Prior to Tuesday night’s Game 4 between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Brooklyn Nets, the NBA announced the 15 players who will make up the 2020-21 All-NBA teams. Unsurprisingly, a handful of the names that make up the teams will take the floor in the ensuing game, with Giannis Antetokounmpo on the first-team and Kyrie Irving on the third-team.
The headliner of the first-team is, unsurprisingly, Denver Nuggets star and NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. He’s joined by Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, and Kawhi Leonard.
Presenting the 2020-21 All-NBA First Team
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Nikola Jokic
Stephen Curry
Luka Doncic
Kawhi Leonard pic.twitter.com/EgwC6lJgjG— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 16, 2021
On the second team, the big name was Joel Embiid, who played at a first-team level but got bumped down by there only being one spot for centers. Alongside him were LeBron James, Damian Lillard, Julius Randle, and Chris Paul.
Here is the 2020-21 All-NBA Second Team
Damian Lillard
Joel Embiid
Chris Paul
Julius Randle
LeBron James pic.twitter.com/1ll5mwzYvV— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 16, 2021
Rounding things out are the third-team selections: Irving, Jimmy Butler, Bradley Beal, Paul George, and Rudy Gobert.
Check out the 2020-21 All-NBA Third Team
Rudy Gobert
Jimmy Butler
Paul George
Bradley Beal
Kyrie Irving pic.twitter.com/YWZTgLxyOq— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 16, 2021
Beyond these names, the following picked up votes.
Complete voting for All-NBA teams: pic.twitter.com/imy5bn9jwy
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) June 16, 2021
While Antetokounmpo was sensational this season, it’s fascinating that he was the only unanimous selection of the bunch. Presumably, Jokic’s only second-team selection came because one voter was beholden to the positions players are locked into and put Embiid on the first team, although a number appear to have taken advantage of the fact that Embiid had eligibility at forward and center.