It's not the traditional annual NBA GM poll, but ESPN also offers its version. Our colleagues have interviewed 18 coaches, scouts and leadersto ask their opinion on the upcoming season.
Which always allows us to have a first indication of current trends. Here are the results.
The best player in the NBA right now?
Nikola Jokic: 15 votes
Luka Doncic: 2
Anthony Edwards: 1
No surprise since the Nuggets pivot has just won his third MVP trophy in four seasons. Luka Doncic, for his part, finished as the top scorer and played in the Finals. Excellent in the playoffs and good at the Olympic Games, the Minnesota guard is showing the tip of his nose.
The best NBA player in five years?
Victor Wembanyama: 12
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 2
Luka Doncic: 2
Anthony Edwards: 1
Nikola Jokic: 1
Here again, the people contacted by ESPN are hardly original. The Frenchman had a huge first season and was the top scorer in the Olympic final against Team USA. Player with the greatest potential, the Spurs center is obviously at the top of this question, ahead of experienced players.
The 2024/25 MVP?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 7
Luka Doncic: 5
Anthony Edwards: 2
Nikola Jokic: 2
Jayson Tatum: 2
Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards are still there, but it's the Oklahoma City Canadiens who dominate the voting. The Thunder finished first in the Western Conference last season and “SGA” averaged 30.1 points, finishing second for the MVP award, behind Nikola Jokic.
The rookie of the year 2024/25?
Zach Edey: 8
Reed Sheppard: 5
Alexandre Sarr: 2
Stephon Castle: 1
Tristan da Silva: 1
Rob Dillingham: 1
The 2024 Draft is expected to be very homogeneous and the votes prove it, with six players nominated. No Zaccharie Risacher, but Alexandre Sarr is a bit expected. Nevertheless, it is Zach Edey and Reed Sheppard, in Memphis and Houston, who could shine the most.
The best rookie of 2024/25 in five years?
Reed Sheppard: 8
Stephon Castle: 3
Donovan Clingan: 2
Nikola Topic: 2
Matas Buzelis: 1
Bub Carrington: 1
Dalton Knecht: 1
If predicting the rookie of the year is already difficult, then imagining who will be the best player in five years is even harder, if not very perilous. Example: in 2020to answer this question, the GMs had placed in first place, at 36%, James Wiseman… And only 14% had bet on Anthony Edwards.
Which team will dominate its conference in 2024/25?
EAST
Boston Celtics: 13
Milwaukee Bucks: 2
New York Knicks: 2
Philadelphia 76ers: 1
WEST
Oklahoma City Thunder: 14
Dallas Mavericks: 2
Minnesota Timberwolves: 2
The recruitment of the Sixers and the Knicks was clearly not enough to reverse the trend. For the Eastern Conference, the Celtics are crushing the competition. As for the West, the Thunder are also largely in the majority.
Who will be the NBA champion in 2025?
Boston Celtics: 8
Oklahoma City Thunder: 7
Dallas Mavericks: 1
Milwaukee Bucks: 1
Minnesota Timberwolves: 1
Quite logically, given the results above, the Thunder and the Celtics are therefore the favorites to win the trophy in June 2025, with a slight advantage for Boston, which will thus do the double, for the first time since the Warriors in 2017 and 2018.
