The Athletic's Anonymous NBA Player Poll 2023 Results

[GeorgeSears]

Who is the MVP?:

1. Embiid (50%)
2. Jokic (25.5%)
3. Giannis (15.7%)
4. Tatum (3.9%)

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%)
...
9. Jaren Jackson (4%)

You’re building a roster from scratch: Who are you going to sign first?

1. Giannis (52.4%)
2. Jokic (8.7%)
3. Luka (6.3%)
4. Steph (5.8%)
5. Embiid (5.8%)
6. Tatum (5.8%)

Most Overrated player:

1. Other (Deandre Ayton, Bradley Beal, Patrick Beverley, Devin Booker, DeMar DeRozan, “The Grizzlies,” Tyrese Haliburton, Tobias Harris, Killian Hayes, Zach LaVine, Donovan Mitchell, Trey Murphy III, Duncan Robinson, Tristan Thompson, Nikola Vučević, Grant Williams and Zion Williamson. Each received one vote.) (31.5%)
2. Trae Young (14.8%)
3. Julius Randle (7.4%)
4. Pascal Siakam (7.4%)
5. Jimmy Butler (5.6%)
6. Rudy Gobert (5.6%)
7. Jaren Jackson Jr. (5.6%)


Who’s the most underrated player?

1. Other (Jarrett Allen, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Deandre Ayton, Desmond Bane, Alex Caruso, Mike Conley, Markelle Fultz, Tyrese Haliburton, Tobias Harris, Sam Hauser, Brandon Ingram, Kyrie Irving, Isaiah Joe, Maxi Kleber, Kyle Kuzma, Kevon Looney, Terance Mann, Lauri Markannen, Tyrese Maxey, Jordan Poole, Bobby Portis, Paul Reed, Terry Rozier, D’Angelo Russell, Alperen Şengün, Marcus Smart, Dennis Smith Jr., Nikola Vučević, Franz Wagner, Aaron Wiggins, Jalen Williams, Christian Wood and Delon Wright. Each received one vote.) (34%)
2. Jrue Holiday (17.5%)
3. Shae (11.3)
4. Mikal Bridges (5.2)
5. Brunson (4.1)

GOAT
1. Jordan
2. LeBron

Arena with Worst Fans:

1. Hornets
2. Pistons
3. Wizards
4. Jazz
5. Celtics

Arena with Best Fans:

1. Celtics
2. Kings
3. Warriors
4. Knicks
5. 76ers

Coach you want to play for?

1. Pop (25.3)
2. Kerr (13.7)
3. Spolestra (9.5)
....
16. Doc Rivers (2.1)


Coach you least want to play for:

1. Thibs (43.6)
2. Stephen Silas (14.5)
3. Other
4. Doc Rivers

[UcanUwill]

My arch enemy, NIkola Vucevic, received most votes as most underrated and most overrated player. That sounds about right with this man, some people still think he is good and we are crazy, then there are we among crazy who think he is good

[ImSlower]

He got one vote for each. But I know what you mean; he's a rather infuriating player to watch on my team, personally. About 3 poor moves for every 2 good ones in my completely pulled-out-my-ass reckoning.

[realball]

Celtics on the list for best and worst fans lol.

[tmorgan]

Lolz at the Killian Hayes is overrated vote. Does anyone not think he sucks?

[GeorgeSears]

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

[LordCovington33]

Celtics on the list for best and worst fans lol.

And Tobias is both overrated and underrated

[DaddyCool19]

Lolz at the Killian Hayes is overrated vote. Does anyone not think he sucks?

I don't understand how Killian and Duncan Robinson made the list.

[hauntedcomputer]

I don't understand the counting at all. So one vote gets you near 32 percent but Trae has 15.8 percent, so he got half a vote? Unless the total of those single votes equals 32 percent. Clarity is a lost art.

[UcanUwill]

I don't understand the counting at all. So one vote gets you near 32 percent but Trae has 15.8 percent, so he got half a vote? Unless the total of those single votes equals 32 percent. Clarity is a lost art.

That confused me, but maybe it was like NBA vote ballot, where you pick first, second and third optio?. SO let say Vucevic got 1 first degree vote, while Trae got 1 second degree vote?

[Domejandro]

I don't understand the counting at all. So one vote gets you near 32 percent but Trae has 15.8 percent, so he got half a vote? Unless the total of those single votes equals 32 percent. Clarity is a lost art.

That confused me, but maybe it was like NBA vote ballot, where you pick first, second and third optio?. SO let say Vucevic got 1 first degree vote, while Trae got 1 second degree vote?

The category is “Other”, meaning all of those players received one vote and their percentages are combined (rather than listing them individually).

For readability, I would generally advise putting the combined category at the bottom, despite it being the largest percentage.

[UcanUwill]

I don't understand the counting at all. So one vote gets you near 32 percent but Trae has 15.8 percent, so he got half a vote? Unless the total of those single votes equals 32 percent. Clarity is a lost art.

That confused me, but maybe it was like NBA vote ballot, where you pick first, second and third optio?. SO let say Vucevic got 1 first degree vote, while Trae got 1 second degree vote?

The category is “Other”, meaning all of those players received one vote and their percentages are combined (rather than listing them individually).

I see. That is a weird ranking, None of these ''first'' guys were actually first, could have you just put them at the bottom?

[zeebneeb]

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

Completely makes sense having Detroit on there then. Team has sucked ass since 2008, and haven't won a playoff game in 15 years.

Hoping that changes this year, but we'll see. (About the apathetic fans, not the playoffs. I don't have any hope of that changing soon)

[Domejandro]

That confused me, but maybe it was like NBA vote ballot, where you pick first, second and third optio?. SO let say Vucevic got 1 first degree vote, while Trae got 1 second degree vote?

The category is “Other”, meaning all of those players received one vote and their percentages are combined (rather than listing them individually).

I see. That is a weird ranking, None of these ''first'' guys were actually first, could have you just put them at the bottom?

For readability, I would generally put that category at the bottom. That said, it doesn’t really change much. Those players aren’t being listed as first, the category of “Other” (Being the conglomerate of all of those one-vote getting backed) is being listed as first.

[clyde21]

why are the players hating on JJJ? or do they just hate all Grizzlies lol

[UcanUwill]

The category is “Other”, meaning all of those players received one vote and their percentages are combined (rather than listing them individually).

I see. That is a weird ranking, None of these ''first'' guys were actually first, could have you just put them at the bottom?

For readability, I would generally put that category at the bottom. That said, it doesn’t really change much. Those players aren’t being listed as first, the category of “Other” (Being the conglomerate of all of those one-vote getting backed) is being listed as first.

It is then just interesting to see whose name Athletic decided to highlight and make optional to vote for most overrated and underrated. I mean anyone could have voted for anyone, but they still gave suggestions I assume the number of options were the same, but at least some underrated players that were options on a a ballot, didnt even receive votes. But yes, Athletic hit ones highlighting Trae Young as overrated, and Jrue Holiday as Underrated.

[Doranku]

why are the players hating on JJJ? or do they just hate all Grizzlies lol

Considering someone actually put down "The Grizzlies" for most overrated player, I think the entire team is just hated lol

[Dr Aki]

Apparently the anonymous poll picked up something else

[Kobeskillz]

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

Have you seen the Lakers play there? lol Staples 2.0

[Plain Old Josh]

Most Overrated player:

1. Other (Deandre Ayton, Bradley Beal, Patrick Beverley, Devin Booker, DeMar DeRozan, “The Grizzlies,” Tyrese Haliburton, Tobias Harris, Killian Hayes, Zach LaVine, Donovan Mitchell, Trey Murphy III, Duncan Robinson, Tristan Thompson, Nikola Vučević, Grant Williams and Zion Williamson. Each received one vote.) (31.5%)
2. Trae Young (14.8%)
3. Julius Randle (7.4%)
4. Pascal Siakam (7.4%)
5. Jimmy Butler (5.6%)
6. Rudy Gobert (5.6%)
7. Jaren Jackson Jr. (5.6%)