General managers picked the Bucks to win the NBA title. Where does Giannis rank for MVP?
The Milwaukee Bucks may have fallen short in their title defense last year, but in the annual NBA.com offseason survey of the league’s general managers, those top decision-makers feel the Bucks will win their second title in three seasons.
The Bucks earned 43% of the votes to win the title, with the defending champion Golden State Warriors a distant second at 25%. The Los Angeles Clippers were third at 21% and the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics checked in at fourth at 11%.
Naturally, in picking Milwaukee to win it all, the Bucks are also the heavy favorites to win the Eastern Conference with 72% of the first-place votes. Boston was second with 21% of the first-place votes.
The next question is typically about the most valuable player race, as two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is always in the mix.
But this year, the league general managers feel that Dallas’ Luka Dončić will earn his first such honor in receiving 48% of the vote. Antetokounmpo was second (34%), followed by Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid (14%) and Golden State’s Stephen Curry (3%).
Interestingly, the GMs flipped their votes when posed the question of what player would they sign if they were starting a franchise today. The 27-year-old Antetokounmpo got 55% of the votes over the 23-year-old Dončić (45%).
Here are the remaining categories in which the Bucks were noted:
Which player forces opposing NBA coaches to make the most adjustments?
1. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 52%
T-2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 14%
T-2. Nikola Jokic, Denver – 14%
T-4. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia – 7%
T-4. Luka Doncic, Dallas – 7%
Who is the best power forward in the NBA?
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 86%
2. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 10%
3. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn – 3%
Last season Antetokounmpo topped the list with 63% of the vote.
Who is the best center in the NBA?
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver – 79%
2. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia – 17%
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 3%
Who is the best international player in the NBA?
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 57%
2. Luka Doncic, Dallas – 28%
3. Nikola Jokic, Denver – 16%
Antetokounmpo received 60% of the vote last year.
Who is the best defensive player in the NBA?
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 48%
2. Draymond Green, Golden State – 24%
3. Rudy Gobert, Minnesota – 10%
Bucks guard Jrue Holiday received votes in this category.
Who is the best perimeter defender in the NBA?
1. Marcus Smart, Boston – 41%
2. Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee – 31%
3. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers – 10%
4. Mikal Bridges, Phoenix – 7%
Holiday was No. 1 in this poll last season with 50% of the vote.
Who is the best interior defender in the NBA?
1. Rudy Gobert, Minnesota – 83%
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 10%
3. Draymond Green, Golden State – 7%
Who is the most versatile defender in the NBA?
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 41%
2. Draymond Green, Golden State – 31%
3. Bam Adebayo, Miami – 7%
Which is the best defensive team in the NBA?
1. Boston Celtics – 69%
2. Golden State Warriors – 10%
T-3. Miami Heat – 7%
T-3. Milwaukee Bucks – 7%
Bucks rookie MarJon Beauchamp received 24 votes as the “biggest steal at where he was selected in the draft.”
Which head coach runs the best offense?
1. Steve Kerr, Golden State – 62%
2. Chris Finch, Minnesota – 14%
T-3. Mike Budenholzer, Milwaukee – 7%
T-3. Nick Nurse, Toronto – 7%
Budenholzer also received votes in the “best head coach” poll.
Which team will have the league’s most efficient offense this season?
1. Golden State Warriors – 38%
2. Milwaukee Bucks – 17%
3. Denver Nuggets – 14%
T-4. LA Clippers – 7%
T-4. Philadelphia 76ers – 7%
T-4. Phoenix Suns – 7%
Which player is the most athletic?
1. Ja Morant, Memphis – 38%
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 31%
3. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota – 21%
4. Zion Williamson, New Orleans – 7%
5. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 3%
Which player is the best leader?
1. Chris Paul, Phoenix – 34%
2. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 22%
3. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 14%
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 12%
5. Damian Lillard, Portland – 10%
Who is the most versatile player in the NBA?
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee – 59%
2. LeBron James, L.A. Lakers – 21%
T-3. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn – 7%
T-3. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers – 7%
Antetokounmpo also received votes for the fastest player with the ball.
Contact Jim Owczarski at jowczarski@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat at @JimOwczarski or Facebook at facebook.com/JOwczarski.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: GMs pick Bucks to win the NBA title. Where does Giannis rank for MVP?
