All-NBA First Team History
Since the 1976 ABA-NBA merger, the All-NBA First Team has crowned the five best players of each season. Here's the complete reference: career leaders, the names behind each era, and how today's stars stack up against the all-time list.
Career First Team Leaders
| Player | 1st Team | Total All-NBA |
|---|---|---|
| LeBron James | 13 | 20 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 10 | 15 |
| Karl Malone | 11 | 14 |
| Kobe Bryant | 11 | 15 |
| Tim Duncan | 10 | 15 |
| Larry Bird | 9 | 10 |
| Magic Johnson | 9 | 10 |
| Michael Jordan | 10 | 11 |
| Shaquille O'Neal | 8 | 14 |
| Stephen Curry | 4 | 10 |
- LeBron James: All-time leader. 20 consecutive All-NBA selections — a record likely to stand for decades.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Picked up most of his First Team nods in the late 70s — the skyhook was indefensible.
- Karl Malone: 11 First Team selections without a ring — the most for any non-champion.
- Kobe Bryant: Made his first All-NBA team at 24 and didn't miss a First or Second Team for the next decade.
- Tim Duncan: The most consistent big man of the post-merger era — All-NBA in 14 of his first 15 seasons.
- Larry Bird: Nine straight First Teams from 1980 to 1988. Only injuries stopped the streak.
Era by Era
Late 1970s
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar · Julius Erving · George Gervin
The post-merger era was dominated by holdover ABA stars and Kareem's skyhook. Voting still skewed toward bigs and pure scorers.
1980s
Bird · Magic · Jordan · Malone · Olajuwon
The strongest decade of competition for the five spots. Bird and Magic anchored the forwards and guards for nine years running.
1990s
Jordan · Olajuwon · Malone · Stockton · Robinson
The center spot was a generational logjam — Olajuwon, Robinson, Shaq, Ewing, and Mourning all peaked in the same decade.
2000s
Duncan · Shaq · Kobe · Garnett · Nash
A balanced decade — point guard finally won serious First Team consideration after years of Stockton being squeezed out.
2010s
LeBron · Durant · Curry · Harden · Davis
LeBron made every First Team from 2010 to 2018. The decade saw the rise of three-point shooting and positionless lineups.
2020s
Jokić · Antetokounmpo · Dončić · Tatum · Curry
A new generation of international stars dominates the front court while Curry and LeBron extend their careers into the new format.
How All-NBA voting works
- A panel of media voters picks three teams of five each season — First, Second, and Third.
- Since 2023–24, the format is positionless: voters pick the five best players overall, regardless of position.
- Before that, the format locked in two guards, two forwards, and one center per team — which is why some elite bigs got squeezed in the 90s.
- A First Team selection is one of the most durable individual honors in the sport — every modern Hall of Famer has at least one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the most All-NBA First Team selections of all time?
LeBron James leads with 13 All-NBA First Team selections and 20 total All-NBA nods — both records in the post-merger era. Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant are tied for second with 11 First Team picks each.
When did the All-NBA First Team start?
The All-NBA Team has been selected every season since 1946–47. The modern post-merger era began in 1976 when the ABA and NBA combined, which is the starting point most historical comparisons use today.
How is the All-NBA First Team voted?
A global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters votes after the regular season. Since 2023–24 the format is positionless: voters pick the five best players overall. Before that, ballots required two guards, two forwards, and one center.
Has any player made every All-NBA First Team in their career?
Michael Jordan came closest — 10 First Team selections in 11 full seasons. LeBron James made 13 consecutive First Teams from 2006 to 2018, the longest streak in NBA history.
Frequently asked questions
How is the All-NBA First Team chosen?
A global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters votes on All-NBA teams at the end of each regular season. The First Team is five players, voted positionally through 2023 and positionless from 2024 onward.
Who has the most All-NBA First Team selections?
LeBron James leads all players with 13 First Team selections, ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10), Kobe Bryant (11), Karl Malone (11), and Tim Duncan (10).
Does All-NBA First Team status matter for max contracts?
Yes — under the current CBA, All-NBA First Team selections trigger super-max contract eligibility for veteran players, which materially changes franchise cap planning.
Do First Team selections age well?
Mostly. Era-adjusted, a First Team nod usually correlates with a top-3 player at the position that year — but voting fatigue can punish dynasties, so a player's true peak sometimes shows up on the Second Team.