The NBA released its annual general manager survey this week, and it reads like a coronation. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs won most of the categories that matter.
General managers cannot vote for their own teams, and the percentages reflect only those who answered each question.
The Headline Numbers
San Antonio got 50 percent of the votes as the 2027 NBA champion. Oklahoma City got 43 percent. The Knicks and 76ers also received votes without published percentages.
That is a significant turn. Last year the Thunder were the title favorite at 80 percent.
For MVP, Wembanyama took 77 percent, with Nikola Jokic at 10 percent and Anthony Edwards at 7 percent. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum also got votes.
Wembanyama Swept the Defensive Categories
The individual results are where the survey stops being close.
Ninety-three percent of general managers would start a franchise with Wembanyama, up from 83 percent a year ago. He took 97 percent as best defensive player and 97 percent as best interior defender. He led most versatile defender at 57 percent, ahead of Amen Thompson and Scottie Barnes, in a category where 10 players received at least one vote.
He also led the category about which player forces the most coaching adjustments at 47 percent, with Jokic at 33 percent and Gilgeous-Alexander at 10. He edged Jokic 53 to 47 percent as the best international player in the NBA.
He was second at best center with 37 percent and second at best power forward with 23 percent, which is the only oddity in the whole document.
His 2025-26 averages were 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 blocks and 3.1 assists.
The 76ers Won the Offseason and Nobody Knows What They Are
Philadelphia took 73 percent for best offseason moves, with the Heat at 10 percent and the Hornets at 7 percent. The 76ers also led the hardest-team-to-predict category at 27 percent.
Those two results together are the most honest thing in the survey. Thirty front offices agree Philadelphia did the most work and have no idea what it produces.
Oklahoma City Still Owns the Defense
The Thunder took 77 percent as best defensive team, down from 83 percent last year, and 27 percent for most efficient offense. They tied Denver at 37 percent for best home-court advantage. On seeding, 47 percent said they finish first in the West and 50 percent said second.
Notably, general managers put San Antonio and Washington ahead of Oklahoma City for most promising young core, with the Thunder tied for third alongside Charlotte.
Rookie of the Year and the Guards
Cameron Boozer led the Rookie of the Year voting at 50 percent, followed by Caleb Wilson at 20 percent, AJ Dybantsa at 17 percent and Darryn Peterson at 13 percent. For context, Cooper Flagg was last year’s favorite at 97 percent, so this class is viewed as far more open.
Gilgeous-Alexander remains the best point guard at 67 percent, down from 73, with Jalen Brunson at 20 percent and Luka Doncic at 10. Anthony Edwards took best shooting guard at 73 percent. Amen Thompson led best perimeter defender at 30 percent, with Alex Caruso and Ausar Thompson tied at 17.
Dylan Harper led breakout player at 27 percent.
The Coaches
Erik Spoelstra took best head coach at 43 percent, with Mark Daigneault second at 37 percent. Daigneault led best defensive schemes at 67 percent and tied Steve Kerr at 10 percent for best-running offense.
Spoelstra winning while Daigneault’s team is the consensus best defense is the kind of split that happens when voters separate résumé from this season’s roster. Both answers are defensible. Neither is the reason San Antonio is now the favorite.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.