Can the Golden State Warriors make it three straight and four out of five? The league’s decision-makers think so, though a few of them have left the door open for a new champ.
In the 17th annual NBA.com GM Survey, the Warriors are once again the overwhelming favorite to win the 2019 championship, just not quite as overwhelming a favorite as they were a year ago, when 93 percent of GMs picked them to repeat. With LeBron James moving to the Western Conference, the GMs have picked the Boston Celtics to return to The Finals after a seven-year absence, and there’s some belief out there that the Celtics can dethrone the champs.
The Celtics are led by the new “best head coach in the NBA,” have one of the league’s most promising young cores, and a star that one GM tabbed to win the MVP this season. But Kyrie Irving was just one of nine MVP candidates, the most in the history of the survey. There’s no consensus on the player GMs would most like to start a franchise either, with four different players receiving at least five votes on that question.
One of those four is LeBron James, who is entering his 16th season and his 13th season as the league’s best small forward, according to GMs. He also remains the player that forces coaches to make the most adjustments, the best passer, the best leader, the most versatile player, and the player with the best basketball IQ.
The GMs responded to 49 different questions about the best teams, players, coaches, fans, 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.
COACHES
Who is the best head coach in the NBA?
1. Brad Stevens, Boston – 47%
2. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio – 30%
3. Mike D’Antoni, Houston – 7%
Steve Kerr, Golden State – 7%
Also receiving votes: Rick Carlisle, Dallas; Quin Snyder, Utah; Terry Stotts, Portland
Last year: Gregg Popovich – 82%
Which head coach is the best manager/motivator of people?
1. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio – 47%
2. Steve Kerr, Golden State – 20%
3. Brad Stevens, Boston – 17%
4. Erik Spoelstra, Miami – 7%
Also receiving votes: Brett Brown, Philadelphia; Dwane Casey, Detroit; Doc Rivers, LA Clippers
Last year: Gregg Popovich – 62%
Which head coach makes the best in-game adjustments?
1. Brad Stevens, Boston – 53%
2. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio – 13%
3. Rick Carlisle, Dallas – 10%
Quin Snyder, Utah – 10%
5. Doc Rivers, LA Clippers – 7%
Erik Spoelstra, Miami – 7%
Last year: Rick Carlisle – 34%
Which head coach runs the best offense?
1. Steve Kerr, Golden State – 40%
2. Mike D’Antoni, Houston – 23%
3. Brad Stevens, Boston – 20%
4. Quin Snyder, Utah – 13%
5. Terry Stotts, Portland – 3%
Last year: Steve Kerr – 59%
Which head coach has the best defensive schemes?
1. Quin Snyder, Utah – 33%
2. Brad Stevens, Boston – 30%
3. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio – 13%
4. Steve Kerr, Golden State – 7%
Tom Thibodeau, Minnesota – 7%
Also receiving votes: Steve Clifford, Orlando; Nate McMillan, Indiana; Erik Spoelstra, Miami
Last year: Gregg Popovich – 41%
Who is the best assistant coach in the NBA?
1. Ron Adams, Golden State – 17%
2. Ettore Messina, San Antonio – 13%
3. Dan Burke, Indiana – 7%
Chris Finch, New Orleans – 7%
Adrian Griffin, Toronto – 7%
Jay Larranaga, Boston – 7%
Jay Triano, Charlotte – 7%
Also receiving votes: Jim Boylan; Mike Brown, Golden State; Darren Erman, New Orleans; Tim Grgurich, Detroit; Steve Hetzel, Orlando; Alex Jensen, Utah; Roy Rogers, Houston; Stephen Silas, Charlotte; Ime Udoka, San Antonio; David Vanterpool, Portland; Monty Williams, Philadelphia
Last year: Ron Adams – 21%
Which active player will make the best head coach someday?
1. Chris Paul, Houston – 25%
2. C.J. McCollum, Portland – 7%
Jameer Nelson – 7%
Rajon Rondo, L.A. Lakers – 7%
Garrett Temple, Memphis – 7%
Also receiving votes: Steven Adams, Oklahoma City; J.J. Barea, Dallas; Vince Carter, Atlanta; Mike Conley, Memphis; Jared Dudley, Brooklyn; Manu Ginobili; Jarrett Jack, New Orleans; Kyle Korver, Cleveland; Wesley Matthews, Dallas; T.J. McConnell, Philadelphia; J.J. Redick, Philadelphia; Fred VanVleet, Toronto; Kemba Walker, Charlotte
Last year: Chris Paul – 39%
MISCELLANEOUS
Which team is the most fun to watch?
1. Golden State – 60%
2. Boston – 17%
3. Houston – 7%
Philadelphia – 7%
Also receiving votes: Denver, Milwaukee, Utah
Last year: Golden State – 90%
Which team has the best home-court advantage?
1. Golden State – 50%
2. Utah – 27%
3. Denver – 13%
Also receiving votes: Boston, Oklahoma City, Toronto
Last year: Golden State – 76%
Which team has the most promising young core?
1. Philadelphia – 47%
2. Boston – 33%
3. Chicago – 7%
Phoenix – 7%
Also receiving votes: Denver, Utah
Last year: N/A
Which player is the most athletic?
1. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City – 48%
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 14%
3. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 10%
4. Donovan Mitchell, Utah – 7%
Also receiving votes: Aaron Gordon, Orlando; James Harden, Houston; Derrick Jones Jr., Miami; Zach LaVine, Chicago; Victor Oladipo, Indiana; Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota
Last year: Russell Westbrook – 62%
Which player is the best pure shooter?
1. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 73%
2. Klay Thompson, Golden State – 20%
Also receiving votes: Kevin Durant, Golden State; Kyrie Irving, Boston
Last year: Stephen Curry – 71%
Which player is the fastest with the ball?
1. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City – 50%
2. John Wall, Washington – 33%
3. Kyrie Irving, Boston – 7%
Also receiving votes: De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento; Victor Oladipo, Indiana; Ish Smith, Detroit
Last year: John Wall – 48%
Which player is best at moving without the ball?
1. Klay Thompson, Golden State – 53%
2. J.J. Redick, Philadelphia – 23%
3. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 13%
4. Kyle Korver, Cleveland – 7%
5. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 3%
Last year: Klay Thompson – 61%
Which player is the best passer?
1. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 50%
2. Chris Paul, Houston – 17%
3. Rajon Rondo, L.A. Lakers – 7%
Ben Simmons, Philadelphia – 7%
John Wall, Washington – 7%
Also receiving votes: Lonzo Ball, L.A. Lakers; Stephen Curry, Golden State; James Harden, Houston; Ricky Rubio, Utah
Last year: LeBron James – 36%
What bench player makes the biggest impact when he enters the game?
1. Lou Williams, LA Clippers – 41%
2. Eric Gordon, Houston – 28%
3. Andre Iguodala, Golden State – 10%
4. Terry Rozier, Boston – 7%
Marcus Smart, Boston – 7%
Also receiving votes: Will Barton, Denver; Fred VanVleet, Toronto
Last year: Andre Iguodala – 41%
Who is the toughest player in the NBA?
1. Steven Adams, Oklahoma City – 33%
2. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 13%
Marcus Smart, Boston – 13%
4. Draymond Green, Golden State – 10%
James Johnson, Miami – 10%
Also receiving votes: Aron Baynes, Boston; Patrick Beverley, LA Clippers; Jimmy Butler, Minnesota; Chris Paul, Houston; P.J. Tucker, Houston; Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City
Last year: Steven Adams, Draymond Green, Kawhi Leonard – 14%
Which player is the best leader?
1. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 30%
2. Chris Paul, Houston – 27%
3. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 23%
4. Al Horford, Boston – 7%
Damian Lillard, Portland – 7%
Also receiving votes: Udonis Haslem, Miami; Kemba Walker, Charlotte
Last year: LeBron James – 43%
Who is the most versatile player in the NBA?
1. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 63%
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 20%
3. Kevin Durant, Golden State – 13%
4. Draymond Green, Golden State – 3%
Last year: LeBron James – 55%
Which player has the best basketball IQ?
1. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 70%
2. Chris Paul, Houston – 17%
3. Rajon Rondo, L.A. Lakers – 7%
Also receiving votes: Stephen Curry, Golden State; Al Horford, Boston
Last year: LeBron James – 64%
Which player would you want taking a shot with the game on the line?
1. Kevin Durant, Golden State – 40%
2. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 27%
3. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 17%
4. Kyrie Irving, Boston – 10%
5. James Harden, Houston – 7%
Last year: Stephen Curry – 55%
What rule (regarding play, Draft/Lottery, playoff format, etc.) most needs to change?
1. Playoff seeding (1-16) – 18%
2. Draft Lottery odds/system – 14%
3. Schedule (fewer games) – 11%
4. Draft combine process – 7%
Draft medical info – 7%
Draft eligibility (one-and-done rule) – 7%
Replay length – 7%
Also receiving votes: Block/charge review; Draft after free agency; Enforce discontinued dribble; Enforce no advance after dribble; Intentional fouling; Number of timeouts; Training-camp roster size; Two-way contract days of service; Two-minute report
Last year: Playoff seeding – 27%
