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 Previous Poll: Anthony Davis (LAL)
Added to Poll: Zion Williamson (NOP)

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%
8) Kawhi Leonard (LAC) - 46%
9) Jayson Tatum (BOS) - 51%
10) Jimmy Butler (MIA) - 53%
11) Ja Morant (MEM) - 23%
12) Anthony Davis (LAL) - 28%

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)
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)
Tyrese Haliburton (IND)
John Wall (LAC)
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)
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)
Fred VanVleet (TOR)
Scottie Barnes (TOR)
Collin Sexton (UTA)
Bradley Beal (WAS)
Kristaps Porzingis (WAS)

Previous Results:

Voted Harden
Nominate Derozan

Vote: Rudy Gobert. I've written enough about him in my last two threads. Incredible defense and better offense than he was able to show in Utah. I look for a big year from Rudy and Minnesota.

Nominate: Cade Cunningham. Chris Paul and Draymond Green would be acceptable choices here too, as well as SGA and over half of the Cavaliers' starting lineup. I went with Cunningham because he started to put things together post-all-star break. The only three players to exceed the ppg, apg, and rpg he averaged in that span for the season were Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and James Harden. So that's his starting point for the upcoming season. I think 23/7/6.5 with improved consistency is a very conservative estimate.

Smh AD has barely played over the last 2 years & wasn’t even that great, shame on RGM for voting him in until he earns it again.

Voted Gobert.
Nominate Donovan Mitchell.

Also, Chris Paul should have been added to this poll by now. He's more of a floor raiser than Dame Lillard.

Vote: Gobert
Nominate: SGA

I like Gobert's massive defensive value over anything left on the board. Zion, Towns and Trae's offense come close. Paul George and Siakam's versatility.

I think Shai is sneakily a top 5 guard already, we just can't see through the smoke of the tire fire that is OKC during their rebuild. He's gives such better rim pressure and paint scoring than the other scoring guards.

Gobert
Garland

I voted Trae Young.
N: Chris Paul

Gobert
SGA

V: Booker
N: Ingram

V Harden
N SGA

Vote: Booker
Nom: Paul

Posters continue to over-value the last game or two a guy played over the whole season.

Vote: Booker
Nominate: Anthony Edwards

Vote: Lillard
Nominate: Anthony Edwards

V: Lillard
N: Mitchell

V: Dame
N: Kyrie

Dame:
Easily the most talented player left on the board IMO. I have him right with Tatum at 9/10 over Butler and AD. I understand with injury and this past season why some have rated him lower, but at his best he's easily like 7-10 on this list. I scored it that way bc unlike Harden, I don't see or expect any signs of regression from him. He's still going to be a beast this season and end up much higher on this list. No way Gobert over peak Dame who had that once in a lifetime 2OT game against the Nuggets.

Kyrie:
Same thing as Dame, most talented player with no signs of regression. Of course not playing will lose you points but not for me, he's better than the rest when he's playing. simple.

V: Paul George
N: Chris Paul

Edit: the Siakam truthers out there are cracking me up

V - Booker
N - Edwards

yeah- let´s vote for Gobert, to see him put up empty numbers in the regular season and get played off the floor in the playoffs for the 4th season in a row...

I don't think any player on the list is better than Irving, but he's not an option:

Voted: Harden

Nominate: Kyrie Irving

Harden/CP3