NBA.com released its annual general manager survey, and here are the results from the headliner categories:
1. Cleveland -- 53.6%
2. San Antonio -- 25.0%
3. Golden State -- 17.9%
4. Oklahoma City -- 3.6%
1. LeBron James, Cleveland -- 39.3%
2. Anthony Davis, New Orleans -- 25.0%
3. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City -- 10.7%
James Harden, Houston -- 10.7%
5. Stephen Curry, Golden State -- 7.1%
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City -- 7.1%
A few more results I found interesting:
1. Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota -- 17.2%
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee -- 13.8%
3. Bradley Beal, Washington -- 10.3%
Jabari Parker, Milwaukee -- 10.3%
5. Anthony Davis, New Orleans -- 6.9%
Also receiving votes: Harrison Barnes, Golden State; Mike Conley, Memphis;Andre Drummond, Detroit; Danilo Gallinari, Denver; Rudy Gobert, Utah; Tobias Harris, Orlando; Reggie Jackson, Detroit; Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio; C.J. McCollum, Portland; Shabazz Muhammed, Minnesota; Victor Oladipo, Orlando;Otto Porter, Washington; Marcus Smart, Boston
Wiggins just won Rookie of the Year after being the No. 1 pick. He can get a lot better, but he’s already somewhat established – meaning it will take a major leap for Wiggins to earn this title.
He very well could.
1. Justise Winslow (10), Miami -- 31.0%
2. Bobby Portis (22), Chicago -- 24.1%
3. Emmanuel Mudiay (7), Denver -- 20.7%
4. Myles Turner (11), Indiana -- 6.9%
Also receiving votes: Devin Booker (13), Phoenix; Stanley Johnson (8), Detroit; Kevon Looney (30), Golden State; Jahlil Okafor (3), Philadelphia;Norman Powell (46), Toronto
This is more evidence that Winslow’s surprising draft-night fall was due to a few teams not liking him as much as the consensus. It’d be fascinating to see an aggregation of all 30 teams’ draft boards. It’s easy to forget that just because a player went a few spots ahead of another doesn’t mean a majority of the league concurs.
I also agree all four of the top four went lower than they should have. I ranked each higher than they actually went. I’d also add R.J. Hunter (28) to the list.
1. Spain -- 34.5%
2. Canada -- 32.8%
3. France -- 19.0%
4. Croatia -- 6.9%
Spain – with Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol and Serge Ibaka or Nikola Mirotic – has been the biggest threat to Team USA in recent years. But with the Gasol brothers aging, can Spain upset the Americans before its over the hill?
That question makes Canada – a young, rapidly rising team – an intriguing answer. In a few years, a team led by Andrew Wiggins, Tristan Thompson, Trey Lyles and Jamal Murray might be better than Spain ever was. Plus, Canada will have major depth, including Cory Joseph, Kelly Olynyk and Nik Stauskas.
A lot of this will depend on Wiggins’ ability to carry a team.
1. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio -- 93.1%
1. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio -- 48.3%
1. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio -- 37.9%
1. Steve Kerr, Golden State -- 58.6%
2. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio -- 27.6%
1. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio -- 31.0%
It’s amazing how widely respected Gregg Popovich is in all realms of coaching. And he has earned it.
That’s part of the reason I picked Popovich as Mike Krzyzewski’s successor with Team USA.
1. Andre Iguodala, Golden State -- 20.7%
2. Draymond Green, Golden State -- 17.2%
3. Kyle Korver, Atlanta -- 13.8%
4. Danny Green, San Antonio -- 10.3%
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio -- 10.3%
6. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio -- 6.9%
Also receiving votes: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee; Marco Belinelli, Sacramento; Jamal Crawford, L.A. Clippers; Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City; Isaiah Thomas, Boston; Lou Williams, L.A. Lakers
SO MANY Warriors and Spurs on this list. There’s a Hawk (run by a Popovich disciple, Mike Budenholzer) and former Spur (Belinelli).
San Antonio and Golden State – coached by another Pop disciple, Steve Kerr – are doing something right.
This is all very fascinating. Click through to read answers to the rest of the 49 questions NBA.com posed to general managers.