NBA unveils 2026 Kia All-NBA Teams
The NBA officially announced the 2026 Kia All-NBA selections on Sunday ahead of the Western Conference Finals clash between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. This year’s First Team featured a mix of established superstars and rising young talent, highlighting the league’s evolving landscape.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Cade Cunningham, Luka Dončić, and Nikola Jokić earned First Team honours after standout seasons that placed them among the league’s elite performers.
First Team led by MVP-calibre superstars
Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokić were unanimous First Team selections, appearing on all 100 ballots submitted by the media panel. Wembanyama narrowly missed unanimous status, receiving First Team votes on 99 ballots, further cementing his rapid rise among the NBA’s top players.
The voting process remains positionless, with players earning five points for a First Team vote, three for Second Team, and one for Third Team consideration. Cade Cunningham and Luka Dončić rounded out the top unit after impressive individual campaigns.
Veteran stars headline Second Team selections
The All-NBA Second Team included Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Donovan Mitchell. Brown narrowly missed out on a First Team spot, receiving the highest number of First Team votes among players outside the final top five.
Durant’s latest selection marked another milestone in his legendary career, making him just the 12th player in NBA history to earn 12 All-NBA honours. Leonard extended his tally to seven selections, while Brunson and Mitchell each secured their third career nod. Brown, meanwhile, collected his second All-NBA recognition.
New generation breaks through on Third Team
The Third Team showcased a wave of emerging stars, featuring Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray, Jalen Johnson, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Duren. All five players earned All-NBA recognition for the first time in their careers, signalling the arrival of a new generation of impact players across the league.
Their selections reflected breakout seasons filled with strong individual performances and growing importance within their respective franchises.
Big names miss out due to NBA eligibility rules
Several high-profile stars were absent from this year’s All-NBA lists because of the NBA’s 65-game eligibility requirement. Los Angeles Lakers veteran LeBron James did not qualify after missing too many games, marking only the second time in his 23-year career that he failed to make an All-NBA team.
Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo were also ruled ineligible under the same rule. For Antetokounmpo, the absence ended an impressive streak of appearing on every All-NBA ballot for eight consecutive seasons.
Kia All-NBA First Team:
Cade Cunningham, Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama
Kia All-NBA Second Team:
Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell
Kia All-NBA Third Team:
Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray, Jalen Johnson, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Duren
