Sporting News All-NBA First Team picksShai Gilgeous-Alexander, ThunderNikola Jokic, NuggetsVictor Wembanyama, SpursLuka Doncic, LakersKawhi Leonard, Clippers<\/p>\n
The first four names on this list are unassailable. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is probably going to win his second MVP award, and it’s very much-deserved. He’s having a better season than last year, upping his shooting percentage across the board for the best team in the league.<\/p>\n
Wembanyama and Jokic will finish second and third in the MVP race. Wemby might already be the best defender in league history. He’s the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, and his offense is steadily improving to where he broke into the top 15 in points per game. Jokic averaged a triple double with 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game. Those last two numbers led the NBA.<\/p>\n
MORE: SN NBA media poll tabs Nikola Jokic’s league’s ‘best’ player<\/a><\/p>\n Doncic is the clear No. 4. He won this season’s scoring title, averaging 33.5 points per game. He took over in the second half of the season and carried the Lakers<\/a> to a surprising fourth place finish in the ultra-competitive West.\u00a0<\/p>\n The fifth spot is more up for grabs. I’m giving it to Kawhi Leonard, who quietly had the best season of his career for an up-and-down Clippers<\/a> team that finished the season 36-19 after starting a miserable 6-21. Leonard remains an unstoppable scorer who can get to his kill spots at any time and is a very good defender.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sporting News All-NBA Second Team picks Imagn Images <\/p>\n Cade Cunningham, PistonsJaylen Brown, CelticsKevin Durant, RocketsTyrese Maxey, SixersDonovan Mitchell, Cavs<\/p>\n Cunningham and Brown were the other leading candidates for that final First Team slot. Both have led surprisingly great teams in the East.<\/p>\n Cunningham gave the Pistons<\/a> just enough offense to win games alongside their suffocating defense. There was some skepticism about Brown’s ability to be the man for the Celtics<\/a>. He proved that completely wrong, upping his scoring by 6.5 points per game thanks to his sterling midrange game.\u00a0<\/p>\n Durant is a lock for All-NBA selection No. 12 of his career. He carried the Rockets<\/a> offense, finishing second in the league in minutes played at the age of 37. He maintained sterling 52\/41\/87 shooting splits on the year despite defenses loading up on him, proving over and over that he is as pure of a scorer as there is in the league.\u00a0<\/p>\n Maxey took on a big role for the Sixers<\/a> as well, finishing eighth in minutes and fifth in points. He had to step up and be the No. 1 option on many nights with Joel Embiid in and out of the lineup. His excellent three-level scoring, speed, and pull-up 3’s saved their season.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mitchell has become one of the most underrated stars in the league. His steady scoring and improved defense gets him the last spot.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sporting News All-NBA Third Team picks Brunson, Murray, and Johnson are the three easy selections left for the remaining five spots. Brunson continued his late-game mastery. Murray became a big-time scorer and is long overdue for his first All-NBA nod. Johnson was a walking triple-double as a do-everything point forward for a plucky Hawks<\/a> team.\u00a0<\/p>\n The next two selections are where it gets very tough. Holmgren takes one spot. The Thunder<\/a> deserve two representatives, and Holmgren was the best defender on a historically-great defense. He was no slouch on offense either, hitting timely 3’s and being able to score from all over the court.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Jalen Johnson, HawksJalen Brunson, KnicksJamal Murray, NuggetsChet Holmgren, ThunderLaMelo Ball, Hornets<\/p>\n