Since 1946, the All-NBA Team is an award given to a set of players that signify the best of the best for that season. Since 1956, the team has selected two guards, two forwards, and one center. This contrasts with the All-Star Game voting, where two backcourt players and three frontcourt players are chosen. We have seen players like LeBron James (18), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15), Kobe Bryant (15), and Tim Duncan (15) get voted several times.
Some of these players were joined by a teammate. Kareem often had Magic Johnson, Bryant had Shaq, and Duncan had Tony Parker. Even now, LeBron’s accomplishments have been won with the help of several strong teammates. There is nothing wrong with having another superstar on the team. That just means the team might be in contention for something. Some franchises, like the Lakers and Celtics, own more than 80 All-NBA appearances for their franchise, while some franchises have not had that luxury.
Last year, the Phoenix Suns had a pair of teammates make the All-NBA squad. This year, the combination of several duos could land on the All-NBA Team together. While some teams have seen a pair of superstars recognized, others have seen a drought muster for several decades. Could that change this season? Some of those teams date back to the 50s. We will take a look at that right now.
This is the last time each franchise had two players make the All-NBA Team at the same time.
Atlanta Hawks – 1959 (Bob Pettit, Cliff Hagan, And Slater Martin)
It’s been a long time since the Hawks had at least two dynamic players on the same roster. It’s been 64 years since two players have made the All-NBA Team together. This season, three members of the team made the All-NBA squad. The Hawks went 49-23 and owned the No. 1 seed in the Western Division.
Bob Pettit led the way with 29.2 points and 16.4 rebounds. Right behind him was Cliff Hagan, a double-double of his own. Hagan finished with 23.7 points and 10.9 rebounds. Slater Martin made the trifecta with 9.7 points and 4.7 rebounds, but his intangibles brought the media to vote for him as a third member of the All-NBA Team. The Hawks finished their season in the Western Division Finals in a loss to the Lakers.
Boston Celtics – 2008 (Kevin Garnett And Paul Pierce)
In their first season together, the big three lived up to expectations. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen took advantage of being together as they led the squad to an NBA championship over the Lakers. In the regular season, the Celtics won 66 games and took the Atlantic Division.
Allen made a case for the All-NBA Team by averaging 17.4 points and shooting 39.8% from three-point range, but it was Garnett that led the way with an All-NBA First Team. Garnett was also the Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 18.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks. Pierce led the team in scoring with 19.6 points with an additional 6.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. This drought could end this season if Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown keep playing the way they are playing this season.
Brooklyn Nets – 1993 (Derrick Coleman And Drazen Petrovic)
The Nets exceeded expectations this season and were rewarded with two players to make the All-NBA Team. The team finished 43-39 and third in the Atlantic Division. That led to a postseason appearance. The Nets nearly shocked the Cavaliers in the first round but were eventually eliminated in five games.
Petrovic and Coleman each averaged over 20 points per game to carry the Nets offensively. Petrovic averaged 22.3 points and shot an impressive 44.9% from three-point range. For a team that did not shoot the three often, he was the only player to make at least one 3-point field goal each night. Coleman averaged 20.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. This drought could end this season if Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, both of who were named as All-Star Game starters, can stay healthy.
Charlotte Hornets – 1997 (Glen Rice And Anthony Mason)
We are pushing the near three-decade mark of two Hornets players being named All-NBA together. This season remains one of the best in team history. The Hornets finished the season 54-28 but were fourth in a loaded Central Division. The Hornets qualified for the playoffs but were bounced by the Knicks in a three-game sweep.
Glen Rice made the Second Team in a sensational scoring season. Rice averaged 26.8 points on 47.7% shooting. He scored more than 10 points per game than second-leading scorer Anthony Mason, who averaged 16.2 points and 11.4 rebounds. Mason also contributed 5.7 assists and shot 52.5% from the field. Given the state of the franchise now, it may be over 30 years before we see a pair make the All-NBA Team again.
Chicago Bulls – 1998 (Michael Jordan And Scottie Pippen)
It feels like the Chicago Bulls should have a pair of teammates by now, with Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Jimmy Butler playing together at points in their careers. However, the last time came during the “last dance” when the Bulls captured their sixth NBA championship of the 1990s. With Jordan and Pippen, the Bulls were a dynasty. This season was the final chapter as the Bulls won 62 games to finish first in the NBA Central Division.
Jordan won the final scoring title of his career with 28.7 points. He also averaged 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks. Pippen added 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks. Pippen played in 44 games due to injuries, so making the All-NBA Third Team is somewhat of a shock.
Cleveland Cavaliers – 2015 (LeBron James And Kyrie Irving)
In their first season together, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving took the world by storm. That included 53 wins, a Central Division title, and an appearance in the NBA Finals. James’ homecoming season was spoiled in the Finals, with the Warriors winning it all, but it gave hope for the future of what these two teammates could do together. James made the All-NBA First Team, and Irving made the Third Team.
Both players averaged more than 20 points per game. James led the way with 25.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.7 blocks. Meanwhile, Irving averaged 21.7 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.5 steals. With Donovan Mitchell looking like he will get an All-NBA nod this season, this drought will only end if another player steps up. Evan Mobley or Darius Garland could be that second piece next season.
Dallas Mavericks – 2003 (Dirk Nowitzki And Steve Nash)
The Mavericks won 60 games but did not win the Midwest Division. That didn’t stop voters from giving both Nowitzki and Nash their respect. Nowitzki made the Second Team, while Nash made the Third Team. Their success was on display in the postseason when the team qualified for the Western Conference Finals before falling to the Spurs in six games.
Nowitzki led the team in scoring with 25.1 points and nearly had a double-double. Nowitzki had 9,9 rebounds, as well as 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.0 blocks. Nash was the floor general that finished with 17.7 points and 7.3 assists but nearly had a 50-40-90 season. Nash shot 46.5% from the field, 41.3% from three-point range, and 90.9% from the free throw line. Luka Doncic has made the All-NBA First Team the last three seasons. The only way he will join this group is if the team can find him another star.
Denver Nuggets – Never
The Nuggets have had solid players in the past. That includes dating back to the days of Alex English and Fat Lever. Carmelo Anthony had Allen Iverson and Chauncey Billups, but neither Iverson nor Billups made the All-NBA Team with him. Then, the team had a small drought until Nikola Jokic brought the team back to relevance.
Jokic is the back-to-back MVP but has suffered from teammates having injuries. Jokic will make the First Team this season as he paces history by averaging a triple-double this season. It all comes down to what Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., or Aaron Gordon do the rest of the season. If the Nuggets claim the No. 1 seed, one of these players could make a run at the Third Team to make this a first for the franchise.
Detroit Pistons – 2006 (Ben Wallace And Chauncey Billups)
It was the perfect combination of offense and defense. However, Billups was a great defender in his day, so maybe one way leaned toward the other. Either way, the Pistons dynasty was in full swing as the Pistons won 64-18 and captured a Central Division crown with these two players leading the way. Both made the All-NBA Second Team. The season ended with a thrilling series against the Heat in the Conference Finals.
Billups was the team’s floor general with 18.5 points and 8.6 assists. Meanwhile, Wallace averaged 7.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game. He remained a top defensive player in the league. Richard Hamilton led the team in scoring with 20.1 points per game, but voters knew these two players were the backbone of the Pistons.
Golden State Warriors – 2019 (Stephen Curry And Kevin Durant)
When you have four All-Star caliber players on the roster, it makes it easier to make the All-NBA Team. The Warriors were coming off of back-to-back NBA championships with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green all on the same roster. This season, Curry made the All-NBA First Team, and Durant made the Second Team. The Warriors won the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and made an appearance in the NBA Finals.
Both Curry and Durant paced the team in scoring, which featured three players averaging at least 20.0 points per game. Curry led the team in scoring with 27.3 points, as well as 5.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.3 steals. Curry also made a push for 50-40-90 by shooting 47.2% from the field, 43.7% from three-point range, and 91.6% from the free-throw line. Durant added 26.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.1 blocks. Thompson averaged 21.5 points and shot 40.2 % from three-point range but missed the cut.
Indiana Pacers – 2004 (Jermaine O’Neal And Ron Artest)
In the last 20 years, the Pacers have seen Paul George, David West, and Roy Hibbert nearly lead the team back to the NBA Finals, but it was George being named All-NBA. The last pair of teammates was O’Neal and Artest. O’Neal was named to the Second Team. Artest was named Defensive Player of the Year but was dropped to the Third Team. The Pacers won 61 games during the regular season to clinch the Central Division and made a run to the Conference Finals.
O’Neal led the team in scoring with a double-double of 20.1 points and 10.0 rebounds. Artest added 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game. Both players played for over 35 minutes each night. The combination helped make this Pacers team a tough team to score against, as opponents averaged 85.6 points per game against them.
Houston Rockets – 2020 (James Harden And Russell Westbrook)
The reunion of Harden and Westbrook was a first since their days in Oklahoma City. Both remained premier players during the COVID-19-shortened season. The team finished fourth in the West and went 44-28. Harden won his third consecutive scoring title to help vault him to All-NBA First Team, while Westbrook’s line had him on the Third Team. The Lakers eliminated the Rockets in the second round.
Harden averaged 34.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game. Harden paced the league in free-throw shooting by making 10.2 out of 11.8 free throws, capitalizing on 86.5% of his opportunities. As for Westbrook, he contributed 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.6 steals. The two players helped pace an offense that ranked second in the league. The next pair of Houston teammates will hopefully be from their youthful draft picks.
Los Angeles Clippers – 2021 (Kawhi Leonard And Paul George)
When healthy, the combination of Leonard and George showed the world what they were capable of doing. The two teammates led the Clippers to an appearance in the Conference Finals before Leonard’s ACL injury ended the dream of making the NBA Finals. In the regular season, the Clippers finished with a 47-25 record and the No. 4 seed in the West. Leonard made the First Team, and George made the Third Team.
Both players played similar basketball. Leonard led the team in scoring with 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 steals, and shot 88.5% from the free-throw line. George averaged 23.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and shot 86.8% from the free throw line. Both players played 52 and 54 games, respectively, so some could argue that their place on the list was with a limited sample size. Fans are feeling that now as both players struggled to stay on the court together healthy.
Los Angeles Lakers – 2020 (LeBron James And Anthony Davis)
A pair of First Team selections and a championship? That seems like a pretty easy recipe to make a championship season. That is exactly what happened in the first season of LeBron and AD together. Both finished the season All-NBA First Team. In a season that dealt with the death of Kobe Bryant and a new head coach in Frank Vogel, it was a dream season for fans.
The Lakers won the No. 1 seed in the West with 52 wins. The Lakers were also a top defensive team anchored by DPOY runner-up Davis. In addition, Davis led the team in scoring with 26.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and added 2.3 blocks. Meanwhile, James led the league in assists with 10.2. He also contributed 25.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. Both players remain on the roster and could make an appearance again if they can lead the Lakers back to playoff contention.
Memphis Grizzlies – Never
The Grizzlies have just three players in franchise history that have ever made the All-NBA. That is Ja Morant, Marc Gasol, and Zach Randolph. Gasol is the only player to make the All-NBA First Team. That could change after this season if Morant continues.
The 2012-13 season was a season that featured both Gasol and Randolph. Gasol was the Defensive Player of the Year. The team finished the playoffs in the Conference Finals. Mike Conley Jr. might have been deserving, but that is another debate for another day.
Miami Heat – 2013 (LeBron James And Dwyane Wade)
The Heat had three All-NBA caliber players on the same roster for four years. However, the 2013-14 season did not see a pair of teammates make the All-NBA Team. That was the year before when the Heat won 66 games and rose to the top of the Eastern Conference. Both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were synonymous with each other. They fed off each other and made each other better. Wade took a step back and could have easily been a First Team member, but he let James shine as he finished the year on the Third Team.
Both players scored over 20.0 points per game during the season. James averaged 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.9 blocks on route to winning the MVP Award. Wade averaged 21.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. The Heat capped off the perfect season by winning the NBA championship. With Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo playing well, we will see if they can finish the season well enough to be a pair of All-NBA teammates.
Milwaukee Bucks – 1985 (Terry Cummings And Sidney Moncrief)
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton are the foundational pieces of leading Milwaukee to the championship. Giannis has been an All-NBA First Team selection several times, but Middleton’s ceiling has been making the All-Star Game. It feels like it should be a matter of time before Middleton gets one All-NBA nod when he is healthy for a season.
The last time this happened was 38 years ago when both Cummings and Moncrief made the Second Team. The Bucks won 59 games to capture the Central Division. Cummings led the way with 23.6 points, 9.1 rebounds and shot 49.5% from the field. Moncrief added 21.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 steals.
Minnesota Timberwolves – 2018 (Jimmy Butler And Karl-Anthony Towns)
The Timberwolves made a splash during the offseason by trading Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and draft rights to Lauri Markkanen for Jimmy Butler with the Bulls. That led to Butler teaming up with Towns and Andrew Wiggins. The big three helped the Timberwolves capture the No. 8 seed in the West, qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2004 at the time. Butler and Towns were rewarded with Third Team appearances for their efforts.
Butler had a sensational first season in Minnesota. Butler averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. The Twins added 21.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks. Towns also shot 42.1% from three-point range. The playoffs were a huge deal for Minnesota, and both players deserved plenty of praise. Many believed that Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert would join Towns this season, but the team has battled health issues all season.
New Orleans Pelicans – Never
The Pelicans have never had two players make All-NBA at the same time. The team has been fortunate to see Anthony Davis, Chris Paul, Baron Davis, and Jamal Mashburn make an All-NBA Team since coming into the league in 2002. That’s the issue, though. It was always one superstar and never two.
Zion Williamson could be in a similar position if he can stay healthy for an entire season. Brandon Ingram keeps showing promise and owns an All-Star appearance. These two players are the team’s best chances unless C.J. McCollum finally breaks his All-NBA curse.
New York Knicks – 2012 (Carmelo Anthony And Tyson Chandler)
The lockout-shortened season saw a successful season for the Knicks. The team finished 36-30 and second in the Atlantic Division. The Knicks relied on the offense and defense of these two-star players. After winning an NBA championship with the Mavericks, Chandler joined New York and won the Defensive Player of the Year Award. With 11.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks, Chandler made the Third Team. Anthony joined him on the Third team with 22.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.1 steals.
Outside of Anthony and Julius Randle, the team has not had many superstar players on the team in the last 10 years. The new big-money addition of Jalen Brunson and solid starter RJ Barrett is likely the best shot at joining Randle on an All-NBA Team one day. Unless the Knicks bring another superstar to town, this drought will continue.
Oklahoma City Thunder – 2019 (Paul George And Russell Westbrook)
For several years, the Thunder were fortunate to have multiple stars on the All-NBA Team. Kevin Durant and Westbrook were normally on the list together. However, Durant left the team in 2016. The newest star in town was George when he was acquired from the Pacers. The duo led the Thunder to a 49-33 record and the No. 6 seed in the West. George was an MVP candidate this season as well, on his way to making the First Team.
George averaged 28.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.2 steals. Unfortunately, his season will always be remembered for having the game-winning shot by Damian Lillard shot over him in the first round of the playoffs. Westbrook made the Third Team after averaging a triple-double of 22.9 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 10.7 assists. Again, a triple-double average during the season was only good enough for the Third Team.
Orlando Magic – 1996 (Penny Hardaway And Shaquille O’Neal)
For years, Dwight Howard was a one-man wrecking crew. A second superstar was never on the team during his prime years. You have to go back to 27 years ago when a young Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway made the All-NBA team together. The Magic won 60 games to claim the Atlantic Division and made a run to the Conference Finals.
Hardaway made the First Team after averaging 21.7 points, 7.1 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. O’Neal made the Third Team after dealing with injuries. He was limited to 54 games but averaged 26.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks. Had O’Neal stayed healthy, the Magic might have had two All-NBA First Team players on the same team.
Philadelphia 76ers – 2002 (Allen Iverson And Dikembe Mutombo)
The 76ers have seen both Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons make an All-NBA Team but not at the same time. One season after making the NBA Finals, the 76ers dropped to a fourth-place finish in the Atlantic Division and owned a 43-39 record. Regardless, the league felt that the team’s two-star players were worthy of an All-NBA nod. It made up for a frustrating season, which featured a first-round playoff loss to the Celtics.
Iverson, fresh off winning an MVP Award in 2001, led the league in scoring with 31.4 points per game. In addition to 5.5 assists and 2.8 steals, Iverson was named to the Second Team. Mutombo made the Third Team after a strong double-double season of 1.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks. For playing consistent defense all year long, Mutombo’s name was considered at great lengths. Maybe this year, Embiid and James Harden will break the 20-year-old dry spell.
Phoenix Suns – 2022 (Devin Booker And Chris Paul)
The most recent team to have a pair of All-NBA teammates was the Phoenix Suns. Last year, the Suns won the most games in the NBA with a 64-18 record. It made up for a frustrating end to the season when the Suns lost to the Mavericks in a seven-game series in the second round.
Devin Booker was named All-First Team after averaging 26.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Feeding him the ball was the leader in assists for the NBA in Paul. The 36-year-old averaged 14.7 points and 10.8 assists to cap off the double-double season to make the Third Team. Both remain with the Suns, but injuries could hamper a repeat selection.
Portland Trail Blazers – 2014 (LaMarcus Aldridge And Damian Lillard)
A successful offense was led by two-star players Aldridge and Lillard. The two led the team’s offense to the fourth-best scoring mark in the league. It led to both players being selected for the Third Team. The season ended in the second round of the playoffs after a 54-28 record in the regular season, which featured a second-place finish in the Northwest Division.
At the time, Lillard was just a 23-year-old budding star out of Weber State. Lillard averaged 20.7 points, 5.6 assists, and shot 39.4% from three-point range. The Lillard range we see today might not have been what it is now, but it was getting there. As for Aldridge, he averaged a double-double of 23.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game.
Sacramento Kings – 1968 (Jerry Lucas And Oscar Robertson)
If you want to be technical, a pair of Kings teammates have never made the All-NBA Team. DeMarcus Cousins, Chris Weber, and Peja Stojakovic are the recent players to get a nod in the last few decades, but you have to go back to when the franchise was named the Cincinnati Royals. Even more wild is that this particular team finished 39-43 and missed the playoffs.
However, both Lucas and Robertson made the First Team. Robertson led the team in scoring with 29.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 9.7 assists. It’s hard to keep a player nearly averaging a double-double off the All-NBA Team during this period. That is why Lucas, who averaged 21.5 points and 19.0 rebounds, was an easy win despite the team’s overall success.
San Antonio Spurs – 2016 (Kawhi Leonard And LaMarcus Aldridge)
Up to date, this is the best season from the Spurs we have seen in recent years. In Tim Duncan’s final season, the Spurs won 67 games and had the best defensive rating in the league. However, Duncan, a multi-All-NBA player himself, didn’t make the cut. That went to Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard and his running mate LaMarcus Aldridge.
Leonard averaged 21.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. He also made a push for the 50-40-90 club by shooting 50.6% from the field, 44.3% from three-point range, and 87.4% from the free-throw line. That landed Leonard on the First Team. Aldridge made the Third Team after averaging 18.0 points, 8.5 pounds, and 1.1 blocks.
Toronto Raptors – Never
The Raptors own nine All-NBA selections in team history. Their most recent was Pascal Siakam in 2022. Kawhi Leonard made an All-NBA nod in 2019, but Kyle Lowry did not. Lowry owns an All-NBA selection, as does his former teammate DeMar DeRozan. However, the superstars never were on the same superstar timeline.
The best chance came between 2015 and 2017 when the Raptors were a rising franchise. Instead, the voters chose either Lowry or DeRozan. You can go back even further to Chris Bosh and Vince Carter, but those players were one-man shows on their teams as well.
Utah Jazz – 2008 (Deron Williams And Carlos Boozer)
The new regime of Williams and Boozer made the transition from Karl Malone and John Stockton smoother. With both players getting All-NBA nods this season, it brought back flashbacks to the days of the 90s for sure. The Jazz won the Northwest Division with a 54-28 record and pushed the Lakers to six games in the semifinals. The point guard, power forward combo was exactly what it was back in the day.
Williams made the Second Team after averaging a double-double of 18.8 points and 10.5 assists. Boozer added a double-double himself of 21.1 points and 10.4 rebounds. Surprisingly, it’s been 15 years since a pair of teammates made it since Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell led a string of success together. Similar to the Raptors, the media often picked one or the other.
Washington Wizards – 1979 (Elvin Hayes And Bob Dandridge)
Despite having John Wall and Bradley Beal in a backcourt together, the Wizards have gone 44 years since a pair of teammates made the All-NBA Team together. This was also the last time the Wizards made the NBA Finals. The team won the Atlantic Division with a 54-28 record and had the second-best offensive rating in the league. After winning the Finals in 1978, the team made it back but was defeated by the SuperSonics.
Hayes made the First Team with 21.8 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. He was joined by fellow 20-point scorer Bob Dandridge who averaged 20.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. Wes Unseld has not been named an All-NBA selection but averaged a strong double-double of 10.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks. With Beal remaining on the roster and the addition of Kristaps Porzingis, the vision is that these two would be All-NBA players, but the team is struggling to play .500 basketball.
Source: fadeawayworld
