Perhaps one of the more underrated metrics in evaluating an NBA player’s legacy, an All-NBA First Team selection is generally reserved for the best of the best the NBA has to offer. Among current players, LeBron James is tied for first all-time with 11 All-NBA First Team selections, while Kevin Durant and Dwight Howard are tied for 19th all-time with five, and Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Paul are tied for 26th all-time with four.
Other current stars such as Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, Dwyane Wade, and Russell Westbrook have two such selections, while MVP front-runner James Harden has three. Barring an injury, it sure looks like Harden will get his fourth this season to tie him with Nowitzki and new teammate Paul, as Harden is putting up 31.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game on a .449/.385/.866 shooting line, while leading the Rockets to a 44-13 record into the All-Star break.
Other prime candidates this season include the aforementioned James, Durant, Curry, Westbrook, and Davis, plus potential first-timers Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kyrie Irving, and Joel Embiid. Ultimately, the first team spot for center will probably come down to Embiid, Davis – who has made it once as a center and once as a forward – and Karl-Anthony Towns, while the forward position will likely come down to a choice of two amongst three candidates – James, Durant, and Antetokounmpo.
Meanwhile, in what generally has become the most difficult spot to make, only two guards can be selected to the All-NBA First Team. As mentioned previously, it is difficult to envision Harden being left off this season, leaving one spot for Curry, Westbrook, or Irving.
So what do you think? Is Harden a lock to make his fourth All-NBA First Team? Will a newcomer like Antetokounmpo receive a spot or will perennial stalwarts James and Durant lock him out? Vote in our poll below, and remember that you must vote for two guards, two forwards, and one center, and Davis can be voted as a forward or center.
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Joel Embiid – 3rd in Points behind Harden & Curry; 8th in Blocks; 10th in Rebounds …. Just saying the 4.5% vote on here is LOW
But can Embiid play 36 minutes every game without the rate of his production dropping? I doubt it.
Giannis is the best all around player in the nba. Scoring, shooting %, rebounding, passing, blocks, steals and is even hitting his jumper now. Also with the ball in his hands all the time his turnovers are way less then lebron, harden, steph etc…Not saying he’ll get the MVP this year but he will be MVP soon
I say Durant and Giannis are a close call. Like a 1A and 1B, with Durant getting a slight edge in my book because he’s more of a force on the offensive end. Both are pretty close to unstoppable when they are clicking and Giannis still has tons of time and room to improve, but Durant’s consistent ability to score from anywhere, as opposed to Giannis still developing a jumper, gives Durant the edge in my book. I’m not sure how either rate defensively aside from both blocking a good amount of shots so maybe that tips the scales more favorably in one player’s direction. But on offense alone, Durant has to get the edge. Giannis’ numbers (aside from 3pt shooting) look better but that’s because of the different roles they play for their team. Giannis is the Bucks offense and they go as he goes. And while I’m not holding that against Giannis, Durant’s numbers are not that far behind which is impressive considering the shared responsibilites he has with Curry and that Durant’s usage rating is lower than Giannis’.