Clippers Picked to Win NBA Finals, Giannis to Win MVP in 2019-20 GM Survey
In an anonymous survey of the league's general managers, the Kawhi Leonard- and Paul George-led Los Angeles Clippers were selected as the most likely 2020 NBA champions.
John Schuhmann of NBA.com provided results from the annual post-summer review by GMs. The Clippers were selected as the title winners by 46 percent of respondents. They were followed by the Milwaukee Bucks (36 percent) and Los Angeles Lakers (11 percent).
The Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo was predicted to defend his 2018-19 Most Valuable Player Award, with 52 percent of the vote, followed by the trio of Leonard, the Lakers' Anthony Davis and the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (10 percent each).
Antetokounmpo was also overwhelmingly selected as the player general managers would most want to start their team with, garnering 86 percent of the vote.
Here's a look at the player the GMs chose as the best at each position:
- PG: Stephen Curry
- SG: James Harden
- SF: Kawhi Leonard
- PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
- C: Nikola Jokic
The Clippers' blockbuster offseason was graded as the NBA's best summer by 82 percent of voters, with Leonard selected as the biggest impact addition.
L.A.'s defense also took center stage as Leonard, who led the Toronto Raptors to the 2019 NBA title, was named the league's best defender, and the team was picked as the top overall defensive squad.
Zion Williamson, the first overall pick of the 2019 NBA draft by the New Orleans Pelicans, was voted as the most likely Rookie of the Year and also the first-year player who will be the best from the draft class in five years. The Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant was second in both categories.
Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs, who's also set to lead Team USA at the 2020 Summer Olympics, was named the best coach. Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics' Brad Stevens didn't receive a single vote following the C's disappointing 2018-19 season after being named the top coach last year.
Let's check some of the other notable leading vote-getters:
- Most fun team to watch: Denver Nuggets
- Most promising young core: New Orleans Pelicans
- Best pure shooter: Stephen Curry
- Best passer: LeBron James
- Best leader: Damian Lillard
- Best basketball IQ: LeBron James
- Most needed rule change: Playoff seeding to 1-16
Although the general managers picked the Clippers to win the title, it's worth noting the Raptors didn't get any votes in last year's GM survey. The lack of a dominant team in the mold of the Warriors should make for a wide-open season.
