It was a busy offseason for the league's General Managers, but before they sat back and watched their players and coaches go to work, NBA.com asked the GMs to fill out our eighth annual GM Survey.
Can the Lakers repeat for the seventh time in their history, will the Celtics capture banner No. 18, or will Shaq help the King get his ring? Will LeBron James earn another MVP award, and if you were putting together an NBA franchise, is he the player you'd most like to start with?
Those are just a few of the 60 questions NBA general managers responded to. See how their opinions compare to yours and if they got it right a year ago.
General managers were not permitted to vote for their own team or personnel. Percentages are based on the pool of respondents to each question of the survey, rather than all 30 GMs. The NBA.com GM Survey was compiled by John Schuhmann.
L.A. Lakers |
| Which team is the most fun to watch? |
| 1. |
L.A. Lakers |
30.8% |
| 2. |
Orlando |
15.4% |
| 3. |
Denver |
11.5% |
| 4. |
Cleveland |
7.7% |
| 4. |
Golden State |
7.7% |
| 4. |
New York |
7.7% |
Also receiving votes:
Atlanta, Phoenix, Portland, Utah, Washington
|
| - |
Last year: New Orleans |
26.9% |
|
|
Cleveland |
| Which team has the best home-court advantage? |
| 1. |
Cleveland |
37.9% |
| 2. |
Utah |
31.0% |
| 3. |
L.A. Lakers |
10.3% |
| 3. |
Portland |
10.3% |
Also receiving votes:
Boston, Golden State, San Antonio
|
| - |
Last year: Utah |
44.4% |
|
|
LeBron James |
| Which player is the most athletic? |
| 1. |
LeBron James, Cleveland |
69.6% |
| 2. |
Dwight Howard, Orlando |
10.7% |
| 2. |
Josh Smith, Atlanta |
10.7% |
Also receiving votes:
Rudy Gay, Memphis; Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia; Tyrus Thomas, Chicago
|
| - |
Last year: LeBron James |
59.3% |
|
|
Ray Allen |
| Which player is the best pure shooter? |
| 1. |
Ray Allen, Boston |
57.1% |
| 2. |
Jason Kapono, Philadelphia |
17.9% |
Also receiving votes:
Joe Johnson, Atlanta; Kyle Korver, Utah; Rashard Lewis, Orlando; Kevin Martin, Sacramento; Steve Nash, Phoenix; Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas; J.R. Smith, Denver
|
| - |
Last year: Ray Allen |
61.1% |
|
|
Chris Paul |
| Which player is the fastest with the ball? |
| 1. |
Chris Paul, New Orleans |
42.9% |
| 2. |
Tony Parker, San Antonio |
17.9% |
| 3. |
Aaron Brooks, Houston |
14.3% |
| 4. |
Derrick Rose, Chicago |
7.1% |
Also receiving votes:
Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix; Devin Harris, New Jersey; Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee; Steve Nash, Phoenix; Rajon Rondo, Boston
|
| - |
Last year: Chris Paul |
37.0% |
|
|
Richard Hamilton |
| Which player is best at moving without the ball? |
| 1. |
Richard Hamilton, Detroit |
67.9% |
| 2. |
Manu Ginobili, San Antonio |
14.3% |
| 3. |
Ray Allen, Boston |
10.7% |
| 4. |
Kevin Martin, Sacramento |
7.1% |
| - |
Last year: Richard Hamilton |
76.9% |
|
|
Kobe Bryant |
| Which player is the best at getting his own shot? |
| 1. |
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers |
69.0% |
| 2. |
LeBron James, Cleveland |
20.7% |
| 3. |
Dwyane Wade, Miami |
10.3% |
| - |
Last year: Kobe Bryant |
81.5% |
|
|
Dwight Howard |
| Which player is the best offensive rebounder? |
| 1. |
Dwight Howard, Orlando |
74.1% |
Also receiving votes:
Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia; Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers; Udonis Haslem, Miami; Paul Millsap, Utah; Zaza Pachulia, Atlanta; Zach Randolph, Memphis; Amar'e Stoudemire, Phoenix
|
| - |
Last year: Tyson Chandler |
38.5% |
|
|
Steve Nash |
| Which player is the best passer? |
| 1. |
Steve Nash, Phoenix |
58.6% |
| 2. |
Chris Paul, New Orleans |
34.5% |
| 3. |
Jason Kidd, Dallas |
6.9% |
| - |
Last year: Steve Nash |
44.4% |
|
|
LeBron James |
| Which player is the most dangerous in the open floor? |
| 1. |
LeBron James, Cleveland |
62.1% |
| 2. |
Chris Paul, New Orleans |
17.2% |
| 3. |
Steve Nash, Phoenix |
6.9% |
| 3. |
Dwyane Wade, Miami |
6.9% |
Also receiving votes:
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers; Jason Kidd, Dallas
|
| - |
Last year: LeBron James |
37.0% |
|
|
LeBron James |
| Which player is the best finisher? |
| 1. |
LeBron James, Cleveland |
55.2% |
| 2. |
Dwyane Wade, Miami |
13.8% |
| 3. |
Dwight Howard, Orlando |
10.3% |
| 4. |
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers |
6.9% |
Also receiving votes:
Carlos Boozer, Utah; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio; Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia; Tony Parker, San Antonio
|
| - |
Last year: LeBron James |
63.0% |
|
|
Mehmet Okur |
| Which player does the most with the least? |
| 1. |
Mehmet Okur, Utah |
14.3% |
| 2. |
Matt Bonner, San Antonio |
10.7% |
| 3. |
Chuck Hayes, Houston |
7.1% |
| 3. |
David Lee, New York |
7.1% |
| 3. |
Luis Scola, Houston |
7.1% |
| 3. |
Hedo Turkoglu, Toronto |
7.1% |
Also receiving votes:
Kelenna Azubuike, Golden State; Shane Battier, Houston; Chauncey Billups, Denver; Glen Davis, Boston; Tim Duncan, San Antonio; Marc Gasol, Memphis; Matt Harpring, Utah; Kyle Korver, Utah; Paul Millsap, Utah; Steve Nash, Phoenix; John Salmons, Chicago; Anderson Varejao, Cleveland
|
| - |
Last year: Bruce Bowen |
12.5% |
|
|
Ron Artest |
| Who is the toughest player in the NBA? |
| 1. |
Ron Artest, L.A. Lakers |
42.9% |
| 2. |
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers |
10.7% |
| 3. |
Kevin Garnett, Boston |
7.1% |
| 3. |
Shaquille O'Neal, Cleveland |
7.1% |
| 3. |
Dwyane Wade, Miami |
7.1% |
Also receiving votes:
Matt Harpring, Utah; Al Horford, Atlanta; Stephen Jackson, Golden State; Chris Paul, New Orleans; Luis Scola, Houston; Kurt Thomas, Milwaukee
|
| - |
Last year: Ron Artest |
37.0% |
|
|
Chauncey Billups |
| Which player is the best leader? |
| 1. |
Chauncey Billups, Denver |
28.6% |
| 2. |
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers |
25.0% |
| 3. |
Tim Duncan, San Antonio |
14.3% |
| 4. |
Kevin Garnett, Boston |
10.7% |
| 5. |
Jason Kidd, Dallas |
7.1% |
| 5. |
Steve Nash, Phoenix |
7.1% |
| 5. |
Chris Paul, New Orleans |
7.1% |
| - |
Last year: Kevin Garnett |
51.9% |
|
|
Steve Nash |
| Which player has the best basketball IQ? |
| 1. |
Steve Nash, Phoenix |
36.5% |
| 2. |
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers |
28.8% |
| 3. |
Jason Kidd, Dallas |
7.7% |
Also receiving votes:
Shane Battier, Houston; Chauncey Billups, Denver; Tim Duncan, San Antonio; Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers; Tony Parker, San Antonio; Brandon Roy, Portland; Deron Williams, Utah
|
| - |
Last year: N/A |
|
|
|
Kobe Bryant |
| Which player would you want taking a shot with the game on the line? |
| 1. |
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers |
89.7% |
| 2. |
Paul Pierce, Boston |
6.9% |
| 3. |
Carmelo Anthony, Denver |
3.4% |
| - |
Last year: Kobe Bryant |
88.9% |
|
|
NBA.com is part of Turner - SI Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network.
