General managers of the league have selected the Brooklyn Nets as the strong favorites to win the championship this season. Star Kevin Durant is the slight favorite to win his second Most Valuable Player Award.
The Nets won 72% of the votes in the NBA.com annual survey of all 30 general mangers. This puts them ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers (17%), and the Milwaukee Bucks (10%) who received no votes.
Not surprisingly, the Eastern Conference voting was dominated by the Bucks and Nets. They finished first and second respectively. The Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics were next, followed by the Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. The Lakers were also the top pick in the West. They were followed by the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets (both second), the Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers as well as the Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers and the LA Clippers.
Durant, who had a great season despite a torn Achilles, was selected as the top pick for MVP. This would be his first MVP award since 2014, when he won it with Oklahoma City.
Durant received 37% of the vote compared to 33% for Mavericks' star Luka Doncic. Giannis Antetokounmpo (13%) Joel Embiid (7%) James Harden (7%) Stephen Curry (3%) and LeBron James (3%).
Antetokounmpo won the voting contest for the best player to start a franchise with. Antetokounmpo received 40% of the vote. Doncic got 43%. Durant, James and Anthony Davis were also among the players who got votes. Zion Williamson, Nikola Jokic, and Zion Williamson were also included in the voting.
Antetokounmpo was also named the best international player ahead of Jokic and Doncic.
Curry, Harden and Durant were easily chosen as the best players at each of five positions. All of them received at least 57% votes. Durant leapfrogging James to be the league's best small forward is the only change in that group.
Miami was selected as the team with the best offseason. The Kyle Lowry acquisition, which received 77% of votes, was the clear choice for the best summer move. Russell Westbrook (17%) was the only Lakers player to receive more than one vote. Spencer Dinwiddie, Washington, and Jonas Valanciunas, New Orleans were also recipients of votes.
The Lakers' trade of Westbrook was considered the most unexpected, while the move of Larry Nance Jr. being traded to Portland was the most underrated. After landing Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan in sign-and trade deals this offseason, the Chicago Bulls were selected as the team most likely to improve this season.
Rockets guard JalenGreen won Rookie of Year over Cade Cunningham (47-40), while Evan Mobley, Cavaliers forward, was slightly ahead of Cunningham (333-30). This is the question of which player from this draft class will be the best in five years.
Antetokounmpo was also voted the NBA's best defensive play, beating Rudy Gobert who is currently the Defensive Player-of-the Year. He was also voted the most versatile defensive player. For being the league's best defensive team, the Bucks came in slightly behind the Jazz (40-33)
Erik Spoelstra, the Heat's best coach, was the clear winner. He received 55% of the votes. Phoenix's Monty Williams was selected as the best motivational coach. Ty Lue, Clippers coach, was chosen as the best in-game adjustor. Quin Snyder, Jazz coach, was chosen as the best offensive coach. Tom Thibodeau, Knicks coach, was chosen to be the best defensive coach.
Half of the votes went to the Hawks for having the most promising young core. James was selected as the NBA's most versatile and highest-IQ player, while Durant was chosen for their top choice for taking a game-deciding shot.
