Victor Wembanyama was named to his first All-NBA first team on Sunday but failed by one vote to join Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic as a unanimous selection to the elite squad.
The 22-year-old French superstar, who has sparked the San Antonio Spurs into the Western Conference finals against Gilgeous-Alexander and Oklahoma City, received 99 of 100 possible first-team votes by a global media panel, and one second-team nod.
Wembanyama, a 7-foot-4 (2.24m) center, was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Canada’s Gilgeous-Alexander won his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player award this season while Serbian big man Jokic is a three-time MVP with Denver.
“SGA” and Jokic received 100 votes and 500 total points with “Wemby” third overall on 498.
They were joined on the elite first lineup by Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers, a Slovenian guard with 91 first-place votes who like Jokic made his sixth All-NBA first team, and Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, an American guard who had 60 first-team votes.
The All-NBA second team included Boston’s Jaylen Brown, Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, Houston’s Kevin Durant and New York’s Jalen Brunson.
The All-NBA third team included Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey, Denver’s Jamal Murray, Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson, Detroit’s Jalen Duren and Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren.
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, and are one of the most successful franchises in NBA history. Founded in 1967 as an American Basketball Association (ABA) team, they joined the NBA in 1976 and have since won five NBA championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014). The team is renowned for its consistent excellence, led by legendary coach Gregg Popovich and stars like Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginóbili.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder is a professional basketball team in the NBA, established in 2008 after relocating from Seattle, where it was originally founded as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1967. The team quickly found success in Oklahoma City, reaching the NBA Finals in 2012 with a young core led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The Thunder are known for their passionate fanbase and have become a symbol of the city’s resilience and sports culture.
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado, and a member of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Founded in 1967 as the Denver Rockets in the American Basketball Association (ABA), the team joined the NBA in 1976 following the ABA–NBA merger. The Nuggets won their first NBA championship in 2023, led by star player Nikola Jokić, marking a historic milestone for the franchise.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, and are one of the most successful franchises in NBA history. Originally founded in 1947 as the Minneapolis Lakers, the team moved to Los Angeles in 1960, where they have won 17 NBA championships. Their legacy includes legendary players like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James, making them a global sports icon.
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a professional basketball team based in Detroit, Michigan, and compete in the NBA’s Eastern Conference. Founded in 1941 as the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, the team moved to Detroit in 1957 and later became known for their “Bad Boys” era in the late 1980s and early 1990s, winning back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990. They have since won a third title in 2004, cementing their legacy as one of the league’s storied franchises.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a professional basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and one of the most successful franchises in NBA history. Founded in 1946, the team dominated the league in the late 1950s and 1960s, winning 11 championships in 13 seasons under the leadership of coach Red Auerbach and legendary players like Bill Russell. With a total of 18 NBA championships as of 2024, the Celtics are tied for the most titles in league history, embodying a legacy of excellence and fierce rivalry, particularly with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, competing in the NBA. Originally founded in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves, the franchise moved to San Diego in 1978 and became the San Diego Clippers, before relocating to Los Angeles in 1984. Despite a long history of struggles, the team has become a consistent playoff contender in recent years, highlighted by stars like Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and Kawhi Leonard, and is building a new arena, the Intuit Dome, set to open in 2024.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio, and a member of the NBA’s Eastern Conference. Founded in 1970 as an expansion team, the franchise gained global prominence after drafting LeBron James in 2003, eventually winning its first NBA championship in 2016 after a historic comeback from a 3–1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors. The team plays its home games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
