The 2015-16 NBA general manager survey at NBA.com is here, and it reveals that 86.2 percent of GMs would start a franchise with Anthony Davis, a significant shift from the last few years when LeBron James dominated that category. James and Kevin Durant both got 6.9 percent of the vote to finish well behind Davis.
Almost every NBA GM would now rather build a team with Anthony Davis than LeBron James
More than 86 percent of NBA general managers would start a franchise with the 22-year-old Davis.
Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Last season, James garnered 50 percent of the vote, while Davis and Durant came in at 25 percent. The two years prior, James completely owned the category, earning 89.7 percent of the vote in 2013-14 and 80 percent in 2012-13.
But now it's Davis winning this category in a landslide, and he likely won't relinquish that crown anytime soon barring a major injury. The fourth-year player enjoyed one of the most productive seasons in NBA history last year, racking up a PER just under 31 and leading the New Orleans Pelicans to the postseason. He's still just 22 years old, and he could put up even better numbers now that he's playing in a more uptempo offense under new head coach Alvin Gentry.
Meanwhile, James might still be the best player in the world (the GMs picked him to win MVP this season), but he’s turning 31 this season and has accrued a significant amount of mileage on his body. He’s dealt with back issues the last few years, and while he figures to remain a dominant force for a few more years, the decline has started and will continue moving forward.
Durant could challenge Davis for that top spot, but he has to prove he can return to form and stay healthy after undergoing three surgeries on his foot last season. Even if Durant returns close to his 2013-14 MVP level, though, he’s five years older than Davis and may have already peaked.
Davis hasn’t peaked, and that’s a scary thought for the rest of the NBA.
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SB Nation video archives: Why Anthony Davis should have been MVP (2015)
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