Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder was rewarded by being unanimously named to the NBA’s first all-star team.
SGA is the only one, along with Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, to unanimously deserve his place on this elite team.
After winning his third MVP award in four years earlier this month, Jokic headlined this year’s All-Star teams by earning a sixth straight selection and his fourth first-team selection .
Jokic, who was favored in the first all-star roster last season by Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, led the voting this year. This is the first year these honors have been awarded regardless of player position.
Embiid was one of several players this year — along with Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, New York Knicks forward Julius Randle and Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler — who were ineligible due to the new rule, which requires players to play at least 65 games to be considered for honors.
Despite the rule change, the four other players besides Embiid who were named to the first all-star team last year joined Jokic this season: Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic of the Thunder, Gilgeous- Alexander, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum.
This was Antetokounmpo’s sixth consecutive selection; a fifth consecutive selection for Doncic; the third in a row for Tatum; and the second in a row for Gilgeous-Alexander.
Doncic became the third player with five first-team selections before the age of 26, emulating Tim Duncan and Kevin Durant.
The second all-star team is made up of Anthony Edwards (Minnesota), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana), Jalen Brunson (New York), Kevin Durant. (Phoenix), Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers) and Anthony Davis (Lakers).
2024-05-23 02:28:09
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