NBA GM survey: 10.3% say D’Angelo Russell best rookie in five years
Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell looks on during the first half of an exhibition game against the Maccabi Haifa on Sunday.
On Tuesday, NBA.com released its annual general manager survey, canvassing the decision-makers around their league on a variety of subjects.
According to the poll, Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell received 10.3% of the vote to the question, “Which rookie will be the best player in five years?”
Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves was the favorite (62.1%), followed by a three-way tie with Emmanuel Mudiay (Denver Nuggets), Jahlil Okafor (Philadelphia 76ers) and Russell.
While Russell received votes for most likely to win rookie of the year, he didn’t come near Okafor (44.8%), Towns (34.5%) or Mudiay (13.8%).
Veteran Kobe Bryant did not get a single mention for best shooting guard, but did come in third as the NBA’s toughest player behind the Memphis Grizzlies’ Tony Allen (20.7%) and Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (17.2%). Bryant shared the honor at 6.9% with the Chicago Bulls’ Jimmy Butler, Grizzlies’ Zach Randolph and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook.
The Lakers didn’t rank as a top-four team in the Western Conference, but the team was an honorable mention for both “best overall moves this offseason” and as a team that “will be most improved in 2015-16.”
The San Antonio Spurs took that category with a dominant 79.3% of the vote.
In a wide-ranging vote, the Clippers tied with the Houston Rockets and Spurs for most underrated player acquisition (10.3% each) for Paul Pierce, Ty Lawson and David West, respectively. The Lakers received votes for picking up center Roy Hibbert, who also received votes as the best interior defender in the league.
Lou Williams was also noted as one of the league’s best role players and highest impact bench players, but not atop the list (Golden State’s Andre Iguodala won both categories).
By and large the NBA’s general managers aren’t wowed by the Lakers this season, but some noted improvement.
Executives were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
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