NBA GMs pick Thunder to repeat, with Cavs and Nuggets in running

NBA general managers see little doubt about who sits atop the league heading into 2025-26, and it’s the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In the 24th annual GM survey conducted by John Schuhmann of NBA.com, 80% of general managers picked Oklahoma City to repeat as NBA champions.

The Cavaliers and Nuggets tied for second at 7% each, while the Rockets and Knicks were the only other teams to receive votes.

If the Thunder win again, they will become the first back-to-back champions since the Warriors in 2018. However, recent history suggests nothing is guaranteed.

Last year, 83% of GMs picked the Celtics to repeat, and Boston was eliminated in the second round.

Nikola Jokic, the three-time MVP, continues to command the respect of the league’s decision-makers. The Nuggets star received 67% of the vote to win his fourth MVP and was also chosen as the NBA’s best center (97%), best international player (93%), best passer (80%), the player with the highest basketball IQ (80%), and the one who forces opposing coaches to make the most adjustments (57%).

GMs also see Amen Thompson as the next breakout star, voting the Rockets guard-forward the league’s most athletic player (58%) and most versatile defender (18%).

Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama remains the clear favorite as the best player to build a franchise around, earning 83% of the vote. The Spurs center was also voted the NBA’s best defender (80%) and tied with the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo as the league’s most versatile player (30%).

Cooper Flagg of the Mavericks dominated the rookie categories, earning 97% of the vote for Rookie of the Year and 93% for the player projected to be “best in five years.”

Elsewhere, 53% of general managers named the Hawks as having made the best offseason moves, while 47% picked the Magic as the most improved team.

The Bucks were viewed as having the most surprising offseason, highlighted by waiving and stretching Damian Lillard (43%) and signing Myles Turner (30%) in free agency.