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.