Anonymous NBA GM survey is clear: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is good at basketball

The NBA gets a lot of stuff wrong, but one of the low-key cool things it does is conduct and publish anonymous general manager, coach, and player surveys. The anonymity, in theory, provides the leeway for survey takers to give honest feedback without fear of retribution or, more likely, hurting someone within their organization’s feelings. The 2025 anonymous GM survey just hit the Internet this week, and a few of former Kentucky guys popped up somewhere in the 49-question form, but none more frequently than reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Just because he is the reigning MVP, that doesn’t mean GMs think he will repeat. Only 8 percent of GMs think SGA will repeat, instead favoring Nikola Jokic with an overwhelming 67 percent of the votes. Last year, GMs voted SGA to win the MVP in the same survey. This year, however, they consider him far and away the best point guard in the league at 73 percent.

Positions are a little murky in this era of poisonless basketball. GMs also voted Gilgeous-Alexander as the third-best shooting guard in the league. They went further with Luka Doncic, who was somehow voted the second-best point guard, the third-best shooting guard (tied with SGA), and the best overall small forward. Now that is versatility.

Gilgeous-Alexander also appeared in a few other responses. He came in second for the player you’d most want to start a new franchise with, fifth on the list of players requiring the most coaching adjustments, fourth in the best leader category, and 5th for the player you’d most want taking your team’s final shot. He also received a vote for the best international player, though Jokic was the runaway winner there.

The takeaway? NBA General Managers agree that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is good at basketball.

Other former Kentucky players on the list

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t the only former Kentucky player to make an appearance on the anonymous GM list.

De’Aaron Fox earned top spot in the fastest player vote with 53 percent of responders ranking him first. He came in first last year in this same category, so when you hear that Jaland Lowe reminds people of De’Aaron Fox, this is a good reminder of what high praise that is.

And while his name will, unfortunately, forever have “College: Arkansas” in his NBA profile, Adou Theiro received votes for the biggest steal in the draft. The Lakers chose him 36th overall, but many thought he would come off the board in the first round.

On the topic of controversial Kentucky player names to include, Shaedon Sharpe received votes for the league’s most athletic player. You’ve got to watch him dunk in warmups!

Now, we patiently wait for the juicier anonymous player survey results to drop.