The NBA’s general managers have spoken: Where do the Bucks and Giannis rank?

NBA general managers are polled annually by NBA.com on a variety of topics – including who they think will win the championship and who will be named most valuable player – and it should come as no surprise that the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks are well-represented.

As one might expect, Giannis Antetokounmpo fared well in the survey across a variety of categories, while Jrue Holiday and Mike Budenholzer also received recognition. 

Here are some highlights from the survey:

Which team will win the championship?

Brooklyn (72%)

Los Angeles Lakers (17%)

Milwaukee (10%)

Which team will win the Eastern Conference?

Brooklyn (83%)

Milwaukee (17%)

No other team received first place votes.

Note: The Bucks did not receive a vote for best overall moves in the offseason.

Best defensive team

Milwaukee (40%)

Utah (33%)

Los Angeles Lakers (10%)

Best head coach

Erik Spoelstra (55%)

Monty Williams (17%)

Quin Snyder (14%)

Gregg Popovich (10%)

Mike Budenholzer (3%)

Note: Budenholzer was part of a group of four coaches to also receive votes for best in-game adjustments.

Which coach runs the best offense?

Quin Snyder (27%)

Steve Kerr (23%)

Mike Budenholzer (17%)

Steve Nash (10%)

Which coach has the best defensive scheme?

Tom Thibodeau (37%)

Mike Budenholzer (17%)

Quin Snyder (13%)

Who is the best assistant coach?

Darvin Ham, Kenny Atkinson (17%)

Scott Brooks, David Vanterpool (10%)

Note: Bucks assistant Charles Lee was part of a group also receiving votes.

Who will win Most Valuable Player?

Kevin Durant (37%)

Luka Dončić (33%)

Giannis Antetokounmpo (13%)

Best defensive player

Giannis Antetokounmpo (47%)

Rudy Gobert (17%)

Jrue Holiday, Kawhi Leonard (10%)

Best power forward

Giannis Antetokounmpo (63%)

LeBron James (27%)

Kevin Durant (10%)

Note: Khris Middleton and Antetokounmpo also received votes for best small forward.

Best center

Nikola Jokić (63%)

Joel Embiid (23%)

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis (7%)

Best perimeter defender

Jrue Holiday (50%)

Ben Simmons (17%)

Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard (10%)

Best interior defender

Rudy Gobert (77%)

Giannis Antetokounmpo (13%)

Anthony Davis (10%)

Most versatile defender

Giannis Antetokounmpo (40%)

Ben Simmons (27%)

LeBron James (10%)

Most versatile player

LeBron James (57%)

Giannis Antetokounmpo (17%)

Kevin Durant (13%)

Best international player

Giannis Antetokounmpo (60%)

Luka Dončić (27%)

Nikola Jokić (13%)

Here are some fun categories:

If starting a franchise today and you could sign any player, who would it be?

Luka Dončić (43%)

Giannis Antetokounmpo (40%)

Most athletic player

Zion Williamson (27%)

Giannis Antetokounmpo (20%)

Anthony Edwards (17%)

Best leader

Chris Paul (43%)

LeBron James (20%)

Damian Lillard (17%)

Giannis Antetokounmpo (10%)

The Bucks received a vote for best home-court advantage but did not rank in the top four. They did not receive a vote for being one of the most fun teams to watch.

No player received a vote for being the one a GM would want to take a shot with the game on the line.

Contact Jim Owczarski at jowczarski@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat at @JimOwczarski or Facebook at facebook.com/JOwczarski.