RealGM Top 25 Player Poll-#21 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: Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN)

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%
9) LeBron James (LAL) - 31%
10) Jimmy Butler (MIA) - 30%
11) Anthony Davis (LAL) - 34%
12) Devin Booker (PHX) - 43%
13) Kawhi Leonard (LAC) - 39%
14) Damian Lillard (POR) - 47%
15) Anthony Edwards (MIN) - 26%
16) Tyrese Haliburton (IND) - 19%
17) Paul George (LAC) - 23%
18) Donovan Mitchell (CLE) - 27%
19) Ja Morant (MEM) - 22%
20) Jamal Murray (DEN) - 31%

Yet To Be Added: (If someone is not here that you want here comment THAT and I will add them)
Dejounte Murray (ATL)
LaMelo Ball (CHA)
DeMar DeRozan (CHI)
Zach LaVine (CHI)
Darius Garland (CLE)
Evan Mobley (CLE)
Aaron Gordon (DEN)
Cade Cunningham (DET)
Draymond Green (GSW)
Chris Paul (GSW)
Klay Thompson (GSW)
Andrew Wiggins (GSW)
Fred VanVleet (HOU)
Austin Reaves (LAL)
Desmond Bane (MEM)
Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM)
Jrue Holiday (MIL)
Brook Lopez (MIL)
Khris Middleton (MIL)
Rudy Gobert (MIN)
Brandon Ingram (NOP)
Jalen Brunson (NYK)
Julius Randle (NYK)
Jalen Williams (OKC)
Paolo Banchero (ORL)
Franz Wagner (ORL)
Jerami Grant (POR)
James Harden (PHI)
Tyrese Maxey (PHI)
Bradley Beal (PHX)
Victor Wembanyama (SAS)
Scottie Barnes (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%

[ElectricMayhem]

Jamal Murray has #20 wrapped up, so on to #21.

I voted for Domantas Sabonis again. He and Fox have both played a large part in the resurgence of the Kings but I give Sabonis the edge. I'd probably squeeze Jaylen Brown and Siakam between them in my rankings, though.

Nominate: Jaren Jackson Jr. Probably most of the top ten offensive players of the year are already ranked and the DPOY can't even get on the list? Even though he's also a good offensive player? Then add onto that he's on one of the top-performing teams in the west that doesn't miss a beat when it's star is out.

[MrGoat]

Vote: Siakam. One of only two players on this list with experience in winning a championship. With a slight tick up in his 3P% he becomes a truly elite player

Nom: Harden, again, for the same reasons

[LoveMyRaps]

Gotta be Siakam here.

[nikster]

V Siakam
N JJJ

[picc]

I don't know what to do with Trae Young. I feel like he could have gone 15th, but he could also go 25th. And both could be right.

[mkot]

Pascal Siakam
Jalen Brunson

[Crunch 99]

Vote Bridges. Nominate Markkanen.

[Patsfan1081]

Time for some homerism

Jaylen Brown…..he is coming off a second team all nba.
Porzingis….had maybe his best season offensively 23/8.5/3.5

[Roger Murdock]

Vote Trae

Nominate Garland

[SA37]

Jamal Murray has #20 wrapped up, so on to #21.

I voted for Domantas Sabonis again. He and Fox have both played a large part in the resurgence of the Kings but I give Sabonis the edge. I'd probably squeeze Jaylen Brown and Siakam between them in my rankings, though.

Nominate: Jaren Jackson Jr. Probably most of the top ten offensive players of the year are already ranked and the DPOY can't even get on the list? Even though he's also a good offensive player? Then add onto that he's on one of the top-performing teams in the west that doesn't miss a beat when it's star is out.

Meh on JJJ.

The way I think about this is: who would I draft if every NBA player became draft-eligible (assuming you had to win next season). JJJ's a solid player, but no one you'd build your team around -- and I don't think he even goes in the 2nd round of a draft where all players became draft eligible. That puts him out of the top-60 (for example, I'd take Jrue Holiday way before I took JJJ). What does JJJ bring to the table that Brook Lopez, Evan Mobley, Bam Adebayo, or even Myles Turner don't?

I thought everyone was out of their minds going on and on about Gobert over the years. Gobert, imo, has never even been a top-60 player, let alone a top-25 player. I'd have questioned Gobert was even a top-90 player. No one is talking about Gobert anymore except for how overpaid he is. There is no debate anymore about who is more valuable between him and Donovan Mitchell. It's actually laughable it ever was.

[ElectricMayhem]

Meh on JJJ.

The way I think about this is: who would I draft if every NBA player became draft-eligible (assuming you had to win next season). JJJ's a solid player, but no one you'd build your team around -- and I don't think he even goes in the 2nd round of a draft where all players became draft eligible. That puts him out of the top-60 (for example, I'd take Jrue Holiday way before I took JJJ). What does JJJ bring to the table that Brook Lopez, Evan Mobley, Bam Adebayo, or even Myles Turner don't?

I think Jrue Holiday is a fair pick too. He's on my list right after JJJ, Brunson, and Garland, but I think the order is quite interchangeable. Regarding the others you've listed, Bam has already been in the poll for a bit, so that's moot. Despite Jaren being considered a poor rebounder, he outrebounds all of the rest of them by a healthy margin and outscores them too. Also, he's just turned 24 and has improved each year. Obviously Mobley should improve a lot too and could pass him in the next few years, but I'd easily take JJJ over Lopez, Turner, or Mobley for the upcoming year.

[Mavrelous]

V: Zion
N: JJJ

[Sakkreth]

Vote Sabonis (probably will be top 10 in the MVP rankings all season long again)
Nominate Brunson (tough one between him and Garland).

[-Luke-]

Sabonis
Harden

[Pistol_Pete10]

V: Young
N: JJJ

[BobbyPortisEyes]

Vote: Siakam
Nominate: Brunson

[Saints14]

Vote Sabonis
Nominate Gobert

[SA37]

Meh on JJJ.

The way I think about this is: who would I draft if every NBA player became draft-eligible (assuming you had to win next season). JJJ's a solid player, but no one you'd build your team around -- and I don't think he even goes in the 2nd round of a draft where all players became draft eligible. That puts him out of the top-60 (for example, I'd take Jrue Holiday way before I took JJJ). What does JJJ bring to the table that Brook Lopez, Evan Mobley, Bam Adebayo, or even Myles Turner don't?

I think Jrue Holiday is a fair pick too. He's on my list right after JJJ, Brunson, and Garland, but I think the order is quite interchangeable. Regarding the others you've listed, Bam has already been in the poll for a bit, so that's moot. Despite Jaren being considered a poor rebounder, he outrebounds all of the rest of them by a healthy margin and outscores them too. Also, he's just turned 24 and has improved each year. Obviously Mobley should improve a lot too and could pass him in the next few years, but I'd easily take JJJ over Lopez, Turner, or Mobley for the upcoming year.

The only guy JJJ out-rebounds is Lopez and by .1 rpg.

JJJ: 18.5 and 7 on 50-35, PER 21.6, win shares 6.6

Turner: 18 and 7.5 on 55-37 PER 20, win shares 5.4

Lopez: 16 and 7 on 53-37 PER 18.4, win shares 8

Mobley: 16 and 9 on 55-21 PER 18, win shares 8.5


Those are just stat lines and don't tell the whole story, but I think generally speaking each guy could replace the other. Now, depending on the roster you have and type of offense/defense you're running, you'd likely find differences that matter.

At any rate, I don't take any issue if you prefer JJJ over those guys ; it's personal preference. My point is I just don't see JJJ as being a comparable player to guys in or around the top-25.

[HoopsterJones]

Healthy Zion would easily be top 15. But there’s never a healthy Zion.