season for most teams in this division. But, it wasn’t all bad, and it allowed some other role players to shine in their roles. Chris Paul from the Spurs and P.J. Washington from the Mavs are great examples of this. Young rising stars such as Trey Murphy III and Amen Thompson had great impacts on their teams. And Jaren Jackson Jr. was awesome, adding another All-Star appearance to his NBA resume. The Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, and New Orleans Pelicans produced some great fantasy assets this season. Some other notable players include CJ McCollum, Stephon Castle, Spencer Dinwiddie, Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Desmond Bane, and Scotty Pippen Jr.
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