In the 20th annual NBA.com GM Survey, both Kevin Durant and James Harden were named the best players at their position, and 72% of responding decision makers picked the Nets to win their first NBA championship.
It’s strange that the defending NBA champions, still mostly intact, aren’t the favorite to win their own conference. But such is the case with the Milwaukee Bucks, who won their first title in 50 years behind a superstar — Giannis Antetokounmpo — who’s still just 26 years old.
GM’s liked the summer moves made by the Miami Heat, with more than three quarters of them calling the Kyle Lowry addition the most impactful transaction of the offseason. But, along with the Heat, 12 other teams received at least one vote to be “most improved.”
The Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic edged out Antetokounmpo as the player GMs would most like to build a new franchise around. But at the age of 36 and having lost in the first round of the playoffs for the first time in his career, LeBron James still has the respect of GMs. He was named both the league’s most versatile player and the player with the best basketball IQ, also tying Denver’s Nikola Jokic for the most votes for best passer.
The GMs responded to 48 different questions about the best teams, players, coaches 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.
Which team will win the 2022 NBA Finals?
1. Brooklyn Nets — 72%
2. Los Angeles Lakers – 17%
3. Milwaukee Bucks – 10%
> Last year: L.A. Lakers – 81%
So 72% GM’s picking the Nets trio over Lakers Big three to win the 2022 NBA Championship. While regaining champions Milwaukee Bucks voted as third best.
2021-22 GM Survey, Eastern Conference rankings
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | %Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Brooklyn | 83% | 13% | 37% | ||
| 2. | Milwaukee | 17% | 80% | 31% | ||
| 3. | Miami | 7% | 50% | 31% | 15% | |
| 4. | Philadelphia | 33% | 24% | 9% | ||
| 5. | Atlanta | 10% | 21% | 4% | ||
| 6. | Boston | 7% | 21% | 3% | ||
| 7. | Indiana | 3% | 0% |
%Total = Percentage of total points (4 for 1st place vote, 3 for 2nd, 2 for 3rd, 1 for 4th)
> Last year: 64% picked Milwaukee to win the East. Order after the Bucks was Brooklyn, Miami, Boston, Philadelphia, Toronto and Indiana.
2021-22 GM Survey, Western Conference rankings
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | %Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | L.A. Lakers | 80% | 7% | 4% | 34% | |
| 2. | Utah | 13% | 53% | 20% | 11% | 26% |
| 3. | Phoenix | 7% | 23% | 37% | 14% | 19% |
| 4. | Denver | 3% | 37% | 25% | 11% | |
| 5. | Golden State | 7% | 3% | 18% | 4% | |
| 6. | LA Clippers | 7% | 3% | 3% | ||
| 7. | Dallas | 21% | 2% | |||
| 8. | Portland | 7% | 1% |
%Total = Percentage of total points (4 for 1st place vote, 3 for 2nd, 2 for 3rd, 1 for 4th)
> Last year: 86% picked the Lakers to win the West. Order after the Lakers was Clippers, Denver, Dallas, Portland, Utah, Golden State and Phoenix.
Who will win the 2021-22 Kia MVP?
1. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn – 37%
2. Luka Doncic, Dallas – 33%
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 13%
4. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia – 7%
James Harden, Brooklyn – 7%
6. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 3%
> Last year: Giannis Antetokounmpo – 32%
If you were starting a franchise today and could sign any player in the NBA, who would it be?
1. Luka Doncic, Dallas – 43%
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 40%
> Also receiving votes: Anthony Davis, L.A. Lakers; Kevin Durant, Brooklyn; LeBron James, L.A. Lakers; Nikola Jokic, Denver; Zion Williamson, New Orleans
> Last year: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic – 43%
Which player forces opposing coaches to make the most adjustments?
1. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 27%
2. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn – 20%
3. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 17%
4. James Harden, Brooklyn – 13%
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 10%
6. Nikola Jokic, Denver – 7%
> Also receiving votes: Luka Doncic, Dallas; Joel Embiid, Philadelphia
> Last year: James Harden – 32%
Which player is most likely to have a breakout season in 2020-21?
1. Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis – 17%
2. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota – 13%
3. Michael Porter Jr., Denver – 10%
4. Darius Garland, Cleveland – 7%
Keldon Johnson, San Antonio – 7%
Ja Morant, Memphis – 7%
Kevin Porter Jr., Houston – 7%
> Also receiving votes: Deandre Ayton, Phoenix; LaMelo Ball, Charlotte; Lonzo Ball, Chicago; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City; De’Andre Hunter, Atlanta; Caris LeVert, Indiana; Terance Mann, LA Clippers; Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota; Devin Vassell, San Antonio; Zion Williamson, New Orleans
> Last year: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Michael Porter Jr. – 15%
Who is the best point guard in the NBA?
1. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 57%
2. Damian Lillard, Portland – 17%
3. Luka Doncic, Dallas – 13%
4. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 7%
Chris Paul, Phoenix – 7%
> Last year: Stephen Curry – 30%
Who is the best shooting guard in the NBA?
1. James Harden, Brooklyn – 63%
2. Devin Booker, Phoenix – 17%
3. Luka Doncic, Dallas – 10%
> Also receiving votes: Bradley Beal, Washington; Stephen Curry, Golden State; Kevin Durant, Brooklyn
> Last year: James Harden – 68%
Who is the best small forward in the NBA?
1. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn – 67%
2. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 17%
3. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers – 7%
> Also receiving votes: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee; Luka Doncic, Dallas; Khris Middleton, Milwaukee
> Last year: LeBron James – 57%
Who is the best power forward in the NBA?
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 63%
2. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 27%
3. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn – 10%
> Last year: Giannis Antetokounmpo – 46%
Who is the best center in the NBA?
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver – 63%
2. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia – 23%
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 7%
Anthony Davis, L.A. Lakers – 7%
> Last year: Nikola Jokic – 50%
Which team made the best overall moves this offseason?
1. Miami Heat – 47%
2. Los Angeles Lakers – 17%
3. Brooklyn Nets – 7%
Houston Rockets – 7%
Washington Wizards – 7%
> Also receiving votes: Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers
> Last year: L.A. Lakers – 37%
Which one player acquisition will make the biggest impact?
1. Kyle Lowry, Miami – 77%
2. Russell Westbrook, L.A. Lakers – 17%
> Also receiving votes: Spencer Dinwiddie, Washington; Jonas Valanciunas, New Orleans
> Last year: Chris Paul – 44%
What was the most underrated player acquisition?
1. Larry Nance Jr., Portland – 28%
2. Patty Mills, Brooklyn – 17%
3. Spencer Dinwiddie, Washington – 14%
4. Lonzo Ball, Chicago – 10%
5. Kemba Walker, New York – 7%
> Also receiving votes: Alex Caruso, Chicago; DeMar DeRozan, Chicago; Andre Drummond, Philadelphia; Devonte’ Graham, New Orleans; Jeff Green, Denver; Dennis Schroder, Boston; Jonas Valanciunas, New Orleans
> Last year: Serge Ibaka – 15%
Which team will be most improved in 2021-22?
1. Chicago Bulls – 27%
2. Golden State Warriors – 13%
Los Angeles Lakers – 13%
3. Charlotte Hornets – 10%
4. New Orleans Pelicans – 7%
Toronto Raptors – 7%
> Also receiving votes: Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards
> Last year: N/A
What was the most surprising move of the offseason?
1. Russell Westbrook to the Lakers – 50%
2. DeMar DeRozan to Chicago – 22%
3. Lonzo Ball to Chicago – 5%
> Also receiving votes: Danny Ainge stepping down in Boston; Zach Collins to San Antonio; Devonte’ Graham to New Orleans; Mason Plumlee to Charlotte; Ben Simmons not reporting to training camp; P.J. Tucker to Miami; Kemba Walker buyout
> Last year: Gordon Hayward to Charlotte – 54%
