The annual NBA GM Survey always causes a nice commotion from the media and fans alike. For months now, people have been debating who will make the 2017 NBA Finals, who the favorite is to win the MVP and even who will win the Rookie of the Year award. The NBA GM’s have your answers.
They pick the best player at every position, what teams made the best offseason moves and even their international players of choice. The NBA GM survey sheds some light on what some of the great NBA minds think about the current state of the league.
The GMs responded to 48 different questions about the best teams, players, coaches, fans, and offseason moves. General managers were not permitted to vote for their own team or personnel. Percentages are based on the pool of respondents to that particular question, rather than all 30 GMs.
Here are some of the highlights of the survey, courtesy of NBA.com’s John Schumann. You can check out his full survey on their site.
NBA GM Survey
> Which team will win the 2017 NBA Finals?
1. Golden State – 69.0%
2. Cleveland – 31.0%
Last year: Cleveland – 53.6%> Who will win the 2016-17 MVP?
1. LeBron James, Cleveland – 46.7%
2. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City – 23.3%
3. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 10.0%
James Harden, Houston – 10.0%
5. Kevin Durant, Golden State – 6.7%
6. Paul George, Indiana – 3.3%
Last year: LeBron James – 39.3%> If you were starting a franchise today and could sign any player in the NBA, who would it be?
1. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota – 48.3%
2. Kevin Durant, Golden State – 20.7%
3. LeBron James, Cleveland – 17.2%
Also receiving votes: Stephen Curry, Golden State; Anthony Davis, New Orleans; Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio; Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City
Last year: Anthony Davis – 86.2%> Which team made the best overall moves this offseason?
1. Golden State – 83.3%
2. Indiana – 6.7%
Utah – 6.7%
4. Boston – 3.3%
Last year: San Antonio – 79.3%> Who will win the 2016-17 Rookie of the Year?
1. Kris Dunn, Minnesota – 46.7%
2. Buddy Hield, New Orleans – 13.3%
Ben Simmons, Philadelphia – 13.3%
4. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia – 10.0%
Brandon Ingram, L.A. Lakers – 10.0%
Also receiving votes: Marquese Chriss, Phoenix; Jamal Murray, Denver
Last year: Jahlil Okafor – 44.8%> Which rookie will be the best player in five years?
1. Ben Simmons, Philadelphia – 70.0%
2. Kris Dunn, Minnesota – 20.0%
3. Brandon Ingram, L.A. Lakers – 6.7%
4. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia – 3.3%
Last year: Karl-Anthony Towns – 62.1%> Who is the best international player NOT in the NBA?
1. Milos Teodosic – 53.6%
2. Sergio LLull – 28.6%
3. Nando de Colo – 14.3%
4. Vassilis Spanoulis – 3.6%
Last year: Dario Saric – 28.6%> Who is the best defensive player in the NBA?
1. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio – 66.7%
2. LeBron James, Cleveland – 10.0%
3. Avery Bradley, Boston – 6.7%
Draymond Green, Golden State – 6.7%
DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers – 6.7%
6. Hassan Whiteside, Miami – 3.3%
Last year: Kawhi Leonard – 27.6%> Who is the best head coach in the NBA?
1. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio – 83.3%
2. Rick Carlisle, Dallas – 13.3%
3. Brad Stevens, Boston – 3.3%
Last year: Gregg Popovich – 93.1%> Which player would you want taking a shot with the game on the line?
1. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 75.9%
2. LeBron James, Cleveland – 10.3%
Also receiving votes: Carmelo Anthony, New York; Kevin Durant, Golden State; James Harden, Houston; Kyrie Irving, Cleveland
Last year: Stephen Curry – 51.7%> What rule (regarding play, Draft/Lottery, playoff format, etc.) most needs to change?
1. Change Draft Lottery odds/system – 30.0%
2. Reduce number of timeouts – 20.0%
3. Intentional fouling – 10.0%
4. Adopt FIBA goaltending/basket interference rules – 6.7%
Change/stretch the schedule – 6.7%
Also receiving votes: Add a fourth official; Advance-the-ball rule; Remove inactive list; Jump-ball/possession arrow; Max contracts; Playoff seeding (1-16); Shot clock to 14 on offensive rebound.
Last year: Change Draft Lottery odds/system – 24.0%
