The Athletic's Anonymous NBA Player Poll 2023 Results

[Johnny Bball]

Best Defender?:

1. Jrue (28.7%)
2. Dort (11.4%)
3. Other (OG Anunoby, Anthony Davis, Kris Dunn, Paul George, Walker Kessler, Andrew Nembhard, Isaac Okoro, Jalen Suggs and Jarred Vanderbilt all received 1 vote) (8.9%)
4. Lopez (8.9%)
...

What do you suppose their "agenda" is for not picking centres... could just be basketball knowledge.

[jezzerinho]

Presume you weren't allowed vote for anyone on your team (positive or negative categories!!)

[Wonka]

Looks to me that Jrue Holiday is indeed THAT guy. Criminally underrated his entire career.

[jokeboy86]

Celtics on the list for best and worst fans lol.

It appears that the way they determined best and worst arenas was:

best = most rambunctious

worst = most apathetic

Some comments:

“I think Philly is the toughest fans on their players. I think the worst fans as far as maybe no support is Atlanta — always just kind of a mediocre crowd, and it’s just kind of dull.”

“Too fancy. I don’t know, maybe the people are too rich that go to the games. I don’t feel like they’re as passionate about it. But it changes.” —someone who voted for the Knicks’ Madison Square Garden

“Just quiet. Kind of boring. No energy in the building.” — a player who voted for the Magic’s Amway Center

For the player who said this about the Garden I hope he tunes it Friday. Garden playoff crowd is must-see TV.

[Hugi Mancura]

Best Defender?:

1. Jrue (28.7%)
2. Dort (11.4%)
3. Other (OG Anunoby, Anthony Davis, Kris Dunn, Paul George, Walker Kessler, Andrew Nembhard, Isaac Okoro, Jalen Suggs and Jarred Vanderbilt all received 1 vote) (8.9%)
4. Lopez (8.9%)
...

What do you suppose their "agenda" is for not picking centres... could just be basketball knowledge.

Players probably appreciate good isolation defenders more than people who don't play basketball. Centers are not very good at this. Centers are as good as the defense front of them. Usually people who are winning in DPOY are centers who are playing behind a very good defensive system, where other players job is to funnel offense to the center and he can cherry pick easy blocks. Gobert isn't lousier defender he was before, it is just the defensive system front of him is not as good as it used to be.

[Jadoogar]

Celtics on the list for best and worst fans lol.

I'm guessing it's due to the vagueness of the question. Some took worst to mean "empty arena", others thought it meant "aggressive"

[VanWest82]

Crazy that the current generation who grew up watching Lebron and idolizing him still pick MJ. Even with recency bias factored in, MJ still the GOAT.

[grumpysaddle]

That vote for Booker being overrated was 100% Klay Thompson being salty.

[Wargreymon]

Interesting that Trae Young and Pascal Siakam are considered the two most overrated. Matches the eye test. Siakam is great for 3 quarters but fades in the 4th. Trae is a pylon on D and inefficient on O. Not a coincidence that both teams are on the treadmill

[celticfan42487]

So by far every player would want to start a franchise with Giannis.

Yet for MVP he's not even top 2 despite being on the team with the best record in the league, and far better records than those above him?

There's some **** up narratives this year that just seems to go around of "make something up so we don't give someone 3 MVPs no matter what".

[GeorgeSears]

That vote for Booker being overrated was 100% Klay Thompson being salty.

I thought it was Luka

[GSWFan1994]

So by far every player would want to start a franchise with Giannis.

Yet for MVP he's not even top 2 despite being on the team with the best record in the league, and far better records than those above him?

There's some **** up narratives this year that just seems to go around of "make something up so we don't give someone 3 MVPs no matter what".

The MVP award has always been about the narrative (though much more frequently lately). See the Jordan years, the LeBron years, Giannis that you cited, etc.

[grumpysaddle]

That vote for Booker being overrated was 100% Klay Thompson being salty.

I thought it was Luka

Could be him too. Klay seems more spiteful though.

[rzzzzz]

Looks to me that Jrue Holiday is indeed THAT guy. Criminally underrated his entire career.

I think Doug Collins knew how good he was. But because of that he nearly burned him out, playing him to death.

So happy how things turned out for the guy. A fan favorite no matter where he plays.