By Joe Vardon, Sam Amick and Josh Robbins | The Athletic, 2026-05-20 08:50:28
在他们心目中的NBA MVP人选上，球员们的眼光很准——那就是谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大 (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)。最佳防守球员也是如此——维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama)。
在这个动荡的常规赛中——一个充斥着联邦赌博指控、快船队涉嫌规避工资帽的调查以及扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo) 的下一支球队等头条新闻的赛季——NBA球员们在《The Athletic》的年度匿名调查中还有哪些一针见血的见解？在过去一个月陆续公布结果之后，以下是本次民意调查的最后完整回顾。
从2月下旬到4月初，我们的记者走遍北美，向联盟球员提出了广泛的问题，涵盖个人奖项、球员流动以及联盟议题等各个方面。我们的记者共调查了161名球员，创下了该年度项目的历史新高，这一数字约占联盟球员总数的三分之一。
与以往一样，我们对球员进行了匿名保护，以便他们能够自由、真实地回答，而不用担心遭到对手、队友或球迷的报复。为了保证透明度和提供背景信息，我们将公布每个话题的参与人数。
谁应该获得2026年MVP？
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/kTxPC/5/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/kTxPC/5/?dark=false
当圣安东尼奥的文班亚马在3月下旬引发了一场激烈的MVP讨论，以一种直接且详尽的方式为自己拉票，迫使评委和博彩商重新评估局势时，人们不禁会想，这是否足以将俄克拉荷马城的吉尔杰斯-亚历山大从领跑者的位置上拉下来。
或者……也许并不能。
球员们预测这位球风丝滑的雷霆球星将连续第二年斩获迈克尔·乔丹杯（MVP奖杯），而事实也确实如此。
• 完整报道： 谁是本赛季的MVP？SGA、约基奇还是东契奇？
除了你自己的球队，今年哪支球队会夺冠？
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/EyhOV/2/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/EyhOV/2/?dark=false
雷霆队被公认为最难击败的球队，这不无道理。他们以64胜18负的战绩傲视全联盟，且在季后赛中证明过自己，而且正如我们球员票选系列的第一部分所指出的，他们的阵容中拥有常规赛MVP吉尔杰斯-亚历山大。
“他们是最具统治力的球队，”一位投票给雷霆队的球员告诉我们。
• 完整报道： 谁将夺得2026年NBA总冠军：雷霆、马刺还是凯尔特人？
谁是联盟中最好的防守球员？
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/l0MdN/2/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/l0MdN/2/?dark=false
文班亚马带领圣安东尼奥马刺队取得了全联盟第二佳的62胜20负战绩，并以场均3.1次盖帽领跑全联盟。俄克拉荷马城的切特·霍姆格伦 (Chet Holmgren) 在符合评选资格的球员中盖帽数排名第二，而霍姆格伦场均“仅”有1.9次盖帽。
“他有7尺6寸（约2.28米）高！”一位投票给文班亚马（其官方登记身高为7尺4寸，约2.24米）的球员说道，“他就是有能力弥补如此多的错误，包括他自己犯的错。他抹杀对手进攻机会的能力极其惊人，经常有球员突破到禁区，一看到他，就转过身运球退出去。在NBA，根本没有其他人能做到这一点。”
• 完整报道： 谁是NBA最被高估的球员？最被低估的？最佳教练是谁？
2026-27赛季开始时，扬尼斯将在哪支球队效力？
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Cszaz/3/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Cszaz/3/?dark=false
你知道的，球员们对流言蜚语也了如指掌。因此，虽然媒体和球迷长期以来一直关注阿德托昆博不确定的未来早已不是什么秘密，但有趣的是，在回答这个问题的人中，有近一半的球员（151人中的69人）认为他会留在密尔沃基。
值得注意的是，这些回答是在事态最新升级之前收集的。雄鹿队老板吉米·哈斯拉姆 (Jimmy Haslam) 曾誓言，如果阿德托昆博不承诺在10月1日（他有资格续约的日子）签下长期提前续约合同，就会将其交易。哈斯拉姆上周表示，他希望在6月23日的选秀大会之前，让阿德托昆博的情况明朗化。
• 完整报道： 下赛季扬尼斯将在哪里打球？最狂热的球迷在哪里？
谁是最被低估的球员？
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/mueNp/5/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/mueNp/5/?dark=false
一位投票给德里克·怀特 (Derrick White) 的球员表示：“每个人都想说杰伦·布朗 (Jaylen Brown) 是MVP候选人。他们错了。怀特实际上才是他们本赛季表现如此出色的最大原因。他为球队做了一切——进攻、防守、领导力。”
杰伦·约翰逊 (Jalen Johnson) 是本赛季联盟中取得突破性进步的球员之一，他带领亚特兰大老鹰队夺得东部第六。他避免了重大伤病，出战了72场比赛，个人数据全面提升，场均贡献职业生涯新高的22.5分、10.3个篮板和7.9次助攻，并拿下了创职业生涯新高的13次三双。值得注意的是，他在上赛季没有获得一张“最被低估”的选票，这可能是因为他当年因伤只打了36场比赛。
• 完整报道： 谁是NBA最被高估的球员？最被低估的？最佳教练是谁？
谁是最被高估的球员？
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/MNFEm/2/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/MNFEm/2/?dark=false
阿尔佩伦·申京 (Alperen Şengün) 本赛季第二次入选全明星，并帮助休斯敦火箭队在竞争极其激烈的西部联盟中夺得第五。他场均20.4分、8.9个篮板和6.2次助攻的数据以及4次三双表现令人印象深刻。
为什么同行们会对他充满质疑？
这是一个我们无法完全回答的问题，但也许一位投票给他的球员的这番话能说明一些问题：“他每个回合都在抱怨。他很有天赋，但是，老兄，打得强硬点吧。”
• 完整报道： 谁是NBA最被高估的球员？最被低估的？最佳教练是谁？
除了你自己的教练，你觉得现役哪位教练最令人钦佩？
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/NEp6y/4/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/NEp6y/4/?dark=false
由于杰森·塔图姆 (Jayson Tatum) 因在2025年季后赛中遭遇跟腱伤势，预计将缺席整个2025-26赛季，加之凯尔特人队交易走了具有空间属性的大个子克里斯塔普斯·波尔津吉斯 (Kristaps Porziņģis)，凯尔特人队在10月开赛前面临着排名大幅下滑的预期。NBA官网的年度总经理调查中，联盟各队的总经理预测波士顿将仅排在东部第八。
然而，波士顿打破了所有这些预期，以56胜26负的战绩高居东部第二。凯尔特人队的进攻效率排名联盟第二，防守效率排名联盟第四。
一位受访者表示，他投票给乔·马祖拉 (Joe Mazzulla) 是因为“他的韧性，以及他激励球队的方式，还有他执教时的激情。”
• 完整报道： 谁是NBA最被高估的球员？最被低估的？最佳教练是谁？
除了你自己的教练，你觉得现役哪位教练最不令人信服？
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/6EPIf/2/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/6EPIf/2/?dark=false
这些结果最主要的启示是，摆烂会对这些球队教练的声誉产生负面的连锁反应。在任何正常情况下，这些教练都会因为令人费解的换人套路，或者在防守端缺乏组织纪律性而饱受指责。
布莱恩·基夫 (Brian Keefe) 是华盛顿奇才队的教练，他的球队本赛季以17胜65负的联盟最差战绩收官，并在最后27场比赛中输掉了26场。
“我甚至不知道是谁在执教奇才队，但不管是执教奇才队的那个人是谁吧，”一位受访者说道。
• 完整报道： 谁是NBA最被高估的球员？最被低估的？最佳教练是谁？
如果你当一天总裁，拥有推行任何改革的广泛权力，你会对联盟做出什么改变？
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/BQunY/2/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/BQunY/2/?dark=false
NBA球员们希望减少比赛场次，降低每周的比赛频率，在防守端有更多机会去对抗对手，并与更多的球队交手。
大概就是这样。
“最简单的答案是减少比赛，但我认为这只是解决了一半的问题，因为我不知道我们该如何把少赚的钱补回来，”一位愿意直面减少常规赛场次所带来的显而易见问题的球员说道。
• 完整报道： 尽管存在赌博和摆烂问题，球员们认为比赛的公正性并未受到威胁
比赛的公正性是否面临危险？
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/nO7Jr/1/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/nO7Jr/1/?dark=false
对这个问题回答的非正式分析归结为球员们集体表示：“没有，但是……”
“我不认为我们存在公正性问题，”一位球员说，“这更像是由于赌博而可能引发的潜在问题的开端。它正在吸引越来越多的负面关注，这可能会影响比赛的纯粹性。”
“对于纯粹主义者来说，我们只想好好打球。”
需要澄清的是，并非NBA使赌博合法化——实质上是美国最高法院做出的裁决，规定由各州自行决定是否允许在其境内进行体育博彩。目前已有39个州，加上华盛顿特区和波多黎各，接受了最高法院的这一裁决。
• 完整报道： 尽管存在赌博和摆烂问题，球员们认为比赛的公正性并未受到威胁
摆烂问题有多严重？
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/QA6XL/1/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/QA6XL/1/?dark=false
这是每位球员都关注的问题，因为无论他为哪支球队效力，他都会遇到有些球队为了未来发展而宁愿输掉比赛的情况。
在球迷和记者的日常谈论中，常常会指责“球队”在摆烂。但场上的球员根本不在乎未来的选秀顺位。他们努力争取胜利，或者表现得足够好，以赢得一份更大的合同，或在另一支球队获得新的机会——这种努力正是通往胜利的途径。
所谓的“摆烂”，其实是确保球队中最好的球员无法上场帮助球队赢球。
“在这个问题上我很反感，我认为联盟需要对此采取一些措施，”一位球员说。
• 完整报道： 尽管存在赌博和摆烂问题，球员们认为比赛的公正性并未受到威胁
谁是你“交易否决名单”上的第一顺位球队？
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/2OtLz/3/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/2OtLz/3/?dark=false
所以……事实证明，勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James) 的观点其实并不是个例。
就在我们的记者团即将结束采访时，这位湖人球星在播客中分享了自己对孟菲斯不怎么客气的看法，从而登上了新闻头条。尽管他也对密尔沃基和克利夫兰（当然，克利夫兰靠近他的家乡俄亥俄州阿克伦）发表了一些微词，但正是詹姆斯建议灰熊队搬到田纳西州纳什维尔的言论，真正激怒了孟菲斯人。这倒也完全可以理解。
不过，投票结果证明了一切。
当球员们被问及哪支球队会排在他们“最不想去”的名单首位时，孟菲斯获得的票数是排名第二的华盛顿奇才队的三倍多。
• 完整报道： 下赛季扬尼斯将在哪里打球？最狂热的球迷在哪里？
如果你的球队夺冠，你会访问白宫吗？
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/61UEg/3/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/61UEg/3/?dark=false
总统唐纳德·J·特朗普 (Donald J. Trump) 目前已执政第六年，迄今为止，在他两届任期内，还没有任何一支NBA冠军球队访问过白宫。
根据《The Athletic》2026年匿名球员民意调查的结果，联盟球员对访问白宫的总体态度存在分歧，不过有微弱多数的受访者表示，如果他们的球队夺冠，他们愿意接受邀请前往宾夕法尼亚大道1600号（即白宫）。
• 完整报道： 如果你的球队夺冠，你会访问白宫吗？
哪个球馆的球迷最狂热？
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/YE4zv/5/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/YE4zv/5/?dark=false
如果球队的成功与球迷的狂热程度之间存在直接联系，那么在辉煌历史上拥有创NBA纪录的18座总冠军奖杯的凯尔特人队，凭借其TD花园球馆的观赛体验在这份榜单中名列前茅，也就不足为奇了。
但作为对这一逻辑的反驳，不妨考虑一下这一点：作为他们宿敌的湖人队，在联盟历史上以17座总冠军奖杯位列第二，并且在世界范围内拥有庞大的球迷群体，但其主场加密货币网球馆（Crypto.com Arena）在161张选票中仅获得了2票。这充分说明了球员在这两座球馆比赛时体验到的巨大差异。
• 完整报道： 下赛季扬尼斯将在哪里打球？最狂热的球迷在哪里？
哪个球馆的球迷最令人讨厌？
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/QVKOC/4/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/QVKOC/4/?dark=false
球迷被视为“狂热”还是“讨厌”之间只有一线之隔，而凯尔特人队的死忠球迷显然在这条线上游刃有余。不过，前者的竞争远没有后者那么焦灼，TD花园球馆的观众在“最狂热”这一项上是以绝对优势胜出的。
至于费城球迷被贴上“行为过火”的标签，也实在很难责怪他们将几十年来积累的沮丧情绪宣泄在客队身上。76人队自1983年以来就再未夺冠，自2000-01赛季由阿伦·艾弗森 (Allen Iverson) 领衔的球队在总决赛中五场不敌“OK组合”（奥尼尔和科比）的湖人队以来，就再未打进过总决赛。那也是他们最后一次打进分区决赛。在最近的九个赛季中，他们已经有六次止步于季后赛第二轮。
• 完整报道： 下赛季扬尼斯将在哪里打球？最狂热的球迷在哪里？
除了球员合同，最聪明的球队把钱花在什么地方？
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/fD5JS/1/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/fD5JS/1/?dark=false
如果波特兰开拓者队的新老板汤姆·邓顿 (Tom Dundon) 对自己最近因在执掌球队初期采取如此节俭的做法而遭到广泛嘲笑感到困惑，那么这些调查结果应该能提供很好的解释。正如我们所提到的，这是一个属于球员的联盟。当球员们被要求对最聪明的球队在球员合同之外将钱花在哪里发表看法时，非常说明问题的是，85.9%的回答都集中在能让他们生活更便利的投资上。
高端训练设施。在各自领域堪称专家的优渥薪酬员工。全天候提供服务、满足他们各种营养需求的厨师。
老板们希望这些福利能够有助于提高球员的场上表现，并保护他们的投资。
• 完整报道： 下赛季扬尼斯将在哪里打球？最狂热的球迷在哪里？
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
点击查看原文：All 2026 NBA anonymous player poll results: Who's most overrated? MVP? Title winner?
All 2026 NBA anonymous player poll results: Who’s most overrated? MVP? Title winner?
The players got it right on who was the NBA MVP among them — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Same with the top defensive player — Victor Wembanyama.
How else did NBA players hit the nail on the head in The Athletic’s annual anonymous survey during this tumultuous regular season, one dominated by headlines of federal gambling charges, an investigation into potential salary-cap circumvention by the Clippers and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s next team? Here is one last look at the full poll, after the release of the results over the previous month.
From late February through the start of April, our writers fanned out across North America and asked the league’s players a wide array of questions on topics ranging from individual awards to player movement to league issues. Our writers surveyed 161 players, a record high for this annual project and a number that equates to approximately one-third of the league’s workforce.
As always, we granted the players anonymity to give them the freedom to answer honestly, without fear of reprisals from opponents, teammates or fans. For the sake of transparency and context, we’ll tell you how many people responded to each topic.
Who should be the 2026 MVP?
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/kTxPC/5/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/kTxPC/5/?dark=false
When San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama sparked a robust MVP debate in late March, advocating for himself in the kind of direct and detailed way that forced voters and oddsmakers alike to reassess the situation, it was fair to wonder if it might be enough to bump Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from his frontrunner spot.
Or … perhaps not.
The players predicted that the silky smooth Thunder star would win his second straight Michael Jordan Trophy, and that’s exactly what happened.
• Full story: Who is this season’s MVP? SGA, Jokić or Dončić?
Which team, other than your own, will win the title this year?
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/EyhOV/2/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/EyhOV/2/?dark=false
The Thunder are considered the team to beat, and for good reason. They own the league’s best regular-season record, going 64-18, they’re postseason-proven, and as the first installment in our player poll series indicated, they boast the Most Valuable Player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, on their roster.
“They’re the most dominant team,” a player who voted for the Thunder told us.
• Full story: Who’ll win 2026 NBA Finals: Thunder, Spurs or Celtics?
Who is the league’s best defensive player?
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/l0MdN/2/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/l0MdN/2/?dark=false
Wembanyama led the San Antonio Spurs to the league’s second-best record, 62-20, and he led the league in blocks, with 3.1 per game. Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren finished second among qualifiers in blocks, and Holmgren “only” averaged 1.9 blocks per game.
“He’s 7-6!” said one of the players who voted for Wembanyama, who is officially listed at 7 feet 4. “He just has the ability to cover up so many mistakes, including ones that he’ll make. Just his ability to erase mistakes is extremely impressive where guys drive in the paint and see him and turn around and dribble out. Like, no one does that in the NBA.
• Full story: Who’s NBA’s most overrated player? Underrated? Best coach?
What team will Giannis be on to begin the 2026-27 season?
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Cszaz/3/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Cszaz/3/?dark=false
Players are in tune with the rumor mill, too, you know? So while it’s no secret that the media and fans have been fixated on Antetokounmpo’s uncertain future for quite some time now, it was interesting to learn that almost half of the players who answered this one (69 of 151) see him staying put in Milwaukee.
It’s worth noting that these answers were procured before the latest escalation. Bucks owner Jimmy Haslam, who has vowed to trade Antetokounmpo if he doesn’t commit to the long-term extension he is eligible for on Oct. 1, said last week that he expects clarity on Antetokounmpo’s situation before the June 23 draft.
• Full story: Where will Giannis play next season? Most passionate fans?
Who is the most underrated player?
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/mueNp/5/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/mueNp/5/?dark=false
One of the players who voted for Derrick White said: “Everyone is trying to say Jaylen Brown is an MVP candidate. They’re wrong. White has actually been the biggest reason they’re so good this season. He does everything — offense, defense, leadership — for them.”
Jalen Johnson was one of the league’s breakout players this season, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. He avoided major injuries to play in 72 games, and his production improved, averaging career bests of 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game, with a career-high 13 triple-doubles. Notably, he did not receive a single “Underrated” vote last season, which may be explained by playing in only 36 games that year due to injuries.
• Full story: Who’s NBA’s most overrated player? Underrated? Best coach?
Who is the most overrated player?
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/MNFEm/2/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/MNFEm/2/?dark=false
Alperen Şengün earned his second All-Star nod this season and helped lead the Houston Rockets to the fifth seed in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. His stats of 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game and four triple-doubles are impressive.
Why all the skepticism from his peers?
That’s a question that we cannot fully answer, but perhaps this comment from one of the players who voted for him sheds some light on things: “He’s crying every play. He’s talented, but, dude, just play hard.”
• Full story: Who’s NBA’s most overrated player? Underrated? Best coach?
Which current coach, aside from your own, do you find the most impressive?
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/NEp6y/4/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/NEp6y/4/?dark=false
Because Jayson Tatum was expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season as he recovered from the Achilles tendon injury he suffered during the 2025 playoffs, and because the Celtics had traded away floor-spacing big man Kristaps Porziņģis, the Celtics entered October expected to tumble down the standings. NBA.com’s annual GM Survey had league general managers predicting that Boston would finish eighth in the East.
However, Boston defied all of those expectations, finishing second in the East with a 56-26 record. The Celtics also ranked second in offense and fourth in defense.
One respondent said he voted for Joe Mazzulla because of "his tenacity and the way that he fires his group up, the intensity that he coaches with.”
• Full story: Who’s NBA’s most overrated player? Underrated? Best coach?
Which current coach, aside from your own, do you find the least impressive?
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/6EPIf/2/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/6EPIf/2/?dark=false
The biggest takeaway from these results is that tanking can have a negative downstream effect on the reputations of those teams’ coaches. Those coaches get blamed for what, under any typical situation, would be considered baffling substitution patterns or, perhaps, a lack of organization, particularly on the defensive end.
Brian Keefe is the Washington Wizards’ coach, and his team finished the season with the league’s worst record, 17-65, with losses in 26 of their last 27 games.
“I don’t even know who’s coaching the Wizards, but whoever coaches the Wizards,” one respondent said.
• Full story: Who’s NBA’s most overrated player? Underrated? Best coach?
If you were commissioner for a day, with broad power to push through any change, what change would you make to the league?
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/BQunY/2/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/BQunY/2/?dark=false
NBA players want to play less, and less often, during the week, with more opportunities to bludgeon their opponents on defense and more teams to play against.
Or something like that.
“The easy answer is less games, but I would say that’s a half-answer because I don’t know how we make the money up,” said a player who was willing to address the obvious problem created by reducing the number of regular-season games.
• Full story: Players see no integrity problem, despite gambling, tanking issues
Is the integrity of the game in danger?
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/nO7Jr/1/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/nO7Jr/1/?dark=false
An informal analysis of the answers to this question came down to the players collectively saying, “No, but…”
“I don’t think we have an integrity issue,” one player said. "It’s almost like it’s the beginning of possible issues that could happen because of gambling. It’s getting more negative attention that could affect the purity of the game.
“The purists, we just want to play.”
To be clear, the NBA didn’t legalize gambling — the U.S. Supreme Court did, essentially, by ruling that it was up to each state to allow (or not) sports betting within its borders. Thirty-nine states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, have taken the high court up on its offer.
• Full story: Players see no integrity problem, despite gambling, tanking issues
How much of a problem is tanking?
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/QA6XL/1/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/QA6XL/1/?dark=false
It’s an issue on every player’s radar because, no matter which team he plays for, he is going to play in games where one franchise would prefer to lose for the betterment of its future.
In casual conversation among fans and reporters, “teams” are accused of tanking. But the players on the court could not care less about future draft positions. They’re trying to win or play well enough to earn a larger contract or new opportunity with a different team — the kind of effort that can lead to winning.
“Tanking” is about making sure a team’s best players are simply not available to help them win.
“I’m salty on this one, I think the league needs to do something about it,” one player said.
• Full story: Players see no integrity problem, despite gambling, tanking issues
What’s the first team on your no-trade list?
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/2OtLz/3/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/2OtLz/3/?dark=false
So … it turns out LeBron James’ opinion wasn’t an outlier after all.
Right around the time our group of reporters was wrapping up its interviews, the Lakers star made headlines when he shared his not-so-flattering view of Memphis on a podcast. And while he had unflattering things to say about Milwaukee and Cleveland (which is near his hometown of Akron, Ohio, of course) as well, it was James’ choice to suggest that the Grizzlies move to Nashville, Tenn., that really riled up the Memphians. And understandably so.
The proof is in the polling, though.
When players were asked which team would be at the top of their “no-trade” list, Memphis received more than three times as many votes as the second-place Washington Wizards.
• Full story: Where will Giannis play next season? Most passionate fans?
Would you visit the White House if your team won the title?
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/61UEg/3/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/61UEg/3/?dark=false
President Donald J. Trump is in his sixth year in office, and, to date, no NBA champion has visited the White House during either of his administrations.
Based on the results of *The Athletic’*s 2026 anonymous player poll, the league’s players are split on visiting the White House generally, with a slight majority of respondents saying they would want to accept an offer to appear at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. if their team wins it all.
• Full story: Would you visit the White House if your team won the title?
Which arena has the most passionate fans?
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/YE4zv/5/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/YE4zv/5/?dark=false
If there were a direct correlation between organizational success and fan passion, then it would come as no surprise that the Celtics, who have an NBA-best 18 titles in their storied history, topped this list with their TD Garden experience.
But consider this much as a counter to that logic: The Lakers, their longtime rivals who are second in league history with 17 titles and also boast a massive worldwide fanbase, received just two votes out of 161 for Crypto.com Arena. That speaks volumes about the vast divide in the player experience when they compete in those two buildings.
• Full story: Where will Giannis play next season? Most passionate fans?
Which arena has the most obnoxious fans?
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/QVKOC/4/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/QVKOC/4/?dark=false
There’s a fine line between fans being deemed passionate vs. obnoxious, and the Celtics’ loyalists are apparently walking it quite well. The former race wasn’t nearly as close as the latter, though, with the TD Garden crowd winning this one going away.
As for the Philly fans being pegged as the over-the-top type, it’s hard to blame them for taking out all these decades of frustration on visiting teams. The Sixers haven’t won a title since 1983, and haven’t been to a Finals since the Allen Iverson-led 2000-01 team fell in five games to the Shaq-Kobe Lakers. That was their last conference finals appearance, too. More recently, they’ve now lost in the second round in six of the past nine seasons.
• Full story: Where will Giannis play next season? Most passionate fans?
What do the smartest teams spend money on, beyond player contracts?
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/fD5JS/1/?dark=true
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/fD5JS/1/?dark=false
If new Portland Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon is confused as to why he was recently widely ridiculed for taking such a frugal approach to his early days at the helm, these results should serve as quite the explanation. This is — as we’ve mentioned — a player’s league. And when players were asked to give their opinion on where the smartest teams spend money outside of player contracts, it’s quite telling that 85.9 percent of the answers focused on investments that made their lives easier.
High-end practice facilities. Well-paid staff members who are experts in their respective fields. Chefs who are available at all hours to feed their every nutritional need.
These are the kinds of perks that owners hope will aid their players’ performance and protect their investment.
• Full story: Where will Giannis play next season? Most passionate fans?
By Joe Vardon, Sam Amick and Josh Robbins, via The Athletic
，史上最名不符实最打星号的MVP