LeBron, Harden unanimous selections to All-NBA Team

NEW YORK: Cleveland Cavaliers superstar forward LeBron James was named to his league-record 12th AllNBA First Team on Thursday, joining Houston Rockets guard James Harden as a unanimous selection.

James, seeking an eighth consecutive trip to the NBA Finals in his 15th NBA campaign, moved past Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone for the most selections to the elite squad by a global media panel, being named on all 100 ballots.

The four-time NBA Most Valuable Player ranked third in the league with 27.5 points a game and also averaged 8.6 rebounds and a career-high 9.1 assists a game.

Harden, this season’s NBA scoring champion with 30.4 points a game, was a unanimous choice for the second year in a row. He also led the NBA with 265 3point baskets and has sparked the Rockets into the Western Conference final.

Others on the All-NBA First Team included Golden State forward Kevin Durant, New Orleans center Anthony Davis and Portland guard Damian Lillard, who was given his first nod onto the select squad.

Davis ranked second in the NBA with 28.1 points per contest and grabbed 11.1 rebounds a game, while Lillard was fourth with 26.9 points a game and four-time scoring champion Durant ranked sixth with 26.4 a game.

James, Harden and Davis are finalists for this year’s NBA Most Valuable Player award. — AFP