Full Breakdown
Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Others Crowned 2025-26 All-NBA First Team
5/26/2026, 4:48:54 AM
All-NBA Teams and Voting Results
The NBA announced the 2025-26 All-NBA Teams. First Team: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC), Nikola Jokic (DEN), Victor Wembanyama (SAS), Luka Doncic (LAL) and Cade Cunningham (DET). Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic were unanimous (500 points each); Wembanyama earned 99 first-team votes (498 points). Second Team: Jaylen Brown (BOS), Kawhi Leonard (LAC), Donovan Mitchell (CLE), Kevin Durant (HOU) and Jalen Brunson (NYK). LeBron James missed the ballot after playing fewer than 65 games, ending a two-decade streak. Durant became the first player with All-NBA honors on five franchises.
Voting Format and Controversy
The NBA’s positionless ballot, in effect since 2023-24, lets multiple players at the same position make First Team, enabling both centers Jokic and Wembanyama to be selected. Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham, each with 64 games, received eligibility exceptions for the 65-game rule, shifting Third Team—Deni Avdija (26 points) and Karl-Anthony Towns (14 points) would have qualified otherwise. One voter, SiriusXM NBA Radio host Justin Termine, cast the sole second-team vote for Wembanyama, arguing that voting by position protects fairness.
Season Performance of First-Team Selections
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander posted 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals while shooting .553/.386/.879. Nikola Jokic earned his sixth First-Team nod. Victor Wembanyama, Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 3.08 blocks and 1.03 steals in 64 games. Luka Doncic led the league with 33.5 points per game. Cade Cunningham rose to the First Team.
Official Statements & Responses
The NBA announced that the positionless ballot, introduced in 2023-24, is intended to reflect modern lineups and allow multiple players at the same position on the First Team.
Criticism & Opposition
SiriusXM NBA Radio host Justin Termine argued that voting by position safeguards historical fairness, stating that the current system “does a great disservice to the history of the sport.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “This year, he was the second-best center, and I vote by position,” — Justin Termine
- “I think [Wembanyama's] a better player than SGA right now.” — Justin Termine
- “This rule of voting without going by position, I think it’s done a great disservice to the history of the sport.” — Justin Termine
- “I think he is the best player in the world right now, but I thought [Nikola] Jokic had a better regular season at the same position…” — Justin Termine
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
NBC Sports reported that Deni Avdija (26 points) and Karl-Anthony Towns (14 points) would have reached the Third Team if Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham had not received eligibility exceptions; ESPN did not mention this effect, creating a discrepancy in how the rule change is described.
Implications and Outlook
The selections signal a shift: LeBron James missed the ballot after two decades, while the First Team includes players from five nations—Canada, France, Serbia, Slovenia and the United States. Ongoing debate over positionless voting may prompt the league to revisit its criteria.
