Who Made the 1st Team All NBA This Year and Why They Deserve It

As I sat down to analyze this year's All-NBA First Team selections, I couldn't help but reflect on how much the selection process has evolved throughout my years covering professional basketball. The recent photos circulating on social media showing former Alaska import Sean Chambers with his old teammates reminded me that basketball excellence isn't just about individual statistics—it's about impact, leadership, and those intangible qualities that make certain players truly special. This year's First Team features five extraordinary athletes who've demonstrated exactly that kind of comprehensive excellence throughout the season.

Let me start with Luka Dončić, because honestly, how could anyone leave him off this list? The Slovenian sensation averaged what I consider to be video game numbers—32.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game while shooting 47% from the field. Watching him dismantle defenses night after night felt like witnessing basketball artistry in its purest form. His usage rate of 37.6% led the league, and when you consider he maintained this production while carrying the Mavericks to the playoffs in the brutal Western Conference, his selection becomes absolutely undeniable. I've spoken with several former players who compare his court vision to Magic Johnson's, and after watching him thread needles that don't even appear to exist, I'm inclined to agree.

Then there's Giannis Antetokounmpo, who continues to redefine what's physically possible on a basketball court. The Greek Freak put up 31.1 points and 11.8 rebounds while maintaining his defensive dominance with 1.3 blocks and 0.9 steals per game. What often gets overlooked in his stat line is his improved playmaking—he averaged 5.7 assists this season, a career high that demonstrates his evolving understanding of the game. I remember watching him against Boston in March when he recorded a 35-point triple-double, and thinking that nobody since Shaq has combined physical dominance with such refined skill development. His player efficiency rating of 29.5 ranked second in the league, behind only Nikola Jokić, which brings me to our MVP and First Team center.

Nikola Jokić's selection might seem like the most obvious choice, but his greatness deserves more than just casual acknowledgment. The Joker averaged 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists—nearly averaging a triple-double for the entire season while leading the Nuggets to the top seed in the West. His advanced stats are even more ridiculous—he led the league in player efficiency rating (32.8), box plus/minus (13.7), and value over replacement player (9.8). What fascinates me most about Jokić isn't just the numbers, but how he achieves them. He plays at his own pace, almost like he's operating in a different dimension where defensive schemes don't apply. I've watched him dismantle double teams with passes that seem to defy physics, and his basketball IQ might be the highest I've seen in my twenty years covering this sport.

The shooting guard position featured the most heated debate among analysts, but Devin Booker's selection feels absolutely right to me. Booker averaged 27.8 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting a blistering 49.4% from the field and 35.2% from three-point range. But beyond the numbers, what impressed me most was his evolution into a complete offensive weapon. He's no longer just a scorer—he's become a legitimate playmaker who averaged 6.8 assists and demonstrated improved decision-making in crunch time. His performance in Phoenix's crucial late-season games, including that 44-point masterpiece against Oklahoma City, showcased his ability to elevate his game when it matters most.

Completing the First Team is Jayson Tatum, who has firmly established himself as the premier two-way wing in basketball. Tatum averaged 30.1 points and 8.8 rebounds while playing elite defense against opponents' best perimeter players night after night. His usage rate of 32.1% demonstrates how central he's become to Boston's offensive system, and his true shooting percentage of 60.7% shows remarkable efficiency for a volume scorer. What separates Tatum from other elite scorers is his commitment to the defensive end—he regularly guards the opposition's best player while still carrying the offensive load, something very few players in league history have managed to do consistently.

Looking at this group collectively, what strikes me is how each player represents a different archetype of basketball excellence. Dončić embodies offensive creativity, Antetokounmpo physical dominance, Jokić cerebral mastery, Booker scoring efficiency, and Tatum two-way versatility. They've each carried their teams through grueling 82-game seasons while maintaining individual excellence that transcends traditional statistical measurements. The selection committee got it right this year—these five players have separated themselves from the pack through consistent excellence, leadership, and impact that goes beyond what shows up in the box score. In an era where basketball discussions often devolve into meaningless debates, the 2024 All-NBA First Team stands as a testament to what truly matters in this beautiful game we all love.