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: LeBron James (LAL)
Added to Poll: Karl-Anthony Towns (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%
6) Kevin Durant (BKN) - 40%
7) LeBron James (LAL) - 44%

Yet To Be Added: (If someone is not here that you want here comment THAT and I will add them)
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)
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:

Once again I can copy/paste from last round. Not because the last selections were bad (and perish the thought that my selections were bad), but because there seem to be so many good players to choose from. So without further ado, CTRL+V:

Vote: Kawhi Leonard - He's definitely a risk, but he took his time getting healthy. If he's back, he's as good as anyone. I think LeBron James could be better in spurts, I just don't think he can sustain it for full games, full weeks at a time. Tatum or Butler would be the safest picks here. You know what they're going to give you and it's going to be good.

Nominate: Paul George - I changed from AD last round to George this round because while I think AD has the higher ceiling, I don't believe in his ability to reach it. George is more likely to play up to his ability. At least in the regular season.

For the 4th time
Kawhi/AD

Vote: Jimmy Butler - safest bet on the board and when it comes playoff time he always produces
Nominate: Anthony Edwards - I think by the end of the season we will be looking at him as an All-NBA talent for the foreseeable future

Nominate Davis

Vote: Kawhi
I think if healthy he's likely a better player than Lebron or KD. I'm betting on his health this year for some irrational reason!

Nominate: Zion

Voted: Kawhi Leonard
Nominate: Anthony Davis

Kawhi/AD

Voted: Ja

Nominate: Barnes

vote Tatum
nominate Siakam

Vote: Tatum

Nominate: Siakam

Vote: Kawhi
Nominate: Siakam

Vote: Butler, again
Nominate: Davis

Nominate: Lauri Markannen - Future MVP, his upgrade this summer is huge, quickest over 213cm player right now.

Vote Kawhi, nominate AD.

You could tell me Kawhi eviscerates the league next year and is right there in contention for BITW, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all. It really shows how ridiculously stacked the league is right now that a guy like that is gonna be ranked #8 here (most likely).

If healthy, it’s Kawhi.

Voted Butler
Nominating Davis

Kawhi is an interesting case. He could certainly be #8 or higher but I'm gonna wait til he shows it

V: Kawhi Leonard
N: Paul George

Vote: Kawhi
Nominate: Zion

ACL tears are hard to overcome. Especially if you are on the wrong side of 30. I think we have seen peak Leonard before his injury and we sadly will never see that version again. : /

Vote Tatum
Nominate Jaylen Brown