Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic selected to All-NBA First Team

The NBA on Tuesday night announced the All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams. Each team featured some of the league’s best and high-achieving players who had shown great play in the regular season and playoffs.

The All-NBA First Team is filled by the reigning NBA MVP Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, followed by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, and Phoenix Suns forward Devin Booker.

Jokic, Antetokounmpo, and Philadelphia 76ers forward Joel Embiid who is included in the Second Team were three candidates for NBA’s 2022 MVP.

All-NBA First Team

According to the NBA, the voting result for the first team marked history as the entire lineup comprises players aged 27 or younger. The last time the league recorded this age group was way back in 1954-1955.

Moreover, this year is also Antetokounmpo’s four consecutive time being included in All-NBA first team. The Greek Freak received 100 possible first-team votes and accumulated a total of 500 points in his four-year span of first-team selection. Moreover, the 2021 NBA champion became the first player in the last 50 years to be the unanimous selection for the first team for four seasons straight.

On the other hand, both Jokic and Doncic each received 88 first-team and 476 votes. The former competed against Antetokounmpo and Embiid for the leading spot in this year’s MVP. But the MVP title honor goes to Jokic.

Instead, while Jokic and Antetokounmpo finished in the First Team, the end result saw the Sixers star center end up in the second team alongside Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant.

Also, Doncic made his third consecutive time of being selected into the first team. The Slovenian international made his third entry before turning 24. The 23-year-old joined Tim Duncan, Durant, and Max Zaslofsky as the league’s only players to have made it into the first team before turning 24.

Other than the three there are Tatum and Booker. For the former, the young guard made history for the Celtics as the franchise’s first and most awaited player to make it into the first team ever since Kevin Garnett in the 2007-2008 season. On top of that, the 24-year-old Tatum became the first youngest player for Boston in All-NBA first after Larry Bird made his entry in 1979-1980.

The last roster on the All-NBA First Team is Devin Booker. The 25-year-old made his first entry to the first team list just this year. In other words, the three-time NBA All-Star is eligible to cash in a four-year-long contract extension worth $211 million.

Looking back, Booker’s extension was deserving ever since he joined the franchise in 2015. Booker has played a total of 477 regular-season games and averaging 23.5 points per game. Despite Phoenix’s unfortunate journey this season, the Grand Rapids-born managed higher points per game average as well as games played this season.

Moreover, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns also have a similar opportunity as Booker to redeem his extension with the team.

All-NBA Second, Third Teams

Aside from All-NBA first team, there are second and third teams. A few select players have the opportunity for an added value in their contract extension with the team. However, an exception is made for Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant. Instead of a five-year $223 million rookie extension, Morant may cash in a five-year deal worth $186 million instead. The amount will expand if he could make it into the All-NBA team next season, as per ABC News.

All-NBA second team includes Curry, Durant, Embiid, Morant, and Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan. Meanwhile, third team comprises Towns, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young.