NBA general managers are bracing for a full takeover by Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, according to the league’s annual survey of general managers released Thursday.
After winning 62 games and making a surprise trip to the NBA Finals last season, the Spurs emerged as the survey’s 2027 championship favorite. Wembanyama was also projected to win MVP and be selected as the league’s best defensive player. The 7-foot-4 French center received 93% of the votes when general managers were asked whom they would sign first if they were starting a franchise today.
Spurs Lead, But Not by a Landslide
The general managers did not view the Spurs as overwhelming title favorites. San Antonio received 50% of the votes, narrowly ahead of the 2025 champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The defending champion New York Knicks, who were picked to win the Eastern Conference, and the reshaped Philadelphia 76ers, bolstered by LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, also received title votes.
Wembanyama, 22, was the heavy favorite to win his first MVP award, earning 77% of the votes. Denver’s Nikola Jokic received 10%, and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards received 7%.
Wembanyama also won several other categories, including “player who forces opposing coaches to make the most adjustments,” “best international player” and “most versatile player.”
Several Spurs Earn Recognition
Wembanyama was not the only Spurs player to earn recognition in the survey. Dylan Harper, the 2025 No. 2 overall pick, was voted the player most likely to enjoy a breakthrough season, topping dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg. Tobias Harris, a veteran forward who signed with San Antonio in free agency, was named the offseason’s “most underrated player acquisition.” San Antonio’s young core, which includes Wembanyama, Harper and Stephon Castle, was voted the league’s most promising.
Offseason Winners and Impact Moves
The general managers named the 76ers the winners of the “best overall moves this offseason” for adding James and Brown, ahead of the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets. Miami’s trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, however, was viewed as the “acquisition who will make the biggest impact.”
The survey, conducted annually for the past 25 seasons, featured 48 questions covering players, teams and recent transactions.