Every year before the beginning of a new season the NBA conducts a survey with the 30 general managers across the league to get a pulse on where these execs think the league is heading and what they project for the upcoming season. The poll is anonymous so a GM can’t be ridiculed for any answer.
NBA general managers were asked 48 questions in total and weren’t allowed to vote for their own team or personnel with any particular question. Percentages are based on the total number of respondents to a question and not on the percentage of 30 GMs who had a specific response to a question.
The 2016-17 GM survey has been released and here are some interesting observations.
-GMs would prefer to start their franchise with Karl-Anthony Towns over any other player
-96.7% of GMs foresee a finals three-peat with 70% picking the Warriors to win the rubber match
-46.7% of GMs think LeBron James will win his 5th regular season MVP award. Followed by 23.3% Russell Westbrook and 10% Steph Curry and James Harden.
-GMs voted Devin Booker most likely player to breakout this season as he received 31% of the vote followed by Karl-Anthony Towns, Myles Turner, De’Angelo Russell and Andrew Wiggins.
-Here are the best players at each position in the NBA according to the survey:
PG: Steph Curry (63.3%)
SG: James Harden (56.7%)
SF: LeBron James (76.8%)
PF: Anthony Davis (29%)
C: DeAndre Jordan (33.3%)
-GMs thought the most impactful off-season acquisition was Kevin Durant to Golden State of course at 80%, while the most underrated off-season acquisition was George Hill to Utah at 24.4%.
-Minnesota was voted as most likely to improve at 56%
-Kris Dunn was chosen as the most likely to win rookie of the year (46.7%) while Ben Simmons is most likely to be the best player in the class in five years (70%)
-GMs voted Giannia Antetokounmpo as the best international player in the NBA with 27.6%, taking over the mantle from Marc Gasol last year.
– Gregg Popovich was voted best coach at 63.3%
-Kawhi Leonard was voted best defender and perimeter defender, while DeAndre Jordan was voted best interior defender.
Here are few other miscellaneous results that are interesting:
-Chris Paul was voted as the current player most likely to be a great NBA head coach, followed by Jared Dudley.
-Rick Carlisle was voted as the coach who made the best in-game adjustments
-Russell Westbrook was voted most athletic and fastest with the ball, while Steph Curry was voted the best pure shooter and LeBron James the most versatile.
-LeBron James is also the highest I.Q. player and the best leader, but Steph Curry is who they want taking a shot with the game on the line.
-30% of GMs voted that the draft lottery odds and system is what needs to change the most
Not a lot of huge surprises here although it is interesting that 19-year-old Devin Booker was voted most likely to breakout and the Greek Freak is now seen as the best international player in the league. I can also see a certain ornery center who plays in Sacramento not being too pleased with DeAndre Jordan being voted best center in the NBA, watching them both play for Team USA in the Olympics it was pretty clear who was more valuable though.
Here’s to another great season!
