NBA SIMS LEAGUE
NSL Straw Poll 2026
As we approach the mid-season mark and the trade deadline, excitement across the league is beginning to build. The business end of the season is on the horizon — with awards races heating up, the playoff picture taking shape, and ultimately a new champion waiting to be crowned.
This year, 23 GMs took the time to respond to an eight-question survey predicting what lies ahead. While the results reflect the views of a strong majority of active GMs, it’s worth noting that six GMs did not submit responses, meaning the results should be taken as a snapshot of league sentiment rather than a definitive prediction.
Who will win the Eastern Conference?
At the time of voting, GM Smokey’s Knicks were making all the right moves and separating themselves from the pack as the team to beat in the East. Their roster looks deep, well constructed, and primed for the stretch run as the season heads toward the playoffs. Unsurprisingly, the voting across several categories reflects their rise.
With 60% of the vote, the Knicks have surged to the top as the clear favourites in the Eastern Conference. Their blend of size, talent across every position, and defensive strength makes them a formidable opponent. Add in superstar scorer Kevin Durant, and the Knicks become even more dangerous. Once the team settles on its optimal lineup, it will be fascinating to see which Eastern contenders can keep pace.
The Bucks (34%) and Wizards (4%) were the only other teams to receive votes in what remains a stacked Eastern Conference.
The Bucks arguably boast one of the most talented rosters in the entire league on paper, though GM Ethan is still searching for the ideal lineup combinations. Many around the league believe it’s only a matter of time before he finds the right formula and makes a deep playoff push.
Meanwhile, the defending champion Wizards secured a small slice of the vote — but as the saying goes, a small slice is still better than no pie at all. With LeBron, Booker, and Jrue barely sharing the court together this season, there remains plenty of intrigue. When they have played together, wins have followed. The question now is whether GM Josh can rally his group for another late-season surge.
Who will win the Western Conference?
The Western Conference appears far more open at this stage of the season.
The Thunder have led the conference since almost day one, but recent roster moves across the league suggest challengers are closing in. After a flurry of trades, both the Lakers and Spurs appear poised to push hard down the stretch.
Despite currently sitting in third place, the Lakers emerged as the favourites in the straw poll, receiving nearly 50% of the vote. With Victor Wembanyama leading a talented group of young players, their mix of size, talent, and depth has many GMs believing they are the most playoff-ready team in the conference.
The Spurs finished second with 30% of the vote, though that result may have looked different had the voting occurred after their recent trade sending Pascal Siakam elsewhere. That move could significantly reshape perceptions of their championship chances moving forward.
The Blazers have quickly entered the conversation after acquiring Anthony Edwards and Luka DonÄić, assembling one of the most talent-rich rosters in the league. While GM Jmac is still working to find the right balance — and the team is not yet comfortably inside the playoff picture — the sheer star power of the roster was enough to earn 13% of the vote.
Meanwhile, the conference-leading Thunder received just 8.7% of the vote (two votes total), which feels surprisingly low for a team that has held the top spot in the West for much of the season. With a new GM now at the helm, the question becomes whether they can steady the ship and convert regular season success into a deep playoff run.
Who will win the 2026 Championship?
Only five teams received votes in the championship category.
The Knicks led the way with over half of the league’s votes, followed by the Bucks with 21%. The Spurs, Lakers, and Blazers each received two votes (8%).
Perhaps the most surprising result was the complete absence of votes for the defending champion Wizards, who failed to receive a single selection.
Overall, the poll suggests the Eastern Conference is favoured to produce the champion, with the Knicks and Bucks together accounting for a significant share of the total votes.
Who will be the NSL MVP?
An important note accompanied this question: eligibility rules must be considered.
Despite that caveat, Victor Wembanyama dominated the voting, receiving nearly three-quarters of the total votes. He has clearly been the best player in the NSL this season.
However, league rules require players to appear in 65 NBA/NSL games to qualify for the award. In the NBA season so far, Wembanyama has already missed 14 games, leaving him only three remaining games of flexibility if he hopes to remain eligible.
If Wembanyama fails to qualify, the race opens significantly.
That possibility has put Kevin Durant firmly in the spotlight. As the clear runner-up in the voting, Durant is on track to meet eligibility requirements. His elite scoring production and the “best player on the best team†argument strengthen his MVP case considerably.
At this stage, the race appears to be shaping up as a two-horse contest, with eligibility potentially determining the final outcome.
Other players receiving votes included Tyrese Maxey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Cooper Flagg (a vote that may or may not have come from his own GM).
Who will be the Rookie of the Year?
Cooper Flagg currently leads the Rookie of the Year race, receiving 52% of the vote.
Flagg burst out of the gates with a sensational start to the season but has cooled slightly following the arrival of several high-usage stars in Portland. Even so, his averages of 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists still place him firmly at the top of the rookie class.
He may need a strong finish, however, as challengers are beginning to emerge. Khaman Maluach received 21% of the vote and has been gaining momentum as his role expands both in the NSL and the NBA.
Dylan Harper also polled well with 13%, and after New Orleans’ mid-season flurry of trades he should have every opportunity to close the gap as the team’s primary offensive option.
Tre Johnson received a single vote, while Egor Demin received two votes (8.7%). Unfortunately, news broke today that Demin will miss the remainder of the season with a foot injury. It’s a disappointing end for the league’s assist leader, but his potential — both in the NSL and real life — continues to turn heads.
Who will be the GMOTY?
Continuing what could be called the “We Love Smokey†trend, the GM of the Year race currently leans heavily in his favour.
Because responses were submitted as short answers, the data was somewhat scattered, but the results break down roughly as follows:
GM Smokey — 13 votes (60%)
GM Daz — 3 votes (13.5%)
GM Jmac — 2 votes (9%)
Bulldog, Joshua, and LJ — 1 vote each (4.5%)
Some names on the list may ultimately be ineligible due to various criteria, but one clear theme stands out: past winners continue to command respect.
Smokey, Daz, and Jmac have all previously won the award and remain widely regarded as among the league’s elite GMs. It’s also encouraging to see newer names such as Bulldog and LJ entering the GMOTY conversation.
And of course, a nod to Josh, who earned a vote while attempting to defend last season’s championship.
Your favourite this about the NSL
The final question was designed to leave GMs with a warm feeling about what makes the league special.
Responses highlighted everything from the competitiveness and strategy of team building to the camaraderie between GMs and the enjoyment of the shared experience.
