OKC Thunder factor prominently in annual GM Survey

Western Conference Champions:

Golden State Warriors get the nod to win the West by a whopping 90 percent. Teams ranking behind them in order are the Houston Rockets, OKC Thunder and Utah Jazz. As per the chart below GMs were only asked to rank the top four teams.

Eastern Conference Champions:

Like their counterparts the Boston Celtics took 90 percent of the vote to win the East. Only Toronto was earmarked as a potential Eastern Finals representative with 10 percent of the votes. Teams ranking behind these two were the 76ers, Bucks, Pacers and Wizards.

NBA Champions:

Although the Warriors remain the prohibitive favorite to three-peat (87 percent) GMs offered the Rockets and Celtics as dark horse options (7 percent each) to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.

Most Valuable Player:

Nine players received votes to take the top individual hardware with LeBron James taking the majority of votes (30%). Former OKC Thunder star Kevin Durant is closely ranked behind James with 27 percent of the vote.

Russell Westbrook is one of nine players who received at least one vote. The Brodie joins a superstar list of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard as players who received votes, but less than 10 percent. The two players who filled out the top four are Anthony Davis with 17 percent and current MVP James Harden who grabs 10 percent to repeat.

OKC Thunder factor in top positional player votes:

Existing and former OKC Thunder players make the cut in the five rotation rankings. Russell Westbrook placed second (17%) behind Stephen Curry (57%) as the best point guard.

Paul George received votes (less than 7%) as the league’s best shooting guard while former OKC Thunder star James Harden took 73 percent of the vote.