DENVER Nuggets center and league Most Valuable Player (MVP) Nikola Jokić, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and Boston Celtics guard Jayson Tatum comprised the 2021-22 All-NBA First Team, it was announced on Tuesday night.
The All-NBA Second Team featured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan, Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid.
The Third Team was made up of Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, Suns guard Chris Paul, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam and Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns.
Though Jokić was named MVP for the second straight season, the only unanimous first-team selection was Antetokounmpo, who won MVP in 2019 and 2020. Jokić received 88 first-team votes and 12 second-team votes, as did Dončić.
Embiid earned the fifth-most total points from the voting panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. At 57 votes for the first team and 43 for the second team, Embiid tallied 414 points, more than Tatum’s 390. But he was named to the second team due to positional restrictions; the National Basketball Association (NBA) only allows one center per team.
Jokić averaged 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists and made 58.3% of his shots in 74 starts for Denver this season. Antetokounmpo averaged 29.9 points (a career high), 11.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists and made 55.3% of his field goals.
It marks Antetokounmpo’s sixth All-NBA selection and his fourth first-team selection. It is Jokić’s fourth overall selection and third appearance on the first team.
Doncic made his third straight first team after averaging 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.7 assists in the regular season.
Tatum earned first-team honors for the first time in his career, while Booker earned his first All-NBA selection of any kind. Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists — all career highs — for Boston in the regular season. Booker posted a career-best 26.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, along with 4.8 assists, to lead Phoenix to the best regular-season record.
Booker and Towns became eligible for supermax contract extensions this offseason due to making the All-NBA team.
James extended his NBA record with his 18th All-NBA selection. Paul earned his 11th selection and Durant garnered his 10th.
Other players receiving votes included centers Rudy Gobert of Utah (45 points) and Bam Adebayo of Miami (28); forwards Jimmy Butler of Miami (32 points), Jaylen Brown of Boston (3), Desmond Bane of Memphis (1) and Khris Middleton of Milwaukee (1); and guards Donovan Mitchell of Utah (4), Mikal Bridges of Phoenix (1), Jrue Holiday of Milwaukee (1), Kyrie Irving of Brooklyn (1), Dejounte Murray of San Antonio (1) and Fred Van Vleet of Toronto (1). — Reuters