NBA basic managers answered 48 questions about the upcoming season, and the basic consensus is: They love everything about what Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs have going on proper now and are inspired about the crew’s future.
The Spurs were the widespread choose as 2026-27 NBA champion, garnering 50% of the responses, topping the Oklahoma City Thunder (43%) and the reigning champion New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers, who also obtained votes. They were also chosen as the crew with the most promising younger core (87%) and tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves as the most enjoyable to watch (30%).
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Wembanyama was the overwhelming selection as this season’s MVP winner (77%) as nicely as the participant (93%) the GMs would signal first if they were beginning an NBA franchise. The Spurs massive man also earned 47% of the vote as the participant who forces opposing coaches to make the most changes and was voted best worldwide participant (54%), best defensive participant (97%), best inside defender (97%), most versatile participant (57%) and most versatile defender (30%).
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Two classes where Wembanyama fell short were best energy ahead, which went to the Miami Heat’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (70% to 23%), and best middle, which was won by Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets (63% to 37%).
It wasn’t all Wembanyama when it came to Spurs gamers receiving love. Dylan Harper, the No. 2 general draft choose in 2025 and All-Rookie First Teamer last season, is the participant most probably to have a breakout season (27%), beating out last season’s Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks, Collin Murray-Boyles of the Toronto Raptors, Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets and Cason Wallace of the Thunder, who each obtained 7% of votes.
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Tobias Harris, who signed a two-year, $30.8 million deal to be part of the Spurs from the Detroit Pistons in July, is seen as the most underrated participant acquisition (20%) of the offseason, beating out the Boston Celtics signing Mitchell Robinson (17%) from the Knicks.
LeBron James and Jaylen Brown during a 76ers preseason sport against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
(Ishika Samant via Getty Images)
SGA best level guard, 76ers with best summer time strikes
Reigning back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder was voted as the league’s best level guard, incomes 67% of the vote over the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson (20%) and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Dončić (10%). Dončić did beat out Jayson Tatum (37% to 33%) as the best small ahead.
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The 76ers’ offseason additions, which included Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, helped earn them 73% of the vote as the crew that made the best strikes in the summer time. The GMs really feel, however, that the Antetokounmpo transfer to the Heat will make the largest impression (53%) over that of Brown (20%) and James (13%) going to the 76ers.
Other notable outcomes:
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The Indiana Pacers (43%) will be the most improved crew this season, the GMs believe, over the Washington Wizards (23%).
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Who will win Rookie of the Year? Memphis Grizzlies first-round draft choose Cameron Boozer (50%) is the most widespread selection forward of Caleb Wilson of the Chicago Bulls (20%) and No. 1 general choose AJ Dybantsa of the Washington Wizards (17%).
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But Dybantsa and Wilson win out when it comes to the future. The GMs believe both first-year gamers (33%) will be the best in 5 years. Boozer garnered 23% of support.
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The Heat’s Erik Spoelstra is the best head coach (43%) over Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault (37%). Spoelstra is also tied for the best supervisor/motivator of people (23%) with Golden State’s Steve Kerr and Boston’s Joe Mazzulla.
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As far as tacticians go, the Pacers’ Rick Carlisle (30%) was the selection over Tyronn Lue of the Los Angeles Clippers. Carlisle was also voted (47%) as the coach who runs the best offense.
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Which present participant will make the best head coach sometime? Celtics guard Mike Conley got 50% of the votes over the Pacers’ T.J. McConnell (13%) and Brunson (10%).
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Game on the line, which participant are GMs selecting to take the last shot? Stephen Curry (50%), of course. Brunson did get 17% of votes.
GMs were not in a position to vote for their own crew, gamers or coaches.
The 2026-27 NBA season suggestions off on Tuesday, Oct. 20, with a triple-header. The Pistons will host the Celtics at 3 p.m. ET before the Knicks raise their championship banner forward of taking on the 76ers at 7 p.m. ET. The night time will finish with the Thunder visiting the Spurs at 9:30 p.m. ET.
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