RealGM Top 25 Player Poll-#20 2019-20

[Filthadelphia]

Your favorite offseason debate is back by popular demand!
Thanks to everyone who voted last go around Im excited to see where the 2nd annual edition ends up.

Here's the Rules:
-Vote ONE player per poll. You'll be able to change your vote just like last year for those indecisive folks.
-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 indivdual prowess etc. I want to bake all that in to 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 the 10 guys who I personally believe will round out the top 10 in most people's eyes.
-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 Marc Gasol added in the next poll just comment "Marc Gasol" or "Gasol".
-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

THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING!!!!

Winner of Poll #19:Kemba Walker (BOS)-29%
Added to Poll:LaMarcus Aldridge (SAS)


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%



Yet To Be Added: (If someone is not here that you want here comment THAT and I will add them)
Trae Young (ATL)
John Collins (ATL)
Jayson Tatum (BOS)
Jaylen Brown (BOS)
Gordon Hayward (BOS)
DeAndre Jordan (BKN)
Zach LaVine (CHI)
Lauri Markannen (CHI)
Otto Porter (CHI)
Terry Rozier (CHA)
Kevin Love (CLE)
Kristaps Porzingis (DAL)
Jamal Murray (DEN)
Andre Drummond (DET)
Reggie Jackson (DET)
Klay Thompson (GSW)
D'Angelo Russell (GSW)
Clint Capela (HOU)
Eric Gordon (HOU)
Malcolm Brogdan (IND)
Myles Turner (IND)
Lou Williams (LAC)
DeMarcus Cousins (LAL)
Kyle Kuzma (LAL)
Jonas Valanciunas (MEM)
Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM)
Ja Morant (MEM)
Khris Middleton (MIL)
Andrew Wiggins (MIN)
Robert Covington (MIN)
Brandon Ingram (NOP)
Zion Williamson (NOP)
Julius Randle (NYK)
Mitchell Robinson (NYK)
RJ Barrett (NYK)
Danilo Gallinari (OKC)
Steven Adams (OKC)
Nikola Vucevic (ORL)
Aaron Gordon (ORL)
Al Horford (PHI)
Tobias Harris (PHI)
Devin Booker (PHX)
Deandre Ayton (PHX)
CJ McCollum (POR)
Jusuf Nurkic (POR)
De'Aaron Fox (SAC)
Marvin Bagley III (SAC)
DeMar DeRozan (SAS)
Marc Gasol (TOR)
Mike Conley (UTA)
Bojan Bogdanovic (UTA)
Joe Ingles (UTA)
John Wall (WAS)
Isaiah Thomas (WAS)

Here's the list from last year:
https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1746971

[KyRo23]

Let's vote KD for the lulz

[Scatocephalus]

Add Conley

[chokingmav]

Nominate: Conley

[SK21209]

Went with Holiday here, still think he's underrated and I think he's about to have an excellent season.

[Not Suave Rico]

This is Doncic's spot.

[Not Suave Rico]

Nominate Klay Thompson.

[TheNG]

Finally we are going to put a stamp on it
We've been waiting a long time for this moment

[Yallbecrazy]

Doncic has to start the season way better than he finished last season to be a top 25 player. He'll improve, and I think will be a top 5 player in 5 years. Right now, unless he takes a much larger step than I expect I don't see him being better than most players in the poll

[ropjhk]

My vote goes to Doncic, but it's with the expectation that he continues on an upwards trajectory in his career.

Nominate Drummond

[NZB2323]

I feel like Simmons is really good but he's a bad fit with Embiid. I think Doncic is really good but he won't improve that much from his rookie year because he was already playing against adults in Europe so last year wasn't as valuable to him as it is for the average rookie when it comes to experience.

I voted for Mitchell, who is tearing it up with team USA. A lot of times NBA players have breakout years their 3rd year, and I think having Bogdonovic and Conley will make the offense easier on him.

[OakleyDokely]

Last season

Win Shares:
Doncic: 4.9
Siakam: 9.3

Win Shares Per 48:
Doncic: .101
Siakam: .175



Doncic was very good last year as a rookie and he has a lot of potential, but he's not a top 20 player yet.

[Tim Kempton]

Vote: Kyle Lowry
LET DURANT GO ALREADY
Nominate: CJ McCollum

[VanWest82]

I really like Doncic and think he's going to be a star. If we vote him over Siakam and Simmons and Holiday we're doing it based on potential and I have a bit of a problem with that. Doncic will be an ok defender eventually but right now he isn't good on that end.

We've seen Simmons carry his team when Embiid went down to a high playoff seed. We've seen Siakam go toe-to-toe with Embiid, Giannis, and Draymond in the playoffs and have enough monster games to help win a title. Luka will be ahead of those guys when he proves it and I don't think that happens in one season where you put up numbers on a losing team.

[TheWitcher]

Doncic is soooo overrated on these boards holy CHRIST. People forget Oladipo is a savage now.

[ken6199]

Voted Dipo.

Nominate: everyone stop nominating OP to take KD off the list because he ain't gonna listen.

[Effigy]

Luka time.

I nominate CJ McCollum

[TravisScott55]

lol this is stupid now. Donic is not better than Siakam.

[iggymcfrack]

Last season

Win Shares:
Doncic: 4.9
Siakam: 9.3

Win Shares Per 48:
Doncic: .101
Siakam: .175



Doncic was very good last year as a rookie and he has a lot of potential, but he's not a top 20 player yet.

Yeah this. Siakam was way better than Doncic last season and he honestly might be improving faster too.

2011: Attends first basketball camp
2012: Moves to United States
2013: Attends high school, works on eligibility
2014: Plays organized basketball on a team for the first time at God’s Academy high school.
2015: Goes to New Mexico State, averages 13/8 and is named WAC freshman of the year
2016: Averages 20/12 and is named unanimous WAC player of the year
2017: Goes to NBA, alternates between main team and D-League putting up an 11.5 PER in NBA games
2018: Finds a regular spot in the lineup off the bench ranking top 80 in RPM while averaging 21 MPG.
2019: Regular starter capable of being primary ball-handler for stretches, finishes the season top 25 in RPM, averages 20/8/4 in the NBA Finals.

Like seriously, he’s got a rocket ship strapped to his ass. We have no idea what his ceiling could be. Every year since he was 16 he’s made a massive leap forward and he hasn’t slowed down one iota. Projecting that much development from Doncic plus enough to make up the ground from last year is crazy. Siakam could easily be a top 15 player next year.

[Catchall]

I think this is a bit forward looking for Doncic, but people love him, so...

Realistically, I think you'll see sites like ESPN and Sports Illustrated putting Doncic in the 28-37 range.