All-NBA Teams announced – Russell Westbrook voted to First Team

Russell Westbrook earns All-NBA First Team honors from 99 of 100 voters. Fans will have to wait until June 26, to find out who left the Brodie off the top All-NBA team as well as a few other interesting votes and omissions.

Although the individual awards (particularly MVP) dominate narratives all season, it is the All NBA Teams which held us in suspense. And, there are more than a few reasons why.

Bragging Rights:

The 15 players who make first, second and third All-NBA are deemed the cream of the Association crop. Unlike the All-Star Teams, these players represent the best of the best and are determined by select media. This season the list of who qualified to vote also became stricter. Many local team writers didn’t make the cut, presumably because seeing a player two to four times a year isn’t enough to make a qualified judgement.

Sure, there are those (like this writer) who border on lunacy just for the sheer number of games viewed. But, there are also those who cover their beat and are able to spend their downtime on other passions (blasphemy – just kidding).

Contract Incentives:

Arguably the key reason players are invested more this season is because of the role All-NBA plays in the new CBA approved designated player extension. With the numerous caveats attached to qualifying for this special contract making an All-NBA team has gained significant importance. Westbrook now belongs to a very exclusive 4-membewere r club including Stephen Curry and two new members James Harden and John Wall.

But, there were two  players and franchises who were paying particularly close attention to the 3 All-NBA lists. Specifically, forwards Paul George and Gordan Hayward stand to lose out on big pay days and their teams  have lost the major advantage they held via the stars omissions. Though not making the list doesn’t rule out re-signing them, it sure doesn’t make it easier.

For now, let’s review the 15 players who made the cut earning All-NBA Team honors—

Without Further Adeiu:

Here are the 2016-17 All NBA Teams:

First Team All NBA:

Guard: James Harden- only player to receive first place votes on all 100 ballots —Say WHAT?, 3rd first team selection

Guard: Russell Westbrook-  99 of100 ballots, 2nd first team selection (seriously who the hell submitted the one ballot without him Brodie on the first team? Never mind they must live in Houston or Golden State!

Forward: LeBron James 99 of 100 ballots, his 11th selection ties him with Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant (same note; who exactly had the audacity to leave him off the first team?)

Forward: Kawhi Leonard 96 of 100 first team ballots, 2nd appearance. Four ballots without the best 2-way player in the game on the first team and one person (gasp) having the gall to place him on the 3rd team – seriously?

Center; Anthony Davis – 45 of 100 first team ballots, 2nd appearance

Second Team All NBA:

Guard: Stephen Curry (4th selection to All NBA Team)

Guard: Isaiah Thomas (Inaugural All NBA Team Selection)

Forward: Kevin Durant (7th selection to All NBA Team)

Forward:Giannis Antetokounmpo (Inaugural All NBA Team Selection)

Center; Rudy Gobert (Inaugural All NBA Team Selection)

Third Team All NBA:

Guard: John Wall (Inaugural All NBA Team Selection) A little shocking this is Wall’s debut on an All NBA Team

Guard: DeMar DeRozan (Inaugural All NBA Team Selection)

Forward: Draymond Green (2nd selection to All NBA Team)

Forward: Jimmy Butler (Inaugural All NBA Team Selection)

Center; DeAndre Jordan (3rd selection to All NBA Team)

Voting Procedure:

(as per NBA.com)

"The All-NBA Teams were chosen by a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.  The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis.  Voters were asked to select two guards, two forwards and one center for each team, picking players at the position they play regularly.  Players who received votes at multiple positions were slotted at the position where they received the most votes.Complete media voting results will be posted at NBA.com/official the night of the NBA Awards.  Click here for the list of 100 media voters for the All-NBA Teams."

Other Players Receiving Votes:

Two players on the list of 15 below who are gnashing their teeth are Paul George and Gordon Hayward because of the implications of the designated player extension. Moreover their teams are probably even more stressed out because they failed to check this caveat off the list of requirements which is necessary for the franchise to extend the offer.

Here’s the list of players receiving votes who just missed out on the All-NBA team honors:

• Karl-Anthony Towns
• Chris Paul
• Marc Gasol
• DeMarcus Cousins
• Paul George
• Gordon Hayward
• Hassan Whiteside
• Kyrie Irving
• Klay Thompson
• Nikola Jokic
• Damian Lillard
• Paul Millsap
• LaMarcus Aldridge
• Blake Griffin
• Al Horford

Questionable Placement :

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

As per the above NBA statement, fans will have to wait until the night the individual awards are handed out to find out where each sportswriter/broadcaster voted. Of most interest is who deemed Russell Westbrook and LeBron James unworthy of the first team. Was it the same person?

And, which 4 scribes didn’t recognize Kawhi Leonard (apologies to LeBron James) is the best 2-way player in the Association. As much as Westbrook and Thunder fans have reason to be annoyed at that one ballot submission, whoever put Leonard on the third team seems to have missed the boat. Certainly it can’t be because he mouthed off to the scribe.

As for individual awards, a special edition of Inside the NBA will announce the top three vote recipients for:

• Most Valuable Player
• Defensive Player of the Year
• Sixth Man
• Most Improved Player
• Rookie of the Year
• Coach of the Year

The special will run Friday May 19, just prior to Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals  featuring the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. Westbrook will undoubtedly join Harden as two of the three MVP candidates named. The third is likely to be one of LeBron James or Kawhi Leonard.

Winners won’t be known until June 26, at the inaugural NBA Awards Show in New York.