All-NBA teams revealed: Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic unanimous first-team picks
The All-NBA teams, one of the league's end-of-season individual honours, were announced. According to ESPN, Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic were the two players selected unanimously to the first team.
A unanimous selection means a player's impact that season is treated as beyond dispute. Every voter placing the same name on the first team typically occurs when individual statistics and team success align.
According to ESPN's report, San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama missed joining the group of unanimous first-team picks by a single vote. The young player featuring in such a close ballot was seen as a sign of his rapid rise in the league.
The first team also included names such as Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham. The selection offers a snapshot of how the league's star map is taking shape; players from different positions and different teams coming together illustrates the breadth of the competition.
All-NBA selections are not only a matter of prestige; under league rules they can also affect certain contract and salary provisions. For that reason, making or missing the first team can carry concrete financial consequences for clubs and players.
Gilgeous-Alexander's performance in Oklahoma City moved in parallel with the team's place near the top of the standings through the season. Individual productivity advancing alongside team success stands out as the key factor behind the unanimous selection.
Jokic, with his versatility in playmaking, scoring and rebounding, has for years been a fixture on such lists. ESPN's assessment noted that the player's statistical profile stretches the classic definition of his position.
Wembanyama's story, by contrast, is read more toward the future. Missing the unanimous mark by one vote suggests the player is already positioned at the highest level and is expected to be at the centre of these lists in coming seasons.
The All-NBA teams summarise the individual narrative of a season. How players are distributed across the first, second and third teams reveals that year's balance of power and the rising names. This year's picture showed both experienced stars and young players standing out together.
In the period ahead, these selections will also be a reference point in transfer and contract negotiations. With the season closing, attention has turned to whether these players can hold their positions next year.