Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James should make All-NBA, but just barely
By Doug Patrick
The top three forwards this year:
Antetokounmpo, George, and Durant should all undoubtedly factor into an All-NBA spot.
Giannis is the frontrunner in the MVP race. PG only recently fell away from the MVP conversation while continuing to have a career year. And Durant has been just as consistent as ever, putting in another year of greatness on the league’s most talented team.
In a recent article on the topic of LeBron’s candidacy, the Ringer’s Dan Devine also labeled these three guys as “locks.” There should be little debate over their place among the First and Second teams.
But just how good have they been?
Giannis is putting up 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game on a true shooting percentage of .642. George averages 28.1 points, 8.2 boards, and 4.1 assists on .588 true shooting. Durant has 26.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists on .628 true shooting. All have played over 70 games this season.
The trio holds the highest number of win shares among my candidates by a decent margin, with Antetokounmpo at an insane 14.2 and George and Durant coming in at an impressive 11.6 and 11.1 totals respectively.
They also lead the charge in positively impacting their team when on the floor. Durant makes the Golden State Warriors 17.5 points better per 100 possessions; George improves the Oklahoma City Thunder by 16.4 points. Giannis boosts the Milwaukee Bucks – far and away the league leaders in net rating (+9.0) – by 8.6 points.
Because Giannis is the best player on the league’s best team and leads the NBA in PER, VORP, and box plus-minus (among other things, as Devine mentions), he easily gets onto the First Team.
The conversation between George and Durant over who joins him is a toss-up.
Although I went back and forth due to Durant’s consistency and George’s lesser play since the All-Star Break, I chose PG over KD for his seeming more important on a less talented Thunder team.
Half of the six spots are filled. Now, the debate turns to Griffin, Leonard, Aldridge, and James for the final three slots.