Yesterday, The Athletic released one of, if not their most coveted, articles across the sports landscape.

The Anonymous NBA Player Poll 2025 was dropped with a wide range of topics, from overrated and underrated players and coaches to the MVP and the finals winner.

Let’s break it all down.

MVP – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 56.1% – It’s been pretty clear for a while now that the 2024-2025 NBA MVP will come down to either SGA or Nikola Jokic.

Despite how positionless the NBA has become, averaging a triple-double as a center would earn my non-existent MVP vote.

In the very realistic event that SGA does win it, I think a lot of it will come down to the team argument, which is, in some ways, flawed.

The Thunder feature depth unlike any other team in the NBA. On nights during the regular season when SGA, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren didn’t play, the Thunder seemingly didn’t lose a beat thanks to players like Jaylen Williams, Isaiah Joe, and others who don’t even get major minutes when at full strength.

Contrast that to the non-Jokic Nuggets minutes, Denver’s net rating is 19.8 points per 100 possessions higher with Jokić on the floor, versus 11.5 points higher for the Thunder with Gilgeous-Alexander.)

Which team, other than your own, will win the title this season? – Boston Celtics (57.7%) – There isn’t any surprise on this one. The Celtics are by far the favorites to repeat and win the NBA finals again. Ultimately, it would just take a near-perfect series for another team to be able to take them down.

Five years from now, who will be the face of the league? – Victor Wembanyama (54.3%) – Perhaps the most intriguing storyline in the NBA for the next five years will be who becomes the face of the league. With the likes of LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant on their way out, the seat or seats are wide open for someone to take.

Sure, there is no denying that Wembanayama will be one of the faces of the NBA, but I think there is an argument to make that there won’t be just one face.

With the likes of Wemby, SGA, and Anthony Edwards set to be battling it out all on smaller market teams, I feel that in five years, people will be talking about multiple stars equally.

Who is the league’s most overrated player? Tyreese Haliburton (14.4%) – Despite this race being close and 14.4% not being that high, I just don’t see how someone can average 18.6 points and 9.2 assists while leading their team to the 4th seed and be overrated.

There were several other players on the list (Rudy Gobert, Paul George, Bradley Beal) who probably should have been higer than Haliburton.

Who is the league’s most underrated player? Cade Cunningham (8.8%) – Cunningham is someone who I feel like has passed the underrated stature. I think most people recognize him as a star and someone pretty close to superstar level.

Someone more off the radar, I think, should have walked away with this one. This season, especially since Kawhi Leonard returned, Norman Powell has flown under the radar; he finished in 3rd place in this poll.