Who is the best big man in the NBA right now?
Going into the season, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks may be the right answer. The 76ers' Joel Embiid ended up MVP, and the Lakers' Anthony Davis had talent coming out of his earhole.
But the fourth choice in this week's “Poll Place” — your home for the Sun-Times sports poll on Twitter — was the Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, and he won the vote by a landslide.
“Jokic was a game-changing offensive catalyst for a Western Conference champion and – yes, that's right – a plus defender,” commented @JasonLangendorf. “Fairly easy call.”
We also asked respondents to choose their career man from a quartet of Cubs and White Sox players aged 25 and under. Finally, we'd like to know what you think of sports personalities taking public positions on social and/or political issues.
“I don't really care,” wrote @daguyincognito, “but if they keep talking about it it's annoying.”
And from @ChiTownSports: “If a plumber or electrician can have his say on politics, why can't a sports personality?”
To the poll:
Poll No. 1: Besides MVP, who are the best big guys in the NBA right now?
It's time for this week's “Polling Stations”. Let us hear from you! Selected comments will appear in Saturday's paper.
Q1: Speaking of MVP, who is the best big man in the NBA right now?
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) May 25, 2023
Results: Jokic played the best basketball of his life, averaging a triple-double—29.9 points, 13.3 rebounds and 10.3 assists—in the postseason. He's obviously as skilled as any big man to play the game, but is he really better than Milwaukee's “Greek Freak”? Some of us chose the latter superstar, you know, we're just saying.
Poll No. 2: Which of the 25 and under players would you bet on to have the best career?
Q2: Which of the 25 and under players would you bet on to have the best career?
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) May 25, 2023
Results: This grouping may not be entirely fair to Mervis, 25, who recently arrived in Chicago. This vote may ignore Vaughn, 25, who is a natural hitter and RBI man. Morel, 23, has been ripping the ball cover since his call-up to Wrigley Field, and his on-court versatility makes him unique among the foursome. But the vote went tough — understandably — for Robert, 25, whose physical talent was evident.
Poll No. 3: What do you think of sports figures taking public positions on social and/or political issues?
Q3: What do you think of sports figures taking public positions on social and/or political issues?
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) May 25, 2023
Results: Can we count all the ways in which our nation is divided if we try it? Probably not. But most of us now know how we react inside when a public figure who is not an elected official – say a famous actor, or a sports star, or even a journalist – stakes a stake on a position that is sure to be applauded. by some and ridiculed by others. “Speak your mind” won it.