RealGM

Once again, I am carrying the torch for Filthadelphia's annual Top 25 Player poll this offseason.

Your favorite offseason debate is back by popular demand!
Thanks to everyone who voted last go around I'm excited to see where the 5th annual edition ends up.

Here are the Rules:
-Vote ONE player per poll. You'll be able to change your vote just like in previous years so you can self-implement rank choice voting.
-The criteria of ranking the players is YOUR OWN. The whole point of bringing this to the GB is to attract the widest amount of votes/perspectives on the game as possible to form a true consensus. Some people value shooting over defense, team success over individual prowess etc. Filthadelphia wanted to bake all that into this poll set no matter how chaotic.
-Each poll a player will win and then be taken out of the field. There will be 25 polls in all.
-There are only 10 possible poll options so I will start with last year's Top 10.
-As each poll commences I ask you to COMMENT IN THE THREAD your vote for who should be added in the next poll. There will be a large list of players yet to be added to the field below that you can look over to make your vote. I will tally up the votes in the comments at the end of each poll and add the winner accordingly. For example, if you want Xavier Tillman added in the next poll just comment "Nominate: Xavier Tillman"
-If a poll is overwhelmingly skewed towards one guy I will try, time willing, to edit it early and move on to the next one.
-If there is a tie in the poll. There will be a run-off poll created with just the tying parties to determine a winner. The losers of the runoff will then be added back into the field of 10 for the next poll.
-Feel free to ask any questions via pm or comment
-Feel Free to comment on your reasoning for a pick and why
There may be days when I am not able to quickly add the next poll. Just be patient!

THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING!!!!

Winner of Poll #2: Steph Curry (GSW)
Added to Poll: Rudy Gobert (MIN)

RealGM Top 25 Players 2022-23:
1) Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) - 57%
2) Nikola Jokic (DEN) - 57%
3) Luka Doncic (DAL) - 43%
4) Steph Curry (GSW) - 49%
5) Joel Embiid (PHI) - 37%

Yet To Be Added: (If someone is not here that you want here comment THAT and I will add them)
Trae Young (ATL)
John Collins (ATL)
Dejounte Murray (ATL)
Jaylen Brown (BOS)
Kyrie Irving (BKN)
Ben Simmons (BRK)
Gordon Hayward (CHA)
LaMelo Ball (CHA)
Zach Lavine (CHI)
Demar DeRozan (CHI)
Jarrett Allen (CLE)
Donovan Mitchell (CLE)
Darius Garland (CLE)
Evan Mobley (CLE)
Jamal Murray(DEN)
Cade Cunningham (DET)
Jaden Ivey (DET)
Saddiq Bey (DET)
Draymond Green (GSW)
Klay Thompson (GSW)
Andrew Wiggins (GSW)
Jalen Green (HOU)
Jabari Smith (HOU)
Myles Turner (IND)
Victor Oladipo (IND)
Tyrese Haliburton (IND)
Paul George (LAC)
John Wall (LAC)
Anthony Davis (LAL)
Russell Westbrook (LAL)
Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM)
Desmond Bane (MEM)
Dillon Brooks (MEM)
Bam Adebayo (MIA)
Khris Middleton (MIL)
Jrue Holiday (MIL)
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN)
Anthony Edwards (MIN)
Zion Williamson (NOP)
Brandon Ingram (NOP)
CJ McCollum (NOP)
R.J. Barrett (NYK)
Jalen Brunson (NYK)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)
Paolo Banchero (ORL)
Franz Wagner (ORL)
Wendell Carter (ORL)
Tobias Harris (PHI)
Tyrese Maxey (PHI)
Chris Paul (PHX)
DeAndre Ayton (PHX)
Mikal Bridges (PHX)
Jusuf Nurkic (POR)
Jerami Grant (POR)
De'Aaron Fox (SAC)
Domantas Sabonis (SAC)
Keegan Murray (SAC)
Pascal Siakam (TOR)
Fred VanVleet (TOR)
Scottie Barnes (TOR)
Collin Sexton (UTA)
Bradley Beal (WAS)
Kristaps Porzingis (WAS)

Previous Results:

Vote Kawhi
Nominate AD

Vote: Kevin Durant. He still put up crazy stats last year and he's still one of the best players in the league. He's in a bad position, but he put himself there. That and last season's ugly playoff loss to the Celtics have stained his reputation. I still can't justify putting him below 6, though.

Nominate: Anthony Davis. If he's healthy and motivated he can be one of the best players in the league. Even when he's not completely one or the other he can sleepwalk to solid numbers. I don't think he'll ever consistently play to the level that he can, though.

Vote LeBron
Nominate Siakam

Vote Durant.

Nominate Trae

Vote: Lebron
Nominate: Adebayo

Voted Durant

Nominate Young

vote: Kawhi
Nominate: KAT

Probably a safer bet to go with Tatum, but I'm taking a sort of random bet that Kawhi has a healthy season and the Clippers go into the playoffs as the favorite. This is probably Kawhi's last chance to have a prime season, and I think he load manages like 2019 and then kills people in the playoffs. Durant and Lebron are fair picks here too but they feel almost as random bets as Kawhi, so I'm picking the youngest of the 3.

Vote: KD

Nominate: Trae

Vote Durant
Nominate Anthony Davis

Vote: Tatum

Nominate: Towns - Tough call with a couple high-upside guys with big health issues (George and Davis). Got hit harder than anyone in the league by COVID (between his own health and his family) which set him back a couple of years but looks back.

Tatum/George

Next two should be KD/Lebron.

Then guys like Tatum, Butler, Booker...

V: Durant
N: Young

now it´s getting really tough. assuming that, because of their age, Lebron und KD won´t get better and I have Tatum slightly above Morant, Booker and Butler, I voted for Tatum.
I still have no idea what to do with Kawhi...

nominate: Zion

Couldn't vote for any of the old guys

I took Morant over tatum

nominate: Scottie Barnes

Voted Durant
Nominate Trae Young (whatever his defensive shortcomings, of which he has many, he's basically a top 10 offense on his own).

v: LeBron
He's better than Durant, Tatum, and Kawhi until proven otherwise. This season may be the year, but I'm not betting against him.

n: Young

Now it gets tough. And interesting.

Voted: Durant
Nominate: George

This is how I expect things to play out if both dudes are healthy enough. I think they still have a better combination of talent, motivation, and gas remaining in the tank than all the other guys whose durability questions and age are big variables in where they land in this range. My dark horse is Morant. Very possible he takes his next big leap.

If we're assuming health there's no question in my mind that it's Kawhi

Please add Paul George to the list