“I got Jokic and Embiid… I dare anybody to say I’m wrong about this” Stephen A. Smith chooses his dark horses for the All-NBA team at conclusion of regular season
Stephen A Smith
The NBA regular season has been one of the most interesting ones in recent years. For starters, the expected team to win the title is no more in playoff contention and the groups many thought would fail have come past all expectations. This year was filled with surprises from each conference with the Chicago Bulls making the playoffs and the Minnesota Timberwolves making a massive comeback.
As the seeding games conclude, it is now time to determine who is worthy of being called the ‘player’ of the year. Officials and league associates have all started to place their votes for whom they think deserves to be called the league’s most valuable player, defensive, rookie, most improved, and sixth man of the year as well. Analyst Stephen. A. Smith is one of the active voters among associates of the league and took the opportunity to share his All-NBA team for the season. Take a look at it.
5. Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
Luka Doncic has been a wonder to watch ever since he set foot into this league. The Dallas Maverick has been averaging a near triple-double over the last three seasons inclusive of this year. Despite having a rough start with his team during his first year, Doncic has managed to consistently help his team reach the post-season ever since.
This year, he averages 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game on 45.7% shooting from the field. Stephen. A. Smith particularly feels like he deserves the All-NBA selection after leading his team to the fourth seed in the Western Conference. However, with his recent injury, the Mavs may not have the desired post-season run they had hoped for.
4. Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
Devin Booker is one of the league’s most exciting up and rising players. His skillset embodies the game of the late great Black Mamba (Kobe Bryant) and he also considers the former Laker as his biggest inspiration. Booker and the Phoenix Suns were the biggest surprises out of the West last season reaching the NBA finals but losing in game 6.
During his season, Book managed to lead the team into the playoffs and also helped them reach the top spot in the entire league with 64 wins and 18 losses. The player has emerged as a late honorable inductee of the MVP race after averaging 26.8 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game on 46.6% shooting. He is well on his way to his first-ever All-NBA selection as he was snubbed many times before.
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a two-time league MVP on the hunt to defend and win the second title of his career. The Greek Freak has managed to consistently perform very dominantly over his opponents leading his Milwaukee Bucks team to a potential successful title defense. They are currently the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 51 wins and 31 losses.
Giannis is on his way to even win his third MVP with the odds of +600. He and his team are considered the league’s biggest ‘sleepers’ of the season. He is averaging 29.9 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game on 55.3% shooting from the field. This is arguably his best ever season which features a slight improvement in shooting the ball.
2. Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
When you talk about sheer dominance on the court, Joel Embiid is your frontrunner. Embiid has been putting up MVP-worthy numbers consistently since the start of this season. He has been playing hard for the Philadelphia 76ers leading them to the playoffs almost every year since his return from injuries.
This year he averages 30.6 points,11.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game on 49.9% from the field. He shows that big men in the league are still dominant in nature. His odds are currently stacked at +230 and is most likely going to be named MVP as well. The Sixers finished as the fourth seed in the East with a record of 51 wins and 31 losses.
Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
Nikola Jokic is the reigning and defending league’s most valuable player after leading the Nuggets to the playoffs and putting up 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game last season. Jokic had a very high spurt in numbers and rightfully deserved to be crowned for his on-court excellence. It is hard to understand where the Nuggets would be headed after failing to start with a healthy team.
This year Jokic is averaging his career-best 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game on 58.3% shooting from the field. He single-handedly led the Nuggets to the sixth seed in the West with a record of 48 wins and 34 losses without Jamal Murray and a healthy Michael Porter Jr. Jokic is also a frontrunner for the MVP award with the odds of -300.
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