All NBA Ballots

The All-NBA awards are essentially the most exclusive awards of the season. The best 15 players for that season in the NBA. The All-star game has 24 players and more focus is on entertainment the players can provide that the work they do on the court. This is the award that's attached with the greats as they enter the Hall of Fame. This is a very important list and can define the careers of players.


This list has 15 players divided across three different teams (first, second, third). On each team, there are two guards, two forwards and a center. There are various incentives for players to make these teams besides building a resume and competitive nature. Players have lots of financial incentives to make the team add on top of other reasons. These are the 15 best players for this season.

All-NBA Ballots

Umaid's Ballot

First Team

Guard- Damian Lillard (Blazers)
Guard- James Harden (Rockets)
Forward- LeBron James (Cavaliers)
Forward- Kevin Durant (Warriors)
Center- Anthony Davis (Pelicans)

Well, these are my first team all NBA guards. James Harden a lock, should not even be discussed. He has a lock not only on this list but in the MVP voting, so no big surprises here. Leading his team to the best record in the entire league. The tough decision came between Westbrook vs. Lillard. The Blazers finished the season one game ahead of the Thunder. However, no one predicted the Blazers to be this good and no one thought the Thunder would struggle this much. The Thunder were supposed to be contending with the Rockets and Warriors but they could just never get it going. Lillard just had the better season, leading his team to a top 3 record with his sidekick struggling since the All-Star break. Lillard posted a 25.2 PER to Westbrook's 24.7. Lillard posted 12.6 WS to Westbrook's 10.1. Yes, Westbrook did average another triple-double, but Lillard just led his team above expectations and has the advantage in advanced numbers.

LeBron James and Kevin Durant get my vote for the first team all NBA spots. LeBron leading the Cavs despite the dysfunction of the Cavs team. Changing of lineups, no effort given through a good chunk of the season. The story-lines that come with a LeBron James teams and essentially getting a brand new roster at the trade deadline day, and still winning 50 games is pretty impressive. Now for KD, I had an argument for Giannis but at the end of the day, his team just struggled way too much in a weaker conference for me to put him on the first team. KD had a great season still, leading the Dubs to the third-best record in the NBA and with the team's engine Steph Curry missing a large amount of time, he had to carry a larger role and he did his job. When Boogie Cousins went down, we all thought the Pelicans were done, but then AD went ballistic. AD carried a sub-par Pelicans team to a crazy stretch post-all star break. He was just straight up balling. He kept the Pelicans in playoff contention and actually improved their record.  

Second Team

Guard- Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
Guard- Demar DeRozan (Raptors)
Forward- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Forward- LaMarcus Aldridge (Spurs)
Center- Joel Embiid (Sixers)

Russell Westbrook is a clear-cut choice for the second team, leading the Thunder to a top 4 record in the West, averaging another triple-double for an entire season, which is absolutely crazy. Demar DeRozan did have a decrease in stats from last year to this year. However, he increased his effectiveness by changing his shot selection and accepting the culture change in Toronto. And oh boy has it worked, Demar led the Raptors to a franchise-best 59 wins and the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors had the second-best record in the entire league and no one saw this coming. Demar has still been able to dominate in stretches and is always there when the Raps have needed him.

After KD beat out Giannis in the first team, he gets an easy nod for the second team. The Bucks did struggle but in no thanks to Giannis, posting a 27.3 PER while scoring 27 points per game and adding 10 rebounds. He started the season off crazy hot and finished pretty strong. LaMarcus Aldridge has bounced back, after looking like a shell of himself in the past two seasons, he now looks like the player the Spurs thought they were going to get when he signed with them in free agency. This looks like the player that was averaging 20 in Portland. Becoming the number one option again with the whole Kawhi saga has really benefited him and made him look and feel more involved. This he has done wonders for Spurs saving their 20 season playoff appearance record. L.A leading the Spurs back into the playoff made him an easy All NBA nod.

Joel Embiid, Mr. Trust the Process had an amazing season. The center position has been decimated by injuries this year with Demarcus Cousins, Kristaps and Gobert missing significant time with major injuries. Joel also missing a good chunk of time, otherwise, he could have been in that exclusive first team. His only competition for the second team, Karl Anthony Towns. Now both post very similar numbers offensively, however defensively it is night and day. Joel posted a defensive rating of 100 per 100 possessions to Towns' 107 per 100 possessions. Joel has a defensive plus-minus of 2.5 to Towns' 1.1. The difference is too large to ignore. Not only this, the Sixers are a crazy 11.6 point better with Joel on the court, a stat that matches the 73 win Warriors.

Third Team

Guard- Victor Oladipo (Pacers)
Guard- Steph Curry (Warriors)
Forward- Jimmy Butler (Timberwolves)
Forward- Al Horford (Thunder)
Center- Karl Anthony Towns (Timberwolves)

Victor Oladipo was in real contention for that second team but, Demar Derozan put up the same stats, with a better impact on a better team. Vic deserves a lot of credit for his season, leading this Pacer team who we all though was headed for the lotter to a playoff appreance and a better win total than last year with Paul George. Guess the Pacers did not do so poorly in that trade as everyone thought. It was hard Steph on this list. Not because of his stats or talent, in my opinion the second best player in the league, Steph played only 51 games all season long. However, his main competition for this place was Chris Paul and Kyrie Irving. Both also missed significant time due to injuries. Out of all three Curry by far has the best stats and the most impact to a championship level team. Curry was just too good for the 51 games he did play for me to not put him on this list.
The third team forwards were the hardest spots to fill in this entire ballot. There were just so many contenders: Jimmy Butler, Al Horford, Paul George, Ben Simmons, Nikola Jokic, Draymond Green. It was hard to go with Ben Simmons or Nikola Jokic as Simmons played point gaurd and Jokic is a center. Although if he played more forward he defenitley would have been on my ballot. Now that leaves Butler, Horford, Green and George. I had to go with Butler because he led the Timberwolves to their first playoff apperance in 10+ years. The team was in 3rd with him and almost got knocked out of the playoffs without him. They beat the Nuggets in one crazy game to clinch an appreance. He still played a whole lot of minutes despite missing a chunck of games. Paul George just was far too incosistant with his play, and Draymond didn't give the Dubs that energy like he always did as they seem vunerable. That leave defacto winner Al Horford. Al didn't put the best stats but he did lead the Celtics to the second best record in the East, the best defense in the league and without Kyrie for a large portion. I really wish Jokic was a power forward.

Lastly, in the tird team center we have none other than Karl Towns. It was between him and Jokic. It was really close but at the end of the day Towns won that final battle. If Jokic wins that game, I put him on this list. The stats and advanced numbers are essentially the same, both had star players out for large stretches with Butler and Milsap. Towns gets it via one more win.  

Jonathan's Ballot

First Team
Guard- Demar DeRozan (Raptors)
Guard- James Harden (Rockets)
Forward- LeBron James (Cavaliers)
Forward- Kevin Durant (Warriors) 
Center- Anthony Davis (Pelicans)

Second Team
Guard- Chris Paul (Rockets)
Guard- Damian Lillard (Blazers)
Forward- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Forward- LaMarcus Aldridge (Spurs)
Center- Karl Anthony Towns (Timberwolves)

Third Team
Guard- Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
Guard- Steph Curry (Warriors)
Forward- Jimmy Butler (Timberwolves)
Forward- Paul George (Thunder)
Center- Joel Embiid (Sixers)

Rafat's Ballot

First Team
Guard- Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
Guard- James Harden (Rockets)
Forward- LeBron James (Cavaliers)
Forward- Anthony Davis (Pelicans)
Center- Joel Embiid (Sixers)

Second Team
Guard- Demar Derozan (Raptors)
Guard- Damian Lillard (Blazers)
Forward- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Forward- Kevin Durant (Warriors)
Center- Lamrcus Aldridge (Spurs)

Third Team
Guard- Victor Oladipo (Pacers)
Guard- Steph Curry (Warriors)
Forward- Jimmy Butler (Timberwolves)
Forward- Paul George (Thunder)
Center- Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)