Every fall, the NBA surveys their general managers to get an idea of what executives predict will happen in the upcoming season, and which players and teams they think will have the most success. Today's survey is the 17th one they've done, and you'll be stunned to hear that LeBron James features prominently in the results.
James hasn't won an MVP since he was with the Miami Heat in 2013, but for the seventh consecutive year he got the most votes when asked who would win most valuable player for the upcoming season. However, it's the lowest percentage of votes he's gotten—30—in that timeframe, and the closest he's been to the man who came in at No. 2, Kevin Durant. Here's how the MVP voting results down:
1. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 30%
It's the second year in a row KD came in at No. 2 (he got 29 percent of the GM vote for MVP last season, with LeBron getting 50). Remarkably, the one-two, LeBron-KD pairing has been the top of the order almost every year for the last half decade. KD finished as the runner-up to LeBron as the GM's preseason pick for MVP in 2015-16, 2014-15, and 2012-13. In fact, KD was the top choice for MVP the last time LeBron wasn't, in 2011-12 when he got 55.6 percent of the vote to LeBron's 44.5. Then again, LeBron was the No. 1 MVP pick among GMS before the 2009-10 season, with Kobe Bryant as the No. 2. The King's reign as the consensus preseason MVP pick is almost Elizabethan in it's longevity.
The Warriors are again favored to capture the 2019 title, but the percentage of GMs who voted them as the favorites is slightly smaller than last year's—87 percent compared to 93 last year—with the Celtics and Rockets tying for second at 7 percent. This is also the fourth year in a row the Warriors are considered the favorites for the chip:
1. Golden State – 87%
Some other results of note were Giannis Antetokounmpo coming in as the player GMs would most like to sign if they were starting a franchise today. The top vote-getter for that question the last two years, Karl-Anthony Towns, didn't appear to get any votes in this year's survey, almost certainly leading to a Jimmy Butler "huzzah!"
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 30%
Two-time MVP and three-time champion Steph Curry was again named the league's top point guard, with Russell Westbrook coming in as runner-up. And the 2018 MVP James Harden was again voted the top shooting guard, even though we all know he's really Mike D'Antoni's Steve Nash stand-in at point guard for Houston.
LeBron was again named the league's top small forward, with Durant coming in second. And New Orleans big Anthony Davis, in a sign of our increasingly position-less times, was voted the top center—Joel Embiid and KAT were No. 2 and 3, respectively—as well as the top power forward—LeBron was No. 2 and KD was No. 3 because forward is basically a hybrid position now.
And who will win the 2018-19 Rookie of the Year?
1. Luka Doncic, Dallas – 43%
Also receiving votes: Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis; Kevin Knox, New York; Collin Sexton, Cleveland.
A few more worth mentioning: Boston's sideline maestro Brad Stevens overtook Gregg Popovich as the league's best coach. Popovich came in second, but was again named the best motivator/manager to patrol an NBA sideline. Utah's Quin Snyder was voted No. 1 for top defensive scheming, and Golden State's own defensive wiz, Ron Adams, was again voted the best assistant coach in the league.
Check out the rest of the results here.
