The annual NBA GM poll was released on Thursday, and we got a rare result.
A Knick leads one of the 48 questions that were asked to the executives.
It wasn’t too long ago that you’d need a magnifying glass to find a mention of the Knicks in a positive light, but now they’re all over the place, particularly with the captain himself, Jalen Brunson.
When asked who the NBA’s “best leader” is, the executives moved away from the perennial choice, Steph Curry, and crowned Brunson at the top with 53%. The longtime
Warrior clocked in at 20%, followed by SGA and a bunch of players who received one vote, including Wemby (somehow).
But that isn’t the only mention in this long survey.
One year after receiving a single vote to win the NBA Finals, the Knicks got… one. All but two executives voted for either the Spurs or the Thunder, boo.
The big difference is that, while just 30% of executives picked the Knicks to finish atop the East (a firm second behind Cleveland), that’s shot up to 60% this year. All but one executive picked them to finish in the top two.
In the positional rankings, one-fifth of them drank the Kool-Aid after the NBA Finals. Brunson was picked as the NBA’s top point guard in 20% of responses, trailing only SGA.
OAKAAK (sigh) Mitchell Robinson finished second in “Most Underrated Player Acquisition”, getting 17% in his new green and white gigs (ew).
After not getting a single vote in the category last year, OG Anunoby got one vote when asked about the league’s best perimeter defender. I’m not sure what Alex Caruso is doing to get 17% here, but hey.
When it comes to defensive versatility, nobody should be shocked that Wemby is No. 1, but OG finished tied for fourth with 10% with Bam Adebayo. He also received a vote for in general versatility.
It’s not just the players getting love. Mike Brown got three votes for “Best Coach”, only trailing savants Mark Daigneault and Erik Spoelstra. I guess when you get a ring, you join an exclusive club.
He also got 10% when asked about the best leader of men, or “Best Motivator of People”. In this one, he finished fourth, behind Spo, Joe Mazzulla, and Steve Kerr.
Coach Brown also received votes in the in-game adjustments and offensive categories, but far too few. Did they not watch that playoff run? Yet, 17% of executives believe the Knicks’ offense will be the most efficient this year, trailing only OKC and Denver. Make that make sense.
Knicks assistants Darren Erman and Chris Jent got shoutouts in the “Best Assistant Coach” category, one that was won by Jeff Van Gundy and Billy Donovan, two ex-head honchos who are much more known quantities.
When asked who would make the best coach one day, the retirement of Chris Paul opened the door for Mike Conley to win this category in a landslide. Brunson came in third, trailing playoff foe T.J. McConnell. Hm.
The Knicks are not a fun watch sometimes, so I can’t be mad that only one executive voted for the reigning champions on that, but that depends on your definition of fun. They’re fun in the sense that no game is ever over until it’s actually over, but that more cause heart palpitations and not blockbuster excitement.
What I am mad at is that only 20 percent voted for MSG as the best home-court advantage. Seriously? Tied for first were OKC (which is fair) and Denver, which I feel is more geography-based than anything.
Finally, when it comes to what player you want taking the shot with the game on the line, it should be obvious, no?
Well, according to executives, it’s still Curry. Brunson did go from receiving just one vote to finishing in second at 17%, but it seems a lot of people are still stuck in 2016.
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