The GMs have spoken: Spurs and Thunder will battle for the championship, Victor Wembanyama will win the MVP
It seems that the Western Conference will regain the crown after the victory of the New York Knicks, while the French player could dominate individually.
The NBA general managers place San Antonio as the top candidate for the 2027 championship and point to the French center as the favorite for the MVP award. Sasha Vezenkov leads the voting for the best international basketball player currently playing outside of the U.S. league.
San Antonio surpasses Oklahoma City in the race for the championship
The San Antonio Spurs are the main favorites to win the NBA championship in 2027, according to the annual survey of the league's general managers. In its 25th edition, the poll reflects a significant change in the expectations of franchise executives.
The Spurs, reigning NBA finalists, received 50% of the votes when asked which team will win the next title. The Oklahoma City Thunder came in second with 43%, while the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers were also mentioned.
The result contrasts with last year's survey, when Oklahoma City garnered 80% of the votes and was the overwhelming favorite to be crowned champion.
Wembanyama dominates the MVP voting
Victor Wembanyama is the leading candidate for the NBA Most Valuable Player award for the 2026-27 season. The French center received 77% of the votes, far ahead of Nikola Jokic, who finished second with 10%. Anthony Edwards received 7%, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum also appeared among the voted players.
This choice marks a shift from last year, when Jokic was the favorite among general managers with 67% of the votes.
Wembanyama enters the new season after a standout campaign in 2025-26. In the 64 regular season games he played, he averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 3.1 blocks.
Additionally, the French star was named Defensive Player of the Year, made the All-NBA First Team and the All-Defensive First Team, and finished third in the MVP voting.
Wembanyama also surpasses Jokic as the best international player
The French player's dominance extends to the best international player category competing in the NBA. Wembanyama defeated Jokic with 53% of the votes, compared to the 47% received by the Serbian center.
The result represents a turnaround from the previous edition, where Jokic won with 93% of the votes. This time, no other player received votes in the category.
Vezenkov leads the voting among players outside the NBA
Outside of the U.S. competition, Sasha Vezenkov was the standout choice for the general managers. The Olympiacos forward received 77% of the votes as the best international player currently not playing in the NBA.
Jonas Valanciunas, a player for Zalgiris Kaunas who returned to European basketball after 14 years in the NBA, came in second with 7% of the votes. Vezenkov also topped this category last year, although he received 44% then.
The Olympiacos player has just completed another dominant season in the EuroLeague. During the 2025-26 campaign, he averaged 19 points and 6.4 rebounds in 39 games. In addition, he won the Alphonso Ford Trophy for the league's leading scorer and earned his second MVP award.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los GM han hablado: Spurs y Thunder pelearán por el anillo, Victor Wembanyama ganará el MVP
