"Are you for real" - Iman Shumpert thinks Kevin Durant wasn't worthy of an All-NBA Second team nod - United States News Beep

As impressive as Kevin Durant was individually during the 2025-26 season, leading the Houston Rockets in scoring and earning the 12th All-NBA selection of his career at age 37 in his 18th season, not everyone was pleased to see him receive that honor, even though it was a second team.

Despite averaging 26.0 points per game and continuing to prove that he still remains one of the league’s most unstoppable scorers, former NBA champ Iman Shumpert questioned whether individual production alone should still be enough to guarantee an All-NBA selection.

On his podcast, Shumpert’s argument centered around the idea that the league should place greater emphasis on a player’s overall impact on winning rather than simply rewarding reputation, scoring numbers, or status. In his view, impact on winning and consistency on both ends deserve greater recognition.

“It’s just a lot of promising basketball players playing this year, dawg. And playing hard as f—k. I get what KD was shouldering. I get it. But are you for real? His numbers are always going to be his numbers, but it’s like what we’re watching with James Harden,” Shumpert said.

“‘We know you’re gonna do this, but are we rewarding this?’ Like we should reward players plus/minus more. I just feel like the body of work is better for certain people.”

Durant led his team down

Statistically, KD’s reason remained elite. Over the course of the regular season, he missed just four games.

The bigger concern was that despite him being brought in to lead the team through his experience, KD couldn’t help the Rockets team that finished as the second seed in the West last season improve their position. In contrast, younger teams like the San Antonio Spurs were at their dominant best with no veteran as experienced as KD on their roster, yet they attained the 2nd seed. The Rockets, however, clinched only the 5th seed in the 2025-26 season.

Then, in the playoffs, the Rockets had a golden opportunity in the first round to eliminate a Luka Doncic-less Los Angeles Lakers, but KD struggled with foot injuries and missed most of the series. And even in the one contest, he did suit up, he finished with a plus/minus rating of -2 and failed to help the Rockets win it.

That is why Shumpert believes it’s high time for the NBA to reward players who consistently impact winning rather than players who are just at their individual best.

Who could’ve replaced KD?

So, who could’ve replaced Durant on the All-NBA Second Team? Well, there were some candidates who gave their all this season.

For instance, Deni Avdija helped the Portland Trail Blazers, a team that no one paid attention to because Damian Lillard was ruled out of the season, reach the playoffs. In doing so, he averaged a career-high 24.2 points, 6.7 assists and 0.6 blocks per game.

Even when the Blazers faced the San Antonio Spurs, Deni logged 22.2 points per game in his first playoff appearance.

Then, there was Scottie Barnes, who averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game to lead the Toronto Raptors back into the playoffs, where they were just one win away from making it into the second round.

Ultimately, this debate highlights the evolving conversation surrounding the All-NBA Team selections. On one side are those players who fail to be consistent, like Durant; on the other hand, there are players who give their team a chance at winning, even though their statistical output is a little bit worse.

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

“Are you for real” – Iman Shumpert thinks Kevin Durant wasn’t worthy of an All-NBA Second team nod

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