Antetokounmpo, Harden lead All-NBA selections

Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden got the most votes, and Damian Lillard and Kemba Walker were also big winners when the All-NBA teams were announced.

Those guards can cash in with supermax contracts based on their selections to one of the three All-NBA teams that were announced May 23.

LeBron James also was voted to the third team, tying the NBA record with his 15th AllNBA selection.

Rounding out the first team were Stephen Curry, Paul George and Nikola Jokic, who was Denver’s first All-NBA selection since Carmelo Anthony in 2010.

Antetokounmpo and Harden were unanimous selections, receiving all 100 votes from a panel of sports writers and broadcasters who had to choose two guards, two forwards for each of the three teams.

Walker was the final selection but all that matters is that he made it.

By doing so, he became eligible to receive a five-year contract extension worth about $221 million from the Hornets if he opts to stay in Charlotte, a reward the NBA put in recently as further incentive to keep players with their current teams.

DURANT TO MISS GAME 1» Kevin Durant won’t be ready to play in time for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on May 30.

The two-time reigning finals MVP has yet to return to on-court work while recovering from a strained right calf.

Big man DeMarcus Cousins might be healthy for Golden State’s series opener against either Milwaukee or Toronto.

“Potentially,” coach Steve Kerr said Thursday, “but it’s up in the air.”.

College football

BOWL SEASON SET » College football’s bowl season will begin on a Friday this season and several minor bowls have been pushed back on the calendar to fill 15 days between the playoff semifinals and national championship.

ESPN released a schedule for 35 bowl games to appear on its networks in December and January.

In recent years, the bowl season has begun on a Saturday before Christmas with several games. This season, bowls begin Friday, Dec. 20.