The NBA regular season is coming to an end and its time to determine who should get the prestigious awards. One of the most prestigious awards that a player can receive is being named to one of the All-NBA teams.

There are three position-less teams, these are the 15 best players in the NBA, who played at least 65 games that season. What makes a player a top 15 guy in the league?

The Real Deal Criteria for All-NBA

There are so many great players in the NBA, who will put up great stats. Do those stats lead to wins for their team? As a watcher, do you “feel” that player’s impact on the game? Does the opposing team have to game plan for this player? The answer for these questions should be yes when describing an All-NBA player.

All-NBA First Team

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – SGA is leading the league in scoring, averaging 33 points, along with 6.4 assists and 5 rebounds per game, while shooting 52% from the floor. He is also one of the best defenders in the league and his impact on winning smacks you in the face. He has led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the best record in the NBA. They are currently 14.5 games ahead of the second seed in the west.

Nikola Jokic – The Joker is putting up laughable numbers this season. He is averaging a triple-double this season, putting up 29.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game, while shooting 57% from the floor and 41% from three point range for the three seed in the western conference.

Giannis Antetokounmpo – The Greek Freak continues to put up numbers that are most valuable player worthy. This year, he won’t win the MVP award as Nikola Jokic and SGA are having better seasons but Giannis’ impact should not be overlooked. He is averaging 30.2 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, while shooting 60% from the floor.

Jayson Tatum – Jayson Tatum’s consistency is under appreciated, in my opinion. He is one of the best all-around players in the NBA. Tatum is averaging 27.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, while shooting 45% from the floor and 35% from three point range for the second seed Boston Celtics.

Donovan Mitchell – The Cleveland Cavaliers have led the race for the one seed in the eastern conference the entire season. They are a complete team filled with impact players but the best of that bunch is Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell is averaging 24 points and 5 assists per game, while shooting 44% from the floor and 36% from three point range.

All-NBA Second Team

Cade Cunningham – One of the best stories in the NBA this season has been the emergence of the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons have made one of the biggest improvements from one season to the next in NBA history. The biggest force behind that improvement is Cade Cunningham. Cunningham has led Detroit to the five seed in the east by averaging 25.7 points, 9.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 46% from the floor and 35% from three.

Anthony Edwards – There are a lot of media members who believe that Anthony Edwards should be the “face of the NBA”. You don’t get to be a part of those conversations without being an absolute baller. Edwards is much more than some cool poster dunks, funny quotes, and cool signature shoes.

He is a great on-ball defender and one of the most versatile offensive players in the league. The Minnesota Timberwolves may be in line to upset one of the top seeds in the playoffs behind the play of Edwards. Edwards is averaging 27.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.

Evan Mobley – Evan Mobley’s improvement as an offensive player is one of the biggest reasons the Cleveland Cavaliers are viewed as a top championship contender this season. Mobley is in the running for defensive player of the year while also averaging 18.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 56% from the floor and 37% from three.

LeBron James – LeBron James may be the first athlete to be in a beef with Fathertime. No one has been this good for this long. The Los Angeles Lakers have the look of a dark horse title contender behind the play of James and Luka Doncic. The Chosen One is averaging 24.4 points, 8.4 assists, and 8.1 rebounds per game.

Karl-Anthony Towns – The New York Knicks have been in the third slot in the eastern conference standings for months on end. That success is largely due to the play of KAT. Towns is averaging 24.3 points and 12.8 rebounds while shooting 52% from the floor and 42% from three.

*Jalen Brunson – Jalen Brunson is having an amazing season but right now sits at 61 games played. He is currently out with a sprained ankle. Brunson needs to play at least four more games to qualify for All-NBA. If he is able to come back and play four games, he will replace Anthony Edwards on my second team.

All-NBA Third Team

Darius Garland – The Cleveland Cavaliers are heavily represented here. Its because Mitchell, Mobley, and Darius Garland have all had All-NBA level impacts on the Cavs this season. Garland is averaging 20.6 points per game, 6.7 assists per game, shooting 47% from the floor and 40% from three point range.

Steph Curry – Steph Curry continues to add to his legacy with his relentless consistency. This year the Golden State Warriors put themselves back into title contention with the acquisition of Jimmy Butler. Curry has been so good with the addition of Butler. This season the Davidson alum is averaging 24 points and 6 assists per game while shooting 44% from the floor and 39% from three.

Jalen Williams – The Oklahoma City Thunder have been the best team in the NBA this season and SGA can’t do it all by himself. Jalen Williams has been an amazing number two for OKC. He is one of the most versatile defenders in the NBA with his ability to stay in front of guards and battle with big men.

Williams is also a very good offensive player. He is averaging 21.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 48% from the field.

Jaren Jackson Jr. – Memphis is currently the five seed in the western conference with Jaren Jackson Jr. as their best player. Jackson is averaging 22.4 points and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 49% from the floor and 38% from three point range.

Alperen Sengun – The best story in the western conference this season has been the Houston Rockets. Houston is currently the two seed in a loaded conference. They are led by their defense and at times their offense can struggle. The most consistent part of their offense that has kept them is games is Alperen Sengun. Sengun is averaging 19.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, and five assists per game while shooting 49% from the floor.

*Kevin Durant – The Phoenix Suns have been an absolute embarrassment this year. This is not Kevin Durant’s fault though. Durant is having another amazing individual season, averaging 26.6 points, six rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 52% from the floor and 43% from three.

Durant has played 62 games and will miss at least a week with a sprained ankle. It makes no sense for him to come back, if the Suns fall further back of the ten seed and can’t qualify for the play-in tournament. It’s likely that he won’t qualify for All-NBA and that opened up a spot for Jalen Williams for me.

Do you agree with my selections? If not, please let me know what selections you disagree with.