Annual GM survey picks Celtics to win title, SGA as MVP

NBA general managers expect the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics to have a big 2024-25.

The two squads were picked to face each other in this season's NBA Finals in the league's annual GM survey released Tuesday.

The Celtics received 83% of the votes to win the championship, while the Thunder and Dallas Mavericks won 13% and 3%, respectively.

OKC star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander beat out Luka Doncic for the MVP, winning 40% of the vote compared to Doncic's 30%. Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic each received 7%.

NBA GMs also believe the Thunder made the best offseason moves, narrowly edging out the Sixers, and that Oklahoma City has the most promising young core.

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was named the NBA's best coach for a fifth consecutive season. Spoelstra won 69% of the vote, Oklahoma City's Mark Daigneault received 17%, and Golden State Warriors bench boss Steve Kerr won 7%. Spoelstra was also named the best motivator and best defensive coach. San Antonio Spurs veteran Chris Paul was picked as the current player who'll make the best head coach someday.

Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama also received widespread praise. Forty percent of voters named Wembanyama as the league's best defensive player, while 77% picked him as the play they'd pick if they were starting a new franchise today.