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: Rudy Gobert (MIN)
Added to Poll: Chris Paul (PHX)

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%
13) Rudy Gobert (MIN) - 24%

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)
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:

Absolutely floored by the last two results. Wouldnt have had either in my top 15, maybe not top 20.

Torn here between George, Lilliard, or Book. I voted Book.

Voted Harden
Nominate Derozan

Vote: Paul George. I was tempted to go with James Harden here, but while George provides a bit less overall on offense, he's much stronger on defense than Harden. Great scorer, solid 2-way player.

Nominate: Cade Cunningham. Wrote about it last time, but 23/7/6.5 with improved efficiency would just be incremental growth. I think that's his floor for next year.

Dame or Trae.

At least one of them, if not both should've already been off the board instead of French Mutombo & Street Clothez (who has barely been on a NBA court the last 2 years and wasn't any where near the level of player he SHOULD be).

Vote: Booker
Nominate: DeRozan

dp

Voted: PG
Nominate: Spida

Booker, CP, Trae and Mitchell should all be going in this range, imo.

Vote: Booker
Nominate: Kyrie

Vote: Dame
Nominate: Kyrie

- Dame at his best has schooled everyone else on this list. Noone else has come close to carrying a team in the playoffs by himself like Dame has. Should be higher, but needs to get in here.

V: Lillard
N: Mitchell

Vote Paul George, the only proven top guy on this list. He was an MVP candidate in OKC not that long ago and he's shown himself to be pretty much the same guy when he's healthy and Kawhi's out of the lineup.

Nominate Ben Simmons, all he has to do is come back healthy this year and he's easily a top 20 guy.

Lillard

Nominate Garland.

iggymcfrack wrote:Vote Paul George, the only proven top guy on this list. He was an MVP candidate in OKC not that long ago and he's shown himself to be pretty much the same guy when he's healthy and Kawhi's out of the lineup.

Nominate Ben Simmons, all he has to do is come back healthy this year and he's easily a top 20 guy.

Is he a proven top guy though? I don't question George in this place but it's not like George himself has lead a team anywhere as the number 1 guy.

Anthony Davis and Ja Morant are insanely high
Voted Booker
Nominate Khris Middleton

Voted Booker, nominate Draymond

Voted Booker, nominate Sabonis

Voted Booker, nominate Draymond

Harden/Garland

I've been voting George, but then I woke up this morning thinking, "Hey, maybe this is the moment when Harden looks in the mirror, coifs his beard, and commits himself to a serious title run." He and Embiid SHOULD make for a truly formidable duo, and Maxey and Harris fit around them well.

Nominate: Eh, let's see. Irving again.