Wembanyama MVP, Spurs for the Title: NBA GMs have spoken

If you ask NBA general managers who will be the biggest star of the 2026/27 season, the answer is almost unanimous: Victor Wembanyama.

The Frenchman and his San Antonio Spurs dominated NBA.com’s annual survey, in which executives from all 30 franchises weighed in on title favorites, individual awards, the league’s best players and offseason moves.

And after a 62-win season and a surprising trip to the Finals, expectations in San Antonio are now sky-high.

Wembanyama favored for MVP, Spurs for the NBA Title

Let’s start with perhaps the most impressive number. When asked which player they would choose to build a new franchise around, with every NBA player available, 93% of GMs picked Wembanyama.

That percentage shows just how much the Frenchman, at only 22 years old, is already viewed as the cornerstone of the league’s future.

And the projections for next season are just as impressive. With 77% of the vote, Wembanyama is the clear favorite to win his first MVP award, ahead of Nikola Jokic (10%) and Anthony Edwards (7%).

The Spurs center was also voted the NBA’s best defender, best international player, most versatile player and the player who forces opposing coaches to make the biggest adjustments to their game plans.

In short, practically every time Wembanyama’s name appeared among the possible answers, the GMs seemed to have few doubts.

But San Antonio’s dominance did not stop with individual recognition. The Spurs received 50% of the vote as favorites to win the 2027 NBA title, finishing ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 2025 champions.

Other teams receiving votes included the New York Knicks, the defending champions and favorites in the Eastern Conference, and the Philadelphia 76ers, strengthened by the arrivals of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown.

Not just Wembanyama: GMs back the Spurs’ future

The survey also rewarded other key figures in San Antonio’s project.

Dylan Harper, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 Draft, was voted the player most likely to have a breakout season, finishing ahead of Dallas Mavericks guard Cooper Flagg.

Another recognition went to Tobias Harris, who arrived in Free Agency and was considered the summer’s most underrated acquisition by the GMs.

Rounding things out was the award for the NBA’s most promising young core, which also went to the Spurs thanks to a group that includes Wembanyama, Harper and Stephon Castle.

After coming within one step of the title last season, San Antonio therefore appears to have everything it needs to remain competitive for a long time.

From Shai to Jokic: best players by position according to GMs

The survey also allowed general managers to choose the NBA’s best players at each of the five positions.

Among point guards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (67%) leads the way, ahead of Jalen Brunson (20%) and Luka Doncic (10%). At shooting guard, meanwhile, the favorite is Anthony Edwards (73%), followed by Shai himself (13%) and Doncic (10%).

At small forward, the race is much closer: Luka Doncic (37%) narrowly leads Jayson Tatum (33%) and Kawhi Leonard (17%).

Among power forwards, Giannis Antetokounmpo (70%) remains on top, followed by Victor Wembanyama (23%). Finally, at center, Nikola Jokic (63%) holds onto first place ahead of the Frenchman (37%).

That gap is significantly smaller than last year, when Jokic received an overwhelming 97% of the vote.

NBA Offseason: 76ers rewarded, but Giannis could change everything

Despite the Spurs’ dominance in the season projections, the award for the best overall offseason moves went to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown impressed NBA executives, who ranked Philadelphia ahead of the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets. As for the single move expected to have the greatest impact, that would be Giannis Antetokounmpo joining the Miami Heat.

Those two results confirm just how much the league’s balance of power shifted during the latest offseason, with several teams ready to enter the championship race.

The NBA.com survey, now in its 25th edition and featuring 48 questions this year, naturally offers only a snapshot of executives’ expectations.

But one thing seems fairly clear: after surprising everyone by reaching the Finals, the Spurs can no longer play the role of the underdog.