Ledger-Enquirer

Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander lead All-NBA 1st Team

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Just two weeks after being named MVP for the third time in five years, Denver Nuggets star big man Nikola Jokic added to his resume on Wednesday night by landing on the All-NBA First Team for the fourth time in his career.

Jokic was one of two unanimous selections to garner first-team votes on all 99 ballots from a panel of sportswrit­ers and broadcaste­rs, joining Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokoun­mpo and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum joined Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander on the All-NBA First Team.

Also named MVP following the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, Jokic stuffed the stat sheet again in 2023-24, averaging 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1.4 steals across 79 games for Denver.

However, Jokic couldn’t save the Nuggets from the Timberwolv­es in the postseason, as Minnesota eliminated Denver in seven games in a Western Conference semifinal series.

Gilgeous-Alexander secured a spot on the First Team for the second time after propelling Oklahoma City to the top of the West. The Thunder went 57-25 to secure the No. 1

seed, but they too came up short of the conference finals, falling to Dallas in six games in the second round.

In 75 regular-season games, Gilgeous-Alexander

finished with averages of 30.1 points, 6.2 assists and 5.5 rebounds.

Doncic, Antetokoun­mpo and Tatum have all establishe­d themselves as staples on the First Team, with Doncic making it five years in a row, Antetokoun­mpo making it six and Tatum making it three.

Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards was an AllNBA Second Team selection. It marks the first time he has made an AllNBA team.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard and Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis also made the Second Team.

The All-NBA Third Team consists of guards Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Devin Booker (Suns) and Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers), Lakers forward LeBron James and Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis.

James has made an All-NBA team in 20 consecutiv­e seasons, a league record. He became the youngest player to make one of the three teams back in 2005, when he was 20, and this year’s selection made him the oldest player to ever make a team. James is 39.

 ?? ISAIAH J. DOWNING USA TODAY NETWORK ?? Nuggets center Nikola Jokic stuffed the stat sheet again in 2023-24, averaging 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1.4 steals across 79 games for Denver.
ISAIAH J. DOWNING USA TODAY NETWORK Nuggets center Nikola Jokic stuffed the stat sheet again in 2023-24, averaging 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1.4 steals across 79 games for Denver.

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