NBA survey sees general managers predict Lakers repeat

The LA Lakers are favourites to win the 2020-21 NBA championship, according to a survey of the NBA's general managers.

The 2020-21 NBA season is fast approaching and SBS will again broadcast two live, regular season games per week in HD on SBS VICELAND and streamed live via SBS On Demand - starting December 27.

The league's annual survey served up several interesting predictions for the upcoming campaign, which tips off on December 23.

All 30 teams fielded 33 questions, ranging from who will take home the title to who will claim the Most Valuable Player award.

However, of all the questions, none yielded a more resounding answer than the first one.

Eighty-one per cent of the league's general managers said the Lakers would claim the Larry O'Brien trophy, with the LA Clippers garnering 11 per cent, followed by the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat.

Fresh of signing a five-year supermax extension, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was selected to win the MVP award in what would be his third straight - a feat not replicated since Larry Bird between 1984-1986.

The 26-year-old received 32 per cent of the votes, before Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic (21%), Lakers stars Anthony Davis and LeBron James (both 18%), the Nets' Kevin Durant (7%) and Denver's Nikola Jokic (4%).

As for the best player at each position, the general managers felt Golden State's Steph Curry (30%) was the best point guard, with Houston's James Harden (68%) at shooting guard, James (57%) at small forward, Antetokounmpo (46%) at power forward and Jokic (50%) at center.