Victor Wembanyama emerged as the top choice among NBA general managers, with an overwhelming 77 percent selecting him as the player they would most want to build a franchise around. He also led the votes for the league’s best defensive player, garnering 40 percent of the ballots.
Wembanyama was unanimously named the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year, and many experts are forecasting that he could win the Defensive Player of the Year award and secure a spot on the All-NBA team this season.
In the same survey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic each received 10 percent of the votes as potential franchise cornerstones. Notably, Jokic led this category last season with 33 percent of the vote.
Historically, the title of the player to build a franchise around has been awarded to a number of basketball greats:
- Shaquille O’Neal claimed the title in 2002-03 with 64 percent of the vote.
- Tim Duncan dominated for several years, leading from 2003-2006.
- LeBron James held the top spot for numerous seasons, including a remarkable 90 percent in 2013-14.
- Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic have also been named in various years.
In recent years, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the vote in 2019-20 with 86 percent and shared the title in 2020-21, while Jokic claimed the top spot for 2023-24 with 33 percent. Wembanyama’s dominant 77 percent in 2024-25 sets a new tone for the league.
Victor Wembanyama Receives 77 Percent Of Votes In NBA GM Survey For Player To Start Franchise With https://t.co/icLkamZJ8X
— RealGM (@RealGM) October 8, 2024
