The NBA has conducted its annual survey of general managers to gather their opinions on various league matters. The survey includes questions about championship favorites, MVP picks, and the best international player not currently in the NBA. While some answers were predictable, there were a few that stood out.
The Boston Celtics emerged as overwhelming favorites to win the championship this season, receiving 83% of the votes. This is the third-highest mark in survey history, behind only the Stephen Curry-Kevin Durant-led Warriors of previous seasons. Despite being considered reigning champions, Boston’s margin of victory in this vote is significant and suggests they have dynasty potential.
Another standout from the survey was Victor Wembanyama’s dominance as a franchise-building player. In last season’s vote, he finished second behind Nikola Jokic as the player most general managers would start a franchise with. However, after just one year on the court, Wembanyama won this race with an astonishing 77% of the vote. This combination of youth and certainty is unprecedented in league history.
Wembanyama’s defensive skills also earned him recognition from general managers who voted him as the best defensive player in the NBA with a 40% share. At just 20 years old, he has already surpassed legends like Tim Duncan in winning this accolade.
In terms of rule changes desired by front offices, 20% of GMs pointed to roster construction restrictions imposed by apron rules as an area that needs adjustment. The new CBA has created difficulties for teams when it comes to roster-building and trading due to these restrictions.
While there are still loopholes teams can exploit within these rules, many believe adjustments should be made to make trading between expensive teams easier without compromising competitive balance.
this year’s NBA GM survey provided interesting insights into how league executives view various aspects of basketball operations and highlighted some notable trends and preferences among them.
