RealGM Top 25 Player Poll-#9 2023-24

[ElectricMayhem]

Once again, It is time for Filthadelphia's annual Top 25 Player poll this offseason.

(Filthadelphia, if you want to take over again, go for it. I just wanted to get it finished before preseason. In any case, this will probably be the last year I can do it for a while).

Your favorite offseason debate is back by popular demand!
Thanks to everyone who voted last go around I'm excited to see where the 6th 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!!!!

Added to Poll: Ja Morant (MEM)

RealGM Top 25 Players 2023-24:
1) Nikola Jokic (DEN) - 72%
2) Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) - 61%
3) Luka Doncic (DAL) - 42%
4) Steph Curry (GSW) - 42%
5) Joel Embiid (PHI) - 43%
6) Jayson Tatum (BOS) - 45%
7) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) - 37%
8) Kevin Durant (PHX) - 34%

Yet To Be Added: (If someone is not here that you want here comment THAT and I will add them)
Dejounte Murray (ATL)
Trae Young (ATL)
Jaylen Brown (BOS)
Mikal Bridges (BKN)
LaMelo Ball (CHA)
DeMar DeRozan (CHI)
Zach LaVine (CHI)
Darius Garland (CLE)
Evan Mobley (CLE)
Kyrie Irving (DAL)
Aaron Gordon (DEN)
Jamal Murray (DEN)
Cade Cunningham (DET)
Draymond Green (GSW)
Chris Paul (GSW)
Klay Thompson (GSW)
Andrew Wiggins (GSW)
Fred VanVleet (HOU)
Paul George (LAC)
Austin Reaves (LAL)
Desmond Bane (MEM)
Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM)
Bam Adebayo (MIA)
Jrue Holiday (MIL)
Brook Lopez (MIL)
Khris Middleton (MIL)
Rudy Gobert (MIN)
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN)
Brandon Ingram (NOP)
Zion Williamson (NOP)
Jalen Brunson (NYK)
Julius Randle (NYK)
Paolo Banchero (ORL)
Jerami Grant (POR)
James Harden (PHI)
Tyrese Maxey (PHI)
Bradley Beal (PHX)
De'Aaron Fox (SAC)
Domantas Sabonis (SAC)
Victor Wembanyama (SAS)
Scottie Barnes (TOR)
Pascal Siakam (TOR)
Lauri Markkanen (UTA)
Kyle Kuzma (WAS)


Previous Results:

Spoiler:

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2228998

RealGM Top 25 Players 2018-19:
1) LeBron James (LAL)-72%
2) Kevin Durant (GSW)-39%
3) Stephen Curry (GSW)-53%
4) Anthony Davis (NOP)-39%
5) James Harden (HOU)-45%
6) Kawhi Leonard (TOR)-50%
7) Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL)-56%
8) Russell Westbrook (OKC)-47%
9) Chris Paul (HOU)-43%
10) Jimmy Butler (MIN)-33%
11) Joel Embiid (PHI)-37%
12) Nikola Jokic (DEN)-32%
13) Victor Oladipo (IND)-31%
14) Rudy Gobert (UTA)-62%-TIEBREAKER w Kyrie Irving (BOS)
15) Damian Lillard (POR)-32%
16) Kyrie Irving (BOS)-37%
17) Draymond Green (GSW)-31%
18) Paul George (OKC)-27%
19) Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN)-23%
20) Kyle Lowry (TOR)-31%
21) Klay Thompson (GSW)-30%
22) Ben Simmons (PHI)-35%
23) John Wall (WAS)-27%
24) Al Horford (BOS)-33%
25) LaMarcus Aldridge (SAS)-30%

RealGM Top 25 Players 2019-20:
1)Kawhi Leonard (LAC)-39%
2)Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL)-42%
3)LeBron James (LAL)-42%
4)Stephen Curry (GSW)-48%
5)James Harden (HOU)-40%
6)Anthony Davis (LAL)-39%
7)Nikola Jokic (DEN)-33%
8)Joel Embiid (PHI)-35%
9)Paul George (LAC)-46%
10)Damian Lillard (POR)-54%
11)Jimmy Butler (MIA)-30%
12)Russell Westbrook (HOU)-26%
13)Rudy Gobert (UTA)-23%
14)Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN)-28%
15)Draymond Green (GSW)-30%
16)Kyrie Irving (BKN)-37%
17)Blake Griffin (DET)-31%
18)Bradley Beal (WAS)-24%
19)Kemba Walker (BOS)-29%
20)Luka Doncic (DAL)-37%
21)Jrue Holiday (NOP)-22%
22)Ben Simmons (PHI)-30%
23)Pascal Siakam (TOR)-41%
24)Kyle Lowry (TOR)-46%
25)Chris Paul (OKC)-32%

RealGM Top 25 Players 2020-21:
1)LeBron James (LAL) - 53%
2)Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) - 47%
3)Luka Doncic (DAL) - 37%
4)Kawhi Leonard (LAC) - 34%
5)Anthony Davis (LAL) - 35%
6)James Harden (HOU) - 39%
7)Steph Curry (GSW) - 33%
8)Nikola Jokic (DEN) - 42%
9)Kevin Durant (BKN) - 46%
10)Damian Lillard (POR) - 38%
11)Jimmy Butler (MIA) - 57%
12)Jayson Tatum (BOS) - 41%
13)Joel Embiid (PHI) - 59%
14)Devin Booker (PHX) - 22%
15)Chris Paul (PHX) - 24%
16)Paul George (LAC) - 21%
17)Bradley Beal (WAS) - 22%
18)Donovan Mitchell (UTA) - 22%
19)Ben Simmons (PHI) - 26%
20)Kyle Lowry (TOR) - 28%
21)Rudy Gobert (UTA) - 26%
22)Bam Adebayo (MIA) - 24%
23)Jamal Murray (DEN) - 29%
24)Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) - 32%
25)Kyrie Irving (BKN) - 33%

RealGM Top 25 Players 2021-22:
1) Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) - 41%
2) Kevin Durant (BKN) - 38%
3) LeBron James (LAL) - 36%
4) Luka Doncic (DAL) - 39%
5) Stephen Curry (GSW) - 42%
6) Nikola Jokic (DEN) - 61%
7) Joel Embiid (PHI) - 32%
8) James Harden (BKN) - 47%
9) Kawhi Leonard (LAC) - 35%
10) Damian Lillard (POR) - 39%
11) Anthony Davis (LAL) - 60%
12) Jayson Tatum (BOS) - 32%
13) Jimmy Butler (MIA) - 34%
14) Paul George (LAC) - 33%
15) Trae Young (ATL) - 30%
16) Rudy Gobert (UTA) - 22%
17) Zion Williamson (NOP) - 27%
18) Chris Paul (PHX) - 26%
19) Kyrie Irving (BKN) - 29%
20) Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) - 24%
21) Devin Booker (PHX) - 28%
22) Bradley Beal (WAS) - 35%
23) Donovan Mitchell (UTA) - 47%
24) Khris Middleton (MIL) - 45%
25. Jrue Holiday (MIL) 27%-

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%
14) Paul George (LAC) - 19% (Tiebreaker: 62%)
15) James Harden (PHI) - 23%
16) Devin Booker (PHX) - 27%
17) Damian Lillard (POR) - 34%
18) Trae Young (ATL) - 25%
19) Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) - 33%
20) Pascal Siakam (TOR) - 40%
21) Jaylen Brown (BOS) - 30%
22) Chris Paul (PHX) - 25%
23) Zion Williamson (NOP) - 27%
24) Bam Adebayo (MIA) - 25%
25. Kyrie Irving (BKN) - 32%

[iggymcfrack]

AD’s a monster. He was top 5 last year. He’s less injury prone than KD (who just went) and he’s much younger than Jimmy. I think it’s his turn.

[ElectricMayhem]

Judging from the 2nd place race for #8, this will be a close one.

Vote: Jimmy Butler. 3rd in 538's RAPTOR wins above replacement player, a beast on offense and defense, led his team to the finals.

Nominate: Trae Young

[The Number 9]

Voted James

Nominate Towns

[Sakkreth]

Vote LeBron, nominate Sabonis

[BobbyPortisEyes]

Vote: Lebron. Close between Jimmy and Lebron. While both are obviously more playoff performers than regular season guys at this stage of their careers, I don't think anyone would seriously pick Jimmy over Lebron in a Finals series.

Nominate: Trae Young

[Pistol_Pete10]

V: Davis
N: Young

[zimpy27]

Judging from the 2nd place race for #8, this will be a close one.

Vote: Jimmy Butler. 3rd in 538's RAPTOR wins above replacement player, a beast on offense and defense, led his team to the finals.

Nominate: Trae Young

It may not be close. I'd guess that those that vote Durant will probably mostly vote LeBron. Similar mentality in believing that the older superstars have to be overtaken in the season prior to believe that a younger player will overtake them this coming season.

[giberish]

Vote: Butler - he was 2nd or 3rd several spots before this, why is he dropping?

Nom: Siakam

[giberish]

Judging from the 2nd place race for #8, this will be a close one.

Vote: Jimmy Butler. 3rd in 538's RAPTOR wins above replacement player, a beast on offense and defense, led his team to the finals.

Nominate: Trae Young

It may not be close. I'd guess that those that vote Durant will probably mostly vote LeBron. Similar mentality in believing that the older superstars have to be overtaken in the season prior to believe that a younger player will overtake them this coming season.

Of course Butler was clearly better than either one last year - for both the regular season and the playoffs.

[zimpy27]

Judging from the 2nd place race for #8, this will be a close one.

Vote: Jimmy Butler. 3rd in 538's RAPTOR wins above replacement player, a beast on offense and defense, led his team to the finals.

Nominate: Trae Young

It may not be close. I'd guess that those that vote Durant will probably mostly vote LeBron. Similar mentality in believing that the older superstars have to be overtaken in the season prior to believe that a younger player will overtake them this coming season.

Of course Butler was clearly better than either one last year - for both the regular season and the playoffs.

I disagree. I'd have Butler after Durant and LeBron last season. But I typically use a moving average system of 3 years to assess.

7. Durant
8. LeBron
9. Butler
10. SGA
11. Davis

That's how I'd rank it

[nomansland]

Booker

And come on, has James Harden really fallen that far down the list of talent in the NBA? Anyway I'll nominate him again.

[Stone]

Vote: LeBron
Nominate: Murray (Denver)

[Saints14]

Vote LeBron
Nominate Sabonis

[HoopsterJones]

Vote: Lebron
Nominate: KAT

[MoneyTalks41890]

Voted Bron. Think AD could go here as well or Jimmy. Hard to say who is going to be more healthy and not experience a drop off.

Nom Fox

[cupcakesnake]

Vote: AD
Nom: Siakam

I don't get the Lebron vote over Jimmy or AD. The 3 were close in the regular season (though I'd go Jimmy>AD>Lebron), and then both were much better than Lebron in the playoffs. AD was the Lakers most valuable player in their playoff run. Now Lebron is 38 and he's going to be better than Jimmy and AD this year?

[DrModesty]

Vote: AD
Nom: Siakam

I don't get the Lebron vote over Jimmy or AD. The 3 were close in the regular season (though I'd go Jimmy>AD>Lebron), and then both were much better than Lebron in the playoffs. AD was the Lakers most valuable player in their playoff run. Now Lebron is 38 and he's going to be better than Jimmy and AD this year?

I have to echo this sentiment while also adding Booker as someone who was more impactful regular season and off season last year than Lebron.

Vote: Butler
Nom: JJJ

[nikster]

Vote: AD
Nom: Siakam

I don't get the Lebron vote over Jimmy or AD. The 3 were close in the regular season (though I'd go Jimmy>AD>Lebron), and then both were much better than Lebron in the playoffs. AD was the Lakers most valuable player in their playoff run. Now Lebron is 38 and he's going to be better than Jimmy and AD this year?

I have to echo this sentiment while also adding Booker as someone who was more impactful regular season and off season last year than Lebron.

Vote: Butler
Nom: JJJ

Yeah I have a hard time believing Lebron cracks top 10 this year. Think he's getting some legacy votes.

V Jimmy
N Siakam

[longtallbrad]

Voting: Rolling the dice on AD's health here
Nominate: Fox