Just a year ago, in the NBA’s annual survey of team general managers, Nikola Jokić was the leading candidate to win the MVP award. As many as 67 percent believed the Serbian center would claim the league’s most prestigious individual honor for the fourth time in his career, but the season unfolded differently. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defended his MVP title, and heading into the new campaign, the outlook among the executives who build NBA rosters has shifted dramatically.
Victor Wembanyama now leads the projections, with his San Antonio Spurs emerging as the top pick to win the championship. The Frenchman received the most votes in eight categories, including the MVP race and the question of which player general managers would choose to build a franchise around. He set survey records in both.
The NBA’s 25th annual GM Survey included 48 questions, with results covering far more than the MVP race. Jokić remains the leading choice in categories that measure basketball intelligence and playmaking, while Denver has slipped down the list of championship contenders despite his individual standing. Luka Dončić leads the voting at one position, but his Lakers inspire little confidence, while Giannis Antetokounmpo’s arrival in Miami has generated the highest expectations of any offseason acquisition.
Wembanyama Leads the Way, but Jokić’s 67 Percent Is a Reminder
As many as 77 percent of general managers believe Victor Wembanyama will win the MVP award in the 2026-27 season. Nikola Jokić ranks second with 10 percent of the vote, followed by Anthony Edwards at seven percent. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum also received votes, though with considerably less support.
The gap is substantial, especially considering that Jokić led the same survey a year ago with 67 percent of the vote. That prediction did not materialize, as Gilgeous-Alexander claimed his second consecutive MVP award. Wembanyama’s current 77 percent should therefore be viewed as a reflection of expectations surrounding a player whose impact at both ends of the floor continues to grow, rather than a guarantee of what will happen.
The Frenchman was even more dominant when general managers were asked which player they would choose to build a franchise around. An astonishing 93 percent selected Wembanyama, an increase of 10 percentage points from last year. The remaining votes went to Gilgeous-Alexander and Cooper Flagg.
Wembanyama already belongs among the league’s elite players, yet he is only 22 years old. His physical profile and ability to reshape an opponent’s entire offensive approach offer possibilities that are difficult to find in any other player.
The shift is also evident in the voting for the player who forces opposing coaches to make the most adjustments. Wembanyama leads with 47 percent, ahead of Jokić at 33 percent, followed by Gilgeous-Alexander with 10 percent, Stephen Curry with seven percent and Luka Dončić with three percent. Jokić had comfortably led this category last year with 57 percent.
The two centers create problems in very different ways. Jokić punishes defenses with his ability to read the floor, make passes and control the tempo, while Wembanyama’s height, wingspan and mobility change the options available to opposing players even when he is not directly involved in the play.
Jokić Remains the NBA’s Best Center, Passer and Basketball Mind
When NBA general managers voted for the league’s best center, Nikola Jokić still held the edge over Victor Wembanyama. The Serbian international received 63 percent of the vote, with the remaining 37 percent going to the Frenchman.
Jokić, however, had received as much as 97 percent support last year.
A similar shift occurred in the voting for the league’s best international player. Wembanyama moved into first place for the first time with 53 percent, while Jokić received 47 percent. Just a year earlier, the Denver center had commanded 93 percent of the vote.
Jokić, however, remains the clear favorite in several key skill categories.
An overwhelming 87 percent of general managers consider him the best passer in the NBA, seven percentage points more than last year. Luka Dončić ranks second with seven percent, while Tyrese Haliburton and LeBron James each received a vote.
Jokić also leads the basketball IQ category with 67 percent of the vote, with the remaining 33 percent going to LeBron James. His support has declined from 80 percent last season, but he remains the clear choice for his understanding of the game.
Wembanyama leads the voting for the NBA’s most versatile player with 57 percent, followed by Scottie Barnes at 17 percent, Jokić at 10 percent and Giannis Antetokounmpo at seven percent. Last year, the Frenchman and the Greek superstar shared first place with 30 percent each.
When votes for the best players at all five positions are combined, Gilgeous-Alexander has the largest overall share at 16 percent. Giannis and Edwards are tied for second with 15 percent each, followed by Jokić at 13 percent and Wembanyama at 12 percent.
The Serbian center also received votes in the best leader category and was among the players general managers would trust to take the final shot with a game on the line.
San Antonio Is the Title Favorite, Denver Only Fourth in the West
The changing perception of Wembanyama has also had a direct impact on championship projections. San Antonio received 50 percent of the vote, ahead of Oklahoma City at 43 percent, while defending champion New York and Philadelphia each received individual votes.
The gap between the top two contenders is relatively small, but the shift from last year is remarkable. Oklahoma City had received 80 percent of the vote, while San Antonio was not even among the leading contenders in the Western Conference.
The Spurs now enter the season with a reputation as a team capable of winning the title immediately, as well as the league’s most promising young core. An overwhelming 87 percent of respondents consider San Antonio to have the best young foundation, well ahead of Washington at seven percent. Charlotte and Oklahoma City also received votes.
Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper have already shown how high this group’s ceiling could be. General managers also value the addition of Tobias Harris, who was voted the most underrated acquisition of the offseason.
In projections for the Western Conference standings, 53 percent of executives expect San Antonio to finish first, while 47 percent favor Oklahoma City. However, when votes for the top four positions are converted into points, the two teams are tied with 34 percent of the total each.
Minnesota ranks third with 12 percent of the points, followed by Denver in fourth with 10 percent. Houston is fifth with eight percent and the Lakers sixth with one percent, while Portland received just one fourth-place vote.
For Denver, this is a rather unfavorable projection. The Nuggets ranked near the top of preseason projections a year ago, but not a single general manager now expects them to finish first in the Western Conference. Seven percent placed them second, 17 percent third and fully half of the respondents fourth. The Nuggets still have one of the best players in the world, but Jokić’s presence alone is apparently no longer enough for Denver to be viewed as an equal contender for the top of the conference.
Although New York is the defending champion and San Antonio is the leading pick to win the next title, 60 percent of general managers expect the Knicks to finish first in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia received 23 percent of the first-place votes, Cleveland and Boston seven percent each, and Detroit three percent.
When all four positions on the ballots are taken into account, New York leads with 32 percent of the points, followed by Philadelphia at 19 percent. Cleveland and Boston share third place with 15 percent each, while Detroit has 12 percent. Toronto follows with three percent, and Indiana and Miami have two percent apiece. Last year, Cleveland was the leading choice to win the East, with as much as 63 percent of the vote.
Dončić Is the Best Small Forward, but the Lakers Have Few Believers
Although Luka Dončić is one of the NBA’s most influential players, the survey results offer an interesting look at how general managers view his position. The Slovenian was voted the league’s best small forward with 37 percent of the vote, ahead of Jayson Tatum at 33 percent and Kawhi Leonard at 17 percent. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Scottie Barnes, Jaylen Brown and Kevin Durant also received votes in the category.
Dončić had received 40 percent support at the same position last year. At point guard, however, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander holds a commanding lead with 67 percent of the vote. Jalen Brunson ranks second with 20 percent, Dončić third with 10 percent and Stephen Curry fourth with three percent.
The Slovenian also received 10 percent of the vote at shooting guard, where Anthony Edwards dominates with 73 percent. Gilgeous-Alexander has 13 percent and Donovan Mitchell three percent. Dončić runs offenses like a point guard, but general managers also recognize him as a bigger perimeter creator. His individual reputation, however, has not translated into high expectations for the Lakers.
Only 10 percent of respondents placed Los Angeles fourth in the Western Conference, while nobody ranked the team among the top three. The Lakers received seven percent of the vote for the league’s most efficient offense, and 13 percent of executives included them among the teams whose performance is hardest to predict this season.
LeBron James’ departure for Philadelphia has further changed the franchise’s roster and expectations. His move to the 76ers received 13 percent of the vote for the offseason acquisition expected to have the biggest impact, while Sandro Mamukelashvili was mentioned among the Lakers’ underrated additions.
One executive also singled out rookie Cameron Carr, selected with the 24th pick in the draft, as particularly good value for his draft position. Walker Kessler received a vote in the most improved player category, while head coach JJ Redick was mentioned among the coaches who run the best offensive systems.
For Dončić, the central question heading into the season will therefore be how much he can elevate a team that, according to this survey, currently has very little support as a contender near the top of the West.
Giannis Has Arrived in Miami, but That Hasn’t Produced Much Optimism Yet
NBA general managers voted Giannis Antetokounmpo the league’s best power forward with 70 percent of the vote. Victor Wembanyama received 23 percent, while Anthony Davis and Jayson Tatum also drew support.
The Greek international retained the top spot, although he had received 93 percent of the vote last year. More significantly, 53 percent of general managers believe his arrival in Miami will have the biggest impact of any offseason move. Jaylen Brown, now with Philadelphia, ranks second with 20 percent, while LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard, who moved to Toronto, received 13 percent each.
Miami also received 10 percent of the vote for the team that made the best offseason moves, although Philadelphia led comfortably with 73 percent. Charlotte was third at seven percent. Despite the recognition Miami received for acquiring Antetokounmpo, the Heat are not among the leading contenders in the Eastern Conference. Not a single general manager placed them first or second, while only three percent picked them to finish third and 13 percent fourth. Miami finished with just two percent of the total points, tied with Indiana.
The Heat also received only scattered votes for the team expected to make the biggest improvement and among those whose results are hardest to predict. Antetokounmpo could significantly improve Miami’s offensive potential, but general managers have reservations about how quickly the team can come together and close the gap on its Eastern Conference rivals.
Miami’s coaching staff and defensive organization, meanwhile, continue to command considerable respect. Erik Spoelstra was voted the NBA’s best head coach with 43 percent of the vote, ahead of Mark Daigneault at 37 percent and Mike Brown at 10 percent. Spoelstra also received 23 percent in the best motivator category, sharing first place with Steve Kerr and Joe Mazzulla.
When it comes to in-game adjustments, Miami’s coach ranks third with 20 percent, behind Rick Carlisle at 30 percent and Tyronn Lue at 23 percent. Spoelstra shares second place with Ime Udoka in the best defensive schemes category, with 10 percent each, while Daigneault leads comfortably with 67 percent.
Miami also has representation among the league’s highest-rated defenders. Bam Adebayo received 10 percent of the vote for the most versatile defensive player, matching OG Anunoby, while Antetokounmpo was also mentioned.
Assistant coach Chris Quinn received 10 percent of the vote in his category, sharing third place with Royal Ivey.
Philadelphia Won the Offseason, While Indiana Is Expected to Improve
According to 73 percent of general managers, Philadelphia had the best offseason of any NBA team. The arrivals of Jaylen Brown and LeBron James clearly made a strong impression, and the 76ers are among the few teams that also received votes to win the championship.
Their unpredictability, however, remains an important consideration. As many as 27 percent of executives believe Philadelphia is the hardest team to forecast, ahead of Minnesota at 17 percent and the Lakers and Utah at 13 percent each. Golden State, Indiana and Portland received seven percent apiece, while the Clippers, Miami and Toronto also drew votes.
Tobias Harris of San Antonio was voted the most underrated acquisition with 20 percent of the vote. Mitchell Robinson, now in Boston, received 17 percent, and Naz Reid of Charlotte 10 percent. LaMelo Ball, Lu Dort, Jonathan Kuminga and Peyton Watson received seven percent each. Isaiah Joe, Kawhi Leonard, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Kelly Oubre, Zaccharie Risacher, Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade and Aaron Wiggins also drew support.
Indiana leads the voting for the team most likely to make the biggest improvement with 43 percent, followed by Washington at 23 percent, Utah at 13 percent and Toronto at seven percent. Charlotte, Dallas, Memphis and Miami were also mentioned.
Sasha Vezenkov Has No Competition Among Players Outside the NBA
A separate section of the survey is traditionally devoted to international basketball, and Sasha Vezenkov’s dominance in the category of the best player outside the NBA is even more pronounced than last year.
The Olympiacos forward received an overwhelming 77 percent of the vote, while Jonas Valančiūnas finished second with seven percent. The remaining votes went to Joachim Boumtje-Boumtje, Nikola Mirotić, Jean Montero, Kendrick Nunn and Edy Tavares.
Vezenkov also led the voting last year, but with 44 percent support. His rise to 77 percent is a significant recognition for the Bulgarian international, particularly given that these votes come from executives who regularly evaluate players around the world in search of potential NBA additions.
Valančiūnas received seven percent of the vote, while established EuroLeague names such as Mirotić, Nunn and Tavares also earned support. None, however, came close to the Olympiacos forward.
Dylan Harper Is Tipped for a Breakout, Cameron Boozer Leads the Rookie Race
San Antonio received further recognition for its work with young players. Dylan Harper leads the voting for the player expected to make the biggest improvement with 27 percent, while Cooper Flagg, Collin Murray-Boyles, Amen Thompson and Cason Wallace received seven percent each.
Other players who received support include Scottie Barnes, Matas Buzelis, Stephon Castle, Cedric Coward, Tyler Herro, Walker Kessler, Kon Knueppel, Jonathan Kuminga, Tyrese Maxey, Brandon Miller, Ajay Mitchell, Ja Morant, Payton Pritchard and Alex Sarr.
Cameron Boozer of Memphis is the clear favorite to win Rookie of the Year, receiving 50 percent of the vote. Caleb Wilson of Chicago follows with 20 percent, AJ Dybantsa of Washington with 17 percent and Darryn Peterson of Utah with 13 percent.
The order changes, however, when general managers are asked which rookie will be the best player five years from now. Dybantsa and Wilson share first place with 33 percent each, while Boozer received 23 percent and Peterson 10 percent.
Brayden Burries, Milwaukee’s 10th overall pick, was voted the best selection relative to draft position with 30 percent of the vote. Allen Graves, selected 19th by Toronto, Labaron Philon, Philadelphia’s 22nd pick, and Malik Thomas, Cleveland’s 34th pick, received 10 percent each. Boozer, Cameron Carr, Chris Cenac, Yaxel Lendeborg and Caleb Wilson drew seven percent apiece, while Nate Ament and Michael Brown Jr. also received votes.
Wembanyama Is the Overwhelming Defensive Choice, but Oklahoma City Still Sets the Team Standard
One of the most decisive results in the entire survey belonged to Victor Wembanyama in the voting for the NBA’s best defensive player. An overwhelming 97 percent of general managers selected the French center, with the remaining three percent going to Detroit’s Ausar Thompson. Wembanyama received the same share in the best interior defender category, where Rudy Gobert claimed the other three percent. The Frenchman had received 80 percent support in both categories last year.
Amen Thompson leads the voting for the best perimeter defender with 30 percent. Alex Caruso and Ausar Thompson share second place with 17 percent each, Dyson Daniels has 10 percent, and Stephon Castle and Jaden McDaniels received seven percent apiece. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, OG Anunoby, Cason Wallace and Derrick White also drew votes.
Wembanyama also leads the voting for the most versatile defender, although by a considerably smaller margin. He received 30 percent, followed by Amen Thompson at 17 percent, Scottie Barnes at 13 percent, Bam Adebayo and OG Anunoby at 10 percent each, and Ausar Thompson at seven percent. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Toumani Camara, Draymond Green and Cason Wallace were also mentioned.
At the team level, however, Oklahoma City remains the leading choice. As many as 77 percent of general managers consider the Thunder the NBA’s best defensive team, while San Antonio received 20 percent and Toronto three percent.
Oklahoma City also led this category last year with 83 percent support. Despite the progress of Wembanyama and the Spurs, general managers still favor the Thunder’s collective defensive structure.
Spoelstra Leads Overall, Carlisle on Offense and Daigneault on Defense
Although Erik Spoelstra was voted the NBA’s best head coach, executives distinguish between different aspects of coaching. Steve Kerr, Joe Mazzulla and Spoelstra lead the voting for coaches who are best at managing and motivating players, each receiving 23 percent, while Mike Brown has 10 percent and JB Bickerstaff seven percent.
Rick Carlisle was voted the best coach at making in-game adjustments with 30 percent, ahead of Tyronn Lue at 23 percent and Spoelstra at 20 percent. Mark Daigneault received 10 percent, while Joe Mazzulla had seven percent. Carlisle has an even greater advantage in the voting for the coach who runs the best offensive schemes. He received 47 percent, while Mark Daigneault and Steve Kerr had 10 percent each, and Kenny Atkinson seven percent. Other coaches mentioned included Denver’s David Adelman, Mike Brown, Will Hardy, Joe Mazzulla, Jordan Ott, JJ Redick, Quin Snyder and Erik Spoelstra.
Daigneault, meanwhile, leads the best defensive schemes category with 67 percent of the vote. Spoelstra and Ime Udoka received 10 percent each, while Bickerstaff, Mitch Johnson, Mazzulla and Ott also drew support.
Jeff Van Gundy of the Clippers was voted the best assistant coach with 17 percent, ahead of San Antonio’s Billy Donovan at 13 percent. Royal Ivey and Chris Quinn received 10 percent each, while Dave Bliss, Sam Cassell and Frank Vogel had seven percent apiece. Johnnie Bryant, Darren Erman, Trevor Hendry, Juwan Howard, Chris Jent, Scott King, Josh Longstaff, Lloyd Pierce and Corliss Williamson also received votes.
In the voting for the active player most likely to become a great head coach one day, Mike Conley received an overwhelming 50 percent. TJ McConnell was second with 13 percent, followed by Jalen Brunson at 10 percent and Draymond Green at seven percent. Jrue Holiday, Tyus Jones, CJ McCollum, Andrew Nembhard, Fred VanVleet and Derrick White were also mentioned.
Denver Still Has the Best Home-Court Advantage, While the Lakers Trail in Offensive Expectations
Although Denver does not rank particularly high among championship contenders, general managers still hold certain aspects of the Nuggets in high regard. Their home-court advantage stands out. Denver and Oklahoma City each received 37 percent of the vote for the NBA’s best home-court advantage, while New York ranked third with 20 percent. Cleveland and San Antonio also received votes.
It is a continuation of last year’s tie, when the Nuggets and Thunder each had 43 percent support. Denver also ranks highly in projections for the NBA’s most efficient offense. Oklahoma City leads with 27 percent, followed by the Nuggets at 20 percent, New York at 17 percent, Boston at 13 percent, Philadelphia at 10 percent and the Lakers at seven percent. Cleveland and Minnesota also drew support.
Despite the fact that no general manager picked Denver to finish first in the West, one in five still expects the Nuggets to have the league’s most efficient offense. The Nuggets have, however, lost the top spot in the voting for the most entertaining team to watch. Last year, they shared first place with Oklahoma City at 27 percent each, but Minnesota and San Antonio now lead with 30 percent apiece. Denver and Philadelphia share third place with 10 percent each, while Boston, Charlotte, Golden State, Indiana, New York and Oklahoma City also received votes.
Curry Remains the Best Shooter, Jokić the Best Passer, While Brunson Takes the Leadership Crown
Stephen Curry was the almost unanimous choice as the league’s best pure shooter. He received 97 percent of the vote, with the remaining three percent going to Kon Knueppel. Curry also leads the voting for the best player moving without the ball with 80 percent support. Duncan Robinson received 10 percent, Knueppel seven percent and Lauri Markkanen three percent. Curry’s lead is slightly smaller than last year, when he had 90 percent of the vote, but it remains substantial.
Amen Thompson leads the voting for the NBA’s most athletic player with 63 percent, ahead of Anthony Edwards at 20 percent and Ausar Thompson at 10 percent. VJ Edgecombe and Dylan Harper also received support. Tyrese Maxey was voted the fastest player with the ball with 53 percent, followed by De’Aaron Fox at 17 percent and Ja Morant at 13 percent. Jeremiah Fears and Amen Thompson received seven percent each, while Edgecombe had three percent.
While Jokić has already been recognized as the league’s best passer with 87 percent of the vote, Jalen Brunson emerged as the leading choice for best leader. The New York guard received 53 percent, followed by Curry at 20 percent and Gilgeous-Alexander at seven percent. Other players mentioned included Cade Cunningham, LeBron James, Nikola Jokić, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum and Victor Wembanyama.
Brunson takes over the top spot from Curry, who received 43 percent support in this category last year.When asked which player they would trust to take the final shot with the game on the line, general managers remained loyal to Curry. The Golden State guard received 50 percent of the vote, Brunson 17 percent, Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 10 percent each, and Kevin Durant seven percent. Nikola Jokić and Damian Lillard were also mentioned.
A New Hierarchy, but Jokić’s Standing Remains Distinct
Victor Wembanyama dominates nearly all of the most important projections, and San Antonio has emerged as the leading championship favorite. Yet when asked to identify the NBA’s best center, general managers still favor Nikola Jokić, whom they also regard as the league’s best passer and the player with the highest basketball IQ by a wide margin.
Denver, on the other hand, does not inspire the same confidence. The Nuggets remain among the league’s most respected offensive teams, but the very executives who consider Jokić the NBA’s best center expect Denver to finish only fourth in the Western Conference.
