NBA GMs Reveal Predictions for 2020-2021 Season

We're just a few days away from the start of the 2020-2021 National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season and this early, predictions have been made.

Among those whose predictions have been revealed are those of the general managers (GM) of each NBA team. 

In an annual survey, the GMs revealed who they think will win the awards for the new season. Taking the top of the list is the prediction as to who will in the 2021 NBA championship. 81% of the GMs predicted that the Los Angeles Lakers would repeat as champions even though some people aren't looking at this current Lakers team as a superteam material compared to the most recent teams that went back-to-back: the Miami Heat of LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, and the Golden State Warriors. 

The GMs also chose the Lakers as the team that had the best offseason considering the players that signed to join the Purple and Gold.

While the top executives tagged LeBron James and company as the favorites to win it all, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the GMs' choice to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. That would make Antetokounmpo the first player since Larry Bird to win three straight MVP awards. The GMs also voted Antetokounmpo as the league's best defensive player and he is also tied with Luka Doncic as the best player to have if you're starting a franchise. 

In the rookies, GMs believe that LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets would win the Rookie of the Year plum but they also think that James Wiseman of the Golden State Warriors will be the best player from the 2020 draft class in the next five years. 

Among coaches, Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat is chosen as the best coach aside from being the best motivator of players, and the best in making in-game adjustments. Incoming Brooklyn Nets Head Coach Steve Nash is chosen by GMs as the new coach who would make the biggest impact. 

Photo is from The Ringer