Leonard, George, James earn All-NBA status

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard was named to the All-NBA first team on Tuesday, marking the fifth time in his career he’s received an All-NBA distinction and the third time he’s been selected to the first team.

Paul George got a thirdteam nod, which makes it six times he’s been recognized with All-NBA honors.

Leonard, a 29-year-old forward from Moreno Valley, had a 12.2 net rating, sixth best in the league among players who participated in at least 30 games. His 1.6 steals per contest ranked 10th in the NBA.

In 52 games — in which the Clippers were 36-16 — he also averaged 24.8 points, shot 51.2% from the field and 88.5% from the free-throw line. The 6-foot-7 Leonard also pulled down 6.5 rebounds per game and recorded a career-best 5.2 assists per game. He was the only player in the NBA to average at least 24.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5 assists and 1.5 steals.

George, a 31-year-old Palmdale native, finished the regular season shooting a career-high 46.7% from the floor and passing for a career-best 5.2 assists per game for the Clippers, who were 38-16 in games he played. He also was one of just three NBA players this season to average at least 23 points and six rebounds while shooting 40% from 3-point range.

The rest of the first team: Denver center and runaway NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (the only unanimous firstteam selection) along with Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Dallas’ Luka Doncic at guard.

LAKERS’ JAMES NAMED TO ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM >> While it was a challenging season for LeBron James and the Lakers, one of his most impressive individual streaks remains intact. James was voted to the AllNBA second team it was revealed on Tuesday, after he averaged 25 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 1.1 steals in 45 games. It was the 17th straight time James was named to an All-NBA team, which is the longest consecutive stretch of any player in league history. It also is the most times any player has been selected to an AllNBA team, a record James already held last year.

James had the lowest vote total (174) of any player on the second team, which also included Portland’s Damian Lillard, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, Phoenix’s Chris Paul and New York’s Julius Randle. James received two first-team votes, 44 second-team votes and 32 third-team votes out of 100 voters.

Third-team selections: Utah’s Rudy Gobert at center, Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving and Washington’s Bradley Beal at guard, and Miami’s Jimmy Butler and the Clippers’ George at forward.