The NBA recently announced its 2021-22 All-NBA First Team and it’s safe to say that there were few surprises in store. The Milwaukee Bucks’ superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets highlight the list that also features young stars in Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics).
Antetokounmpo was the only player to get in unanimously and receive all 100 first-team votes. This was the fourth-consecutive season that the “Greek Freak” was a unanimous selection to the All-NBA First Team. Jokic and Doncic got 88 first-team votes each, while Booker had 82. Tatum barely got in with less than 50 percent of first-team votes (49).
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers had more first-team votes (57) and more points (415) than Tatum but was relegated to the 2021-22 All-NBA Second Team due to the league’s decision to have the position-based selection. Aside from Embiid, the second team also has Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies), DeMar DeRozan (Chicago Bulls), Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets), and Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors.
Finally, the 2021-22 All-NBA Third Team features Suns’ Chris Paul, Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young, Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns, and LeBron James of Los Angeles Lakers. This was the 18th time in James’ career that he made an All-NBA team; by far the most in league history. He is also the only player to make the team in Season 19 or later.
