National Basketball Associationawards and honors |
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The All-NBA Team is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) honor bestowed on the best players in the league following every NBA season. The voting is conducted by a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. [lower-alpha 1] The team has been selected in every season of the league's existence, dating back to its inaugural season in 1946. [3] The All-NBA Team originally had two teams, but since 1988 it is typically composed of three five-man lineups—a first, second, and third team.
From 1956 through 2023, [4] voters selected two guards, two forwards, and one center for each team. [1] This contrasts with the voting for starters of the NBA All-Star Game, which has chosen two backcourt and three frontcourt players since 2013. [5] [6] The NBA's sister league, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), announced late in its 2022 season that it was changing the composition of its All-WNBA Teams from the All-NBA format to a "positionless" format in which members are selected without regard to position. [7] [8] Starting with the 2023–24 season, coinciding with the start of a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the NBA and its players' union, the NBA will adopt the WNBA's "positionless" format for All-NBA team composition—which the NBA had originally used before adopting a positional model in 1955–56. [9] [10] NBA players receive five points for a first team vote, three points for a second team vote, and one point for a third team vote. Starting in 2023–24, the five highest point totals regardless of position make up the first team, with the second and third teams following. During the positional era, the players with the highest point totals at each position made the first team, with the next highest making the second team and so forth. [1] On one occasion, six players were placed on a team, when Bob Davies and Dolph Schayes tied for the first team in 1952; the second team remained at five. [3]
The 2023–24 season will also introduce an eligibility threshold of 65 games played (out of the normal 82-game schedule) for most major regular-season playing awards and honors, including the All-NBA Team. To receive credit for a game for purposes of award eligibility, a player must have been credited with at least 20 minutes played. However, two "near misses", in which the player appeared for 15 to 19 minutes, can be included in the 65-game count. Protections also exist for players who suffer season-ending injuries, who are eligible with 62 credited games, and those affected by what the CBA calls "bad faith circumstances". [11] [12]
During the era of position-based team composition, voters were instructed to "vote for the player at the position he plays regularly", [13] and some used the flexibility to designate a player at a position which was not their primary role. [13] [14] [15] A player who received votes at multiple positions was classified at the position in which they received the most votes. [1] This occasionally caused a player to be slotted to a lower team or miss an All-NBA selection altogether. For example, Draymond Green received votes at forward and center in 2016, but he was placed on the second team as a forward although he had more total points than the first-team center, DeAndre Jordan. [1] [16] In 2020, Khris Middleton garnered votes at both forward and guard, yet he was not on the third team despite having more points overall than Ben Simmons and Russell Westbrook, who were selected at guard. [17] [18]
LeBron James has the most All-NBA selections with nineteen. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan previously shared the record with fifteen. [19] James also has the most All-NBA First Team honors with thirteen and is the only player to have done so as a member of three different teams, [19] while Bryant and Karl Malone are tied for second-most with eleven. [20] Malone and James each share a record eleven consecutive first-team selections. [21]
^ | Denotes players who are still active in the NBA |
* | Denotes players inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
† | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration [lower-alpha 2] |
§ | 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2025 [22] |
Player (#) | Denotes the number of times the player has been selected |
Player (in bold text) | Indicates the player who won the NBA Most Valuable Player in the same year [lower-alpha 3] |
From the 1946–47 season to 1954–55 season, the All-NBA Team was composed of two teams, each with five roster spots, except when there were ties. During this period, players were selected without regard to position.
From the 1955–56 season to 1987–88 season, the All-NBA Team was composed of two teams, each with five roster spots, except when there were ties. During this time, players were selected with regard to position.
From the 1988–89 season through the 2022–23 season, the All-NBA Team was composed of three teams, each with five roster spots, except when there were ties. Players were selected with regard to position.
Starting with the 2023–24 season, the All-NBA Team consists of three teams selected without regard to position, each with five roster spots, except when there are ties. Players will be listed in order of points received in voting; those tied on points will be listed in alphabetic order by family name.
The following table only lists players with at least ten total selections.
* | Denotes players inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
^ | Denotes players who are still active in the NBA |
Player | Total | First team | Second team | Third team | MVP | Seasons |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LeBron James ^ | 19 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 20 |
Kobe Bryant * | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 20 |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar * | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 20 |
Tim Duncan * | 15 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 19 |
Karl Malone * | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 19 |
Shaquille O'Neal * | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 19 |
Bob Cousy * | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
Jerry West * | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Dolph Schayes * | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
Hakeem Olajuwon * | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 18 |
Dirk Nowitzki * | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 21 |
Michael Jordan * | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 15 |
Bob Pettit * | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 11 |
Oscar Robertson * | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
Charles Barkley * | 11 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 16 |
John Havlicek * | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
Chris Paul ^ | 11 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
Bill Russell * | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 13 |
John Stockton * | 11 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
Elgin Baylor * | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Larry Bird * | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
Magic Johnson * | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
Wilt Chamberlain * | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 14 |
Kevin Durant ^ | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
David Robinson * | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 14 |
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is the premier women's professional basketball league. It is composed of 12 teams, all based in the United States. The league was founded on April 22, 1996, as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association (NBA), and league play started in 1997. The regular season is played from May to September, with the All Star game being played midway through the season in July and the WNBA Finals at the end of September until the beginning of October.
The NBA Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 1955–56 season to the best performing player of the regular season. Since the 2022–23 season, winners receive the Michael Jordan Trophy, named for the five-time MVP often considered the best player in NBA history.
The NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 1982–83 NBA season to the best defensive player of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel of 124 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada, each of whom casts a vote for first, second and third place selections. Each first-place vote is worth five points, second-place votes are worth three points, and a third-place vote is worth one. The player with the highest point total, regardless of the number of first-place votes, wins the award. Since the 2022–23 NBA season, winners receive the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy, named after the two-time defensive player of the year winner.
Suzanne Brigit Bird is an American former professional basketball player who played her entire career with the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Bird was drafted by the Storm first overall in the 2002 WNBA draft and is considered to be one of the greatest players in WNBA history. As of 2021, Bird is the only WNBA player to win titles in three different decades. She held a front office position for the NBA's Denver Nuggets as their Basketball Operations Associate. She has also played for three teams in the Russia league; and also has dual citizenship, with both U.S. and Israel.
The NBA's Most Improved Player Award (MIP) is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given to the player who has shown the most progress during the regular season compared to previous seasons. The winner is selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the United States and Canada, each of whom casts a vote for first, second and third place selections. Each first-place vote is worth five points; each second-place vote is worth three points, and each third-place vote is worth one point. The player with the highest point total, regardless of the number of first-place votes, wins the award. The criteria for selecting the most improved player was initially open-ended, but the NBA clarified in later years that it was intended for an up-and-coming player who improved dramatically and not a player who made a comeback, distinguishing it from the defunct NBA Comeback Player of the Year Award. Since the 2022–23 NBA season, winners receive the George Mikan Trophy, named after the five-time NBA champion.
Michael Adams is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He played college basketball for the Boston College Eagles and was a third-round selection in the 1985 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. Adams played 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Kings, Washington Bullets, Denver Nuggets and Charlotte Hornets. He was an NBA All-Star with the Bullets in 1992.
The National Basketball Association All-Star weekend is a weekend festival held every February during the middle of the NBA regular season that consists of a variety of basketball events, exhibitions and performances culminating in the NBA All-Star Game held on Sunday night. No regular season games are held during this period, which is also known as the All-Star break. It is right after the trade deadline.
The NBA All-Defensive Team is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) honor given since the 1968–69 NBA season to the best defensive players during the regular season. The All-Defensive Team is generally composed of ten players in two five-man lineups, a first and a second team. Voting is conducted by a panel of 123 writers and broadcasters. Prior to the 2013–14 NBA season, voting was performed by the NBA head coaches, who were restricted from voting for players on their own team. The players each receive two points for each first team vote and one point for each second team vote. The top five players with the highest point total make the first team, with the next five making the second team. In the case of a tie at the fifth position of either team, the roster is expanded. If the first team consists of six players due to a tie, the second team will still consist of five players with the potential for more expansion in the event of additional ties. Ties have occurred several times, most recently in 2013 when Tyson Chandler and Joakim Noah tied in votes received.
The NBA All-Rookie Team is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) honor given since the 1962–63 NBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches who are not allowed to vote for players on their own team. The All-Rookie Team is generally composed of two five-man lineups: a first team and a second team. The players each receive two points for each first team vote and one point for each second team vote. The top five players with the highest point total make the first team, with the next five making the second team. In the case of a tie at the fifth position of either team, the roster is expanded. If the first team consists of six players due to a tie, the second team will still consist of five players with the potential for more expansion in the event of additional ties. Ties have occurred several times, most recently in 2012, when Kawhi Leonard, Iman Shumpert, and Brandon Knight tied in votes received. No respect is given to positions. For example, the first team had four forwards, and one guard in 2008, while the first team had four centers and one guard in 2016.
The WNBA All-Rookie Team is an annual Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) honor given since the 2005 WNBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the WNBA head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for players on their own team. Each coach selects five players. A player is given a point for every vote they receive. The top vote getters comprise the team, regardless of the positions they play. Through the 2021 season, this differed from the WNBA's voting procedure for the All-WNBA and All-Defensive Teams, in which all first and second teams consisted of a center, two forwards, and two guards. The WNBA has since adopted the positionless format for its All-WNBA and All-Defensive Teams, respectively adopting the format in 2022 and 2023.
The All-WNBA Team is an annual Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) honor bestowed on the best players in the league following every season. The voting is conducted by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States. The team has been selected in every season of the league's existence, dating back to its inaugural season in 1997. The All-WNBA Team is composed of two five-woman lineups—a first and second team, comprising a total of 10 roster spots.
The WNBA All-Defensive Team is an annual Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) honor given since the 2005 WNBA season to the best defensive players during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the WNBA head coaches. who are not allowed to vote for players on their own team. The All-Defensive Team is composed of two five-woman lineups, a first and a second team, comprising a total of 10 roster spots. The players each receive two points for each first team vote and one point for each second team vote. The top five players with the highest point total make the first team, with the next five making the second team. Starting with the 2023 season, players are selected without regard to position; this follows the WNBA having adopted a "positionless" format for the All-WNBA Team in 2022. Before 2023, each team consisted of one center, two forwards, and two guards. During that time, if there was already a center on the first team, but another center received more points than two of the guards on the first team, that center would still be on the second team.
Edrice Femi "Bam" Adebayo is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats before being selected by the Heat with the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. He is a three-time NBA All-Star, a four-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team honoree, and he helped the Heat reach the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023. He also won a gold medal on the 2020 U.S. Olympic team in Tokyo.
The 2019 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game that was played on February 17, 2019, during the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2018–19 season. It was the 68th edition of the NBA All-Star Game, and was played at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the home of the Charlotte Hornets. Team LeBron defeated Team Giannis, 178–164. This was the second time that the NBA All-Star Game format was not Eastern Conference versus Western Conference. Charlotte was announced as host on May 24, 2017. This was the second time that Charlotte hosted the All-Star Game; the first time was in 1991, at the Hornets' previous home arena Charlotte Coliseum.
The 2020 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game that was played on February 16, 2020, during the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2019–20 season. It was the 69th edition of the NBA All-Star Game, and was played at the United Center in Chicago, home of the Chicago Bulls. Team LeBron defeated Team Giannis, 157–155. This was the third time that Chicago hosted the All-Star Game. The other two times, in 1973 and 1988, the game was played at Chicago Stadium, the Bulls' previous home arena. The game was televised nationally by TNT for the 18th consecutive year, and simulcast by TBS for the 6th consecutive year. After airing a “Players Only” broadcast a year ago, TBS returned to simulcasting TNT’s coverage, after the “Players Only” brand was canceled by the NBA and Turner Sports.
The 2024 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game played on February 18, 2024, during the National Basketball Association's 2023–24 season. It was the 73rd edition of the NBA All-Star Game. It was hosted by the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. This was the second time that Indianapolis hosted the All-Star Game; the last time the game was played in the city was in 1985 at the Hoosier Dome. This year's All-Star Game featured the return of the Eastern Conference versus Western Conference format that was last used in 2017. The game was televised by TNT for the 22nd consecutive year. All-Star Voting began on December 19, 2023, and ended on January 20, 2024.
The 2022 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition game played on February 20, 2022, during the National Basketball Association's 2021–22 season. It was the 71st edition of the NBA All-Star Game. The game was hosted by the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. This was the third time that the Cleveland area hosted the All-Star Game, the first being in 1981 at the Coliseum in nearby Richfield, Ohio, and most recently in 1997—three years after the Cavaliers moved back to downtown Cleveland to play in the newly built Gund Arena, which is now known as Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Coincidentally, on the occasion Cleveland hosted an All-Star Game, the NBA celebrated its 35th season (1981), 50th anniversary (1997), and 75th anniversary (2022). The announcement of the site selection was made on November 1, 2018, at a press conference held by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The 2023 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition game played on February 19, 2023, during the National Basketball Association's 2022–23 season. On the 30th anniversary of the first All-Star Game held in Salt Lake City in 1993. It was the 72nd edition of the event. The game was hosted by the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena, and was televised nationally by TNT for the 21st consecutive year.
The 2021 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game played on March 7, 2021, during the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2020–21 season. It was the 70th edition of the NBA All-Star Game, and was hosted at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, home of the Atlanta Hawks. With teams captained by LeBron James and Kevin Durant, Team LeBron won the game 170–150. Giannis Antetokounmpo of Team LeBron was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player. The game was originally scheduled to be held in Indianapolis, but it was relocated to Atlanta due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting scheduling conflicts with the 2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The game was televised nationally on TNT for the 19th consecutive year, and simulcast on TBS for the 7th consecutive year.