Predicting the All-NBA Teams
I was sitting in class when I stumbled upon an old article of mine which included what I thought would be the clear All-NBA First Team for this season. It included Kyrie Irving, as Luka was listed as a forward at the time, and I realized how crazy that sounded. The dude wasn’t even an All-Star. This led to me wanting to go through and actually predict what the teams would look like. Will Trae Young shoot his way there? Will Tatum earn a spot? Who will the centers be? Let’s find out.
*I will be using the positions listed on ESPN
*These are what I believe the teams SHOULD be, not necessarily what I think they will be. For example, Bradley Beal might make a team, but I don’t think he deserves it.
All-NBA First Team
G - James Harden - Houston Rockets
This one seems like a no brainer, which you will see is a common theme throughout this first team. Harden’s been amazing for the last three years and beyond, and has a perennial place on the first team as long as he keeps it up. (Unless Curry comes back guns ablazing and Luka continues to improve at this pace. Then who knows.)
G - Luka Doncic - Dallas Mavericks
His team may have fallen a bit in the standings throughout the season, but his stats are still nothing to be downplayed. This is one of the most insane improvements we’ve seen in a sophomore season in a long time. Luka gets a spot on the first team.
F - LeBron James - Los Angeles Lakers
Listed as a small forward on ESPN, LeBron James is very much in the MVP race, so he clearly deserves a place on this All-NBA First Team. He leads the league in assists by a pretty wide margin, and is leading his team, in tandem with Davis, to the first seed in the Western Conference.
F - Giannis Antetokounmpo - Milwaukee Bucks
I think Giannis could be the first unanimous MVP we’ve seen since Curry. I don’t think it’ll happen because of great seasons by LeBron and others, but he clearly belongs on the first team. Giannis is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
C - Nikola Jokic - Denver Nuggets
This one could go to either Embiid or Jokic and I’d be happy, but Jokic’s overall statline combined with the struggles of the Sixers this year lead me to give the spot to Jokic. His passing is crazy, and he’s leading his Nuggets to a potential top 3 or 4 seed in the West.
All-NBA Second Team
G - Kemba Walker - Boston Celtics
He might not have as good stats as say Trae Young or Bradley Beal, but being on a winning team should have a lot of influence here. He’s helped lead the Celtics to a high playoff spot, and that’s going to earn him a spot on this team.
G - Damian Lillard - Portland Trailblazers
Okay, so there’s a time for winning and there’s a time to recognize greatness. What Lillard has managed to do this season is incredible. He still has a chance to make the playoffs with the Blazers, but injuries are plaguing them this year. If he can do this, his spot is almost guaranteed, but even if they miss the playoffs I still think he deserves this place.
F - Anthony Davis - Los Angeles Lakers
It’s crazy that with a statline like Davis he misses out on the first team, but there’s just too much talent at the forward position. Davis is probably my pick for defensive player of the year, and will end up in lots of MVP conversations. He clearly deserves this spot.
F - Kawhi Leonard - Los Angeles Clippers
Leonard, all load management aside, has been spectacular this season. Leading one of the best teams in the league to one of the best records in the league, the reigning Finals MVP has a great chance at repeating as champion. He belongs here, and in any other case, would belong on the first team.
C - Joel Embiid - Philadelphia 76ers
As I mentioned before, Embiid could land on the first team and I wouldn’t disagree with the selection. It’s really between him and Jokic, but Embiid’s struggles with his team this year lead to me putting him on the second team below Jokic.
All-NBA Third Team
G - Donovan Mitchell - Utah Jazz
Leading a team to a top 3 seed in the West is no small feat, even when you have a very well rounded team. Mitchell has taken another leap this year and even made his first All-Star team. He deserves the nod for an All-NBA team.
G - Trae Young - Atlanta Hawks
His team might not be great, or good even, this year, but Young’s having a spectacular season thus far. He’s top five in the league in scoring, and second in assists behind LeBron. It’s hard to deny those on court accomplishments.
F - Pascal Siakam - Toronto Raptors
It’s absurd to me that a guy having such an amazing season is only on the All-NBA Third Team, but there’s just too much talent ahead of him. He’s leading his team to a potential two seed in the East, without their Finals MVP. Most people thought they’d fall off, but somehow they’re even better than they were last year.
F - Jayson Tatum - Boston Celtics
Tatum’s recent stretch of games is really propelling his argument for this spot on an All-NBA team, and I think he truly deserves it. His percentages are going up, he leads the team in points per game, and is becoming the guy the Celtics go to in clutch situations. He’s an All-NBA player.
C - Rudy Gobert - Utah Jazz
Rudy finally made his first All-Star team this year, and could be poised to win another Defensive Player of the Year again. With the lack of depth at the center position in the NBA, Rudy should clearly deserve a spot on this team.
