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It might be purely coincidental that the All-NBA First Team for the 2017-18 season consisted of the five players(Anthony Davis, LeBron James, James Harden, Damian Lillard & Kevin Durant) that are currently leading the league in points per game. James Harden(30.0) is leading, followed by Durant(28.8), LeBron(28.3), Anthony Davis(27.4) & Dame(27.2).
That sure puts a stamp on the authenticity of the team selected last year. But what if we are to predict the All-NBA First team for the ongoing 2018-19 season?
The All-NBA First team never fails to leave behind a long list of potential snubs who deserved to be on it, owing heavily to the fact that there are just 5 spots. The ultimate group consists the best of the best the NBA had on offer in that particular season, with the worthy and honorable mentions following in the consolation All-NBA Second & Third teams subsequently.
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With the season well ahead of the quarter mark, it's time to turn in some early predictions for the All-NBA First Team this year, looking at the way things stand right now.
#1 Giannis Antetokounmpo(Small Forward)
Giannis is playing with an intensity that is just scary to see. His ability to dominate at fast speeds, being a near-7-footer has made him an unstoppable force.
He has reinforced his arsenal of moves during the offseason and is basically, capable of pulling off any move he wants on the opposition, anywhere on the floor, along with finishing strong at the rim. The former 'Most Improved Player'(2017) has gained 62 pounds since the day he joined the NBA and boy, has he put that extra weight to good work!
His length coupled with elite quickness on the court has played a meteoric role in getting Milwaukee to the very top(just below the Raptors) of the East in such quick time this season. The Greek Freak is averaging a convincing double-double of 26.5 points and 13.3 rebounds per game, along with a career-high average of 6.0 assists.
Currently, in his sixth season in the league, he is already a 2-time All-star and was named in the All-NBA Second Team in 2017 as well as 2018.
#2 James Harden(Shooting Guard)
The Beard put up insane numbers during his redemption season last year following claims that he was stripped off the MVP award which was eventually bestowed on Westbrook. He bounced back to record another career year and this time, win the Most Valuable Player award without any second thoughts on anyone's mind.
From an individual standpoint, he has been matching his MVP numbers from last year, averaging 30.0 points(league leader) and 8.3 assists per game(fourth best in the league), but things do not look good for his team as of this moment, as they find themselves grazing the bottom of the West in the standings.
Also, to make matters worse for the opponents, he is shooting a near-career-high 37% from beyond the arc and has dropped the most threes(91, tied with Steph Curry) across the league this season up till this point.
Harden has been an All-Star for the past six seasons continuously and on the All-NBA First team for four out of the last five seasons. This year seems no different.
#3 Kawhi Leonard(Point Guard)
After playing just 9 games last season, The Claw has found his true self again this season, this time, with the Toronto Raptors. The 2-time All-Star found himself in an insurmountable hole last year with the Spurs and the only way out was to find refuge in another city.
He has been averaging a career-high in both points per game(26.1) and rebounds per game(8.3), showing he can be the best player on any given roster he is put in, with ease. Coach Nick Nurse has really helped in facilitating his two-way game as he now averages 1.9 steals per game which is the 6th best in the league right now.
The Raptors topped the East standings for the 2017-18 season but were beaten at the hands of LeBron & his Cavaliers in the postseason. Kawhi is clearly the answer Masai Ujiri had been searching for all this while, in the process of which he fired the head coach and traded the face of the franchise.
They are by far the best team in the East again this year, with a former Finals MVP looking in good shape to lead them deeper into the playoffs than their previous trips.
#4 Anthony Davis(Center)
AD was one of the three finalists for the coveted MVP award during the 2017-18 season, but failed to get the gold by a sliver of a margin.
A 5-time All-Star at just 25 years of age, Davis is having another MVP-candidate season carrying forward from where he left off. And to put things into perspective regarding his unbelievable improvement, the man is averaging better than last year in rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game.
His current average of 27.4 points per game is the 4th best in the league, and with a rebound average of 12.2 per game, he is one of the few elite scorers in the league to be averaging a double-double on the season.
He has been earning himself a spot on the All-NBA First team for the past two seasons consecutively, and the way he is man-handling the league at this point in all aspects of the game, there's no stopping what he can be in the near future. Especially when megastars like LeBron & Durant exit the spotlight.
#5 LeBron James(Power Forward)
While most players from his '03 draft class(shout out to D-Wade) are riding off into the sunset, LeBron shows no signs of slowing down, let alone stopping. He is actively taking part in his 16th season in the league, having won the title thrice, being named a regular season MVP four times and having earned a spot in the All-NBA First team for a record 12 instances during his illustrious career, which is far from its conclusion.
His latest chapter with the LA Lakers was jolted to begin with, but having seen almost everything in the league by now, this proved to be just a minor glitch in the path of bigger legacy for The King. He came through strongly, and is averaging 28.3 points per game(3rd best in the league behind Durant & Harden), his highest since 2010.
What makes LeBron a lock for the All-NBA first team is the fact that, by the time the dust settles, he'd have capitalised big time on the groove he has fabricated with the young core in purple-n-gold.
