NBA GMs Tab Spurs as Title Pick, Wembanyama for MVP

NEW YORK — The people who build NBA rosters see the 2026-27 season running through San Antonio.

In the league's 25th annual survey of general managers, released Thursday, half of the voters picked the Spurs to win the championship. Oklahoma City, the choice of 80% a year ago, drew 43%, and the Knicks and 76ers picked up the remaining votes. GMs cannot vote for their own team or staff.

Victor Wembanyama dominated the individual questions. He took 77% of the MVP vote, well ahead of Nikola Jokic at 10% and Anthony Edwards at 7%, and he was named on 93% of ballots as the player GMs would most want to start a franchise with. Both shares are the highest in the history of the survey. He also drew 97% as the best defensive player, with the lone other vote going to Detroit's Ausar Thompson. In all, the Spurs center finished first on eight questions.

San Antonio also ran away with best young core, built around Wembanyama, 22, Stephon Castle, 21, and Dylan Harper, 20. Harper led the breakout-player question at 27%.

Elsewhere, Philadelphia was a landslide pick for best offseason at 73%, and Giannis Antetokounmpo's move to Miami was voted the acquisition with the biggest impact. Indiana led the most-improved question at 43%, with Washington second at 23%. Memphis rookie Cameron Boozer was the Rookie of the Year favorite at 50%, though GMs split evenly between Washington's AJ Dybantsa and Chicago's Caleb Wilson on who will be the best player from the class in five years.

Miami's Erik Spoelstra was voted the top coach with 43%, and Knicks guard Jalen Brunson was picked as the league's best leader.

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