Each year when the NBA’s new crop of drafted rookies gather for the off-season photo-shoot during the summer, NBA.com surveys the group to get their thoughts on the league’s current players, as well as predictions for the future of that year’s draft class.
The rookies were asked to vote on several topics, with the biggest one being who all 36 thought was their favorite player in the league.
In a vote that wasn’t nearly as close some would have thought, the 2013 NBA rookie class voted Kobe Bryant their favorite player in the league with 21% of the vote.
The reigning king and MVP, LeBron James came in second.
1: Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers — 21.2 percent
2:LeBron James, Miami — 15.2 percent
T-3rd:Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City & Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas — 12.1 percent
T-5th: Kevin Garnett, Brooklyn &Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers — 9.1 percent
Others receiving votes:Carmelo Anthony, New York; Vince Carter, Dallas; Tim Duncan, San Antonio;James Harden, Houston; Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio; Steve Nash, L.A. Lakers; Dwyane Wade, Miami
The vote shouldn’t have been that big of a surprise. Kobe entered the league in 1996, and most of this years rookie class grew up watching Kobe.