The Spurs’ star center was also voted the league’s best defender in the annual survey of GMs.
SAN ANTONIO — The annual NBA GM Survey is out, and the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama are represented well in several categories as they prepare for the start of a season they hope ends with a return to the playoffs.
Though the league’s general managers don’t think that will happen – the Silver & Black are projected to finish ninth in the West, which would mean another missed postseason – the team did tie for second when it comes to who front offices think will be this year’s most improved squad. According to survey results, 20% of GMs picked San Antonio and Atlanta in that category, behind only Orlando (47%).
Wembanyama, entering his third NBA season at age 21, came in fourth when it comes to who will be this year’s NBA MVP. Should he fully come into his own and win the honor next spring, he would join Derrick Rose as the only 22-year-olds to join the MVP club.
The only players in front of him on the 2025 survey are perennial all-stars, former MVPs or defending champions:
- Nikola Jokic, Denver (67%)
- Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers (10%)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City (8%)
- Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio (7%)
For the second year in a row, Wemby was far and away the most-cited hooper when it comes to which player GMs would sign first if starting a franchise today. He collected 83% of the vote, besting Gilgeous-Alexander (13%) and Jokic (3%) in the 2025 survey. He also was among the top vote-collectors for player most likely to have a breakout season (tied for second); best center (second); best defender and best interior defender (first); most versatile defender (tied for fourth); and most versatile overall player (tied for first with Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo).
Other young Spurs standotus also garnered confidence among the survey’s respondents.
Defending NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle received votes for player most likely to have a breakout season; De’Aaron Fox was tops when it comes to who GMs believe is fastest with the ball; and though he has yet to see regular season action, rookie Carter Braynt – whom the Spurs selected with the No. 14 overall pick in the draft – tied for second when it came to the draft’s biggest steal.
Here’s where else Spurs players and personnel got votes:
- Luke Kornet receives some votes among active players who would make the best head coach in the future, as well as 7% of votes (tied for fourth) for most underrated player acquisition
- Dylan Harper got support from GMs who think he’s the rookie who could end up being the best of the 2025 class in five years’ time
- Sean Sweeney nabbed votes among those that GMs think are standout assistant coaches in the league
There’s a lot of promise in the Spurs team as the season inches closer.
The team boasts depth at almost every position, is shaping up to be one of the league’s best defenses and Wembanyama is primed for a breakout season now at full health.
San Antonio’s season tips off Oct. 22 in Dallas.