NBA rookies say LeBron James is their favorite player

Every year NBA.com compiles their rookie survey. It’s a fun look to see how the class feels about themselves, as well as the league they are prepared to join. Each year they pick from a variety of topics, including: Rookie of the Year, best career, biggest draft steal, most athletic, best shooter, best defender, best playmaker, favorite player in NBA, and more. You can view the entire list and the results here.

For the past three seasons, Kevin Durant had been named the favorite player of the incoming rookie class. But following his departure to Golden State, that title has been returned to LeBron James, who took home 31.5 percent of the vote. In second was Russell Westbrook, who took home 19.4 percent of the vote.

Durant’s fall was a dramatic one, going from 21.2 percent last year to 5.6 percent, which tied him with his teammate Draymond Green. Noticeably absent from the voting was Stephen Curry, who didn’t receive a single vote.

Kyrie Irving also received 3.7 percent of the vote, which was good enough for eighth place overall. Other players that received votes included Anthony Davis, Carmelo Anthony, Jamal Crawford, Pau Gasol, Paul George, Blake Griffin, and Dwight Howard.