Creating The 3 Best Positionless NBA Teams This Season: Giannis, Embiid, And Jokic Are All In The First Team

The NBA has become a positionless league where each position no longer dictates what a player does on the floor. Rather, players in every position are expected to deliver in multiple facets of the game on both ends of the floor. Gone are the days where guards control the offense, forwards focus on defense, and big men stay in the paint.

Nowadays, we have point guards leading their team in scoring while big men continue to space the floor and venture beyond the confines of the post. Of course, the forward position is constantly delivering the most dominant players in the league as the past few Finals MVPs have all been forwards, from Giannis Antetokounmpo to LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

But still, somehow, the All-NBA Team selection process at the end of the season is based on an older thought process where only one center is selected with two forwards and guards each. While this makes sense considering the bulk of guards and forwards in the league, it often means at least one center is left out of the All-NBA First Team. How can one explain the fact that either Joel Embiid or Nikola Jokic will miss out on 1st Team honors despite being two of the top-five players in the game?

That is why we have created the Positionless All-NBA Teams where all 3 All-NBA Teams will have a combined 15 players of the top-15 in the league regardless of position. That means more than one center can be selected or more than two guards can be selected, for example. Without further ado, here are the 3 All-NBA Teams with a mix of 15 positionless stars to select the best 15 talents in the league.

All-NBA Positionless Third Team

Stephen Curry

25.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.4 BPG

If not for injuries, Stephen Curry would probably be on the Second Team or rivaling for the First Team. There is no doubt that Steph is the best point guard in the game when healthy, and he played enough games (64) to be discovered as a superstar guard. But Curry’s Golden State Warriors team is behind the likes of the Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies which places Steph slightly behind the stars of those teams.

James Harden

22.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 10.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG

James Harden received a lot of criticism this year for forcing his way out of Brooklyn less than two seasons after forcing his way out of Houston, but there is no doubt that The Beard is a superstar player at the top of his position. The shooting guard is still one of the best isolation scorers and passers in the game, and his numbers are certainly worthy of an All-NBA selection.

Jimmy Butler

21.3 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG

The Miami Heat are one of the best teams in the league, and they deserve that their best player makes an All-NBA Team this year. An elite defensive player and vocal leader for a talented group, Jimmy Butler has helped bring the Heat back into title contention. His numbers are solid across the board, and the number one seed makes Butler a valued member of the 3rd Team.

Jayson Tatum

27.1 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Jayson Tatum has been balling all year, and he has given the Boston Celtics life after a poor start to the year. The superstar forward is coming into his own as one of the top players in the world, putting up incredible scoring numbers as the Boston Celtics fight for the second seed in the Eastern Conference.

Kevin Durant

30.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 6.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG

Kevin Durant’s injuries have knocked him out of the MVP race, but it has not stopped the forward from making an All-NBA Team this year. KD is still the best offensive threat in the league, and no player scores as easily as he does in all areas of the floor. The Nets have a poor record, but Durant has been the only one keeping them in a play-in position.

All-NBA Positionless Second Team

Chris Paul

14.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 10.7 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Chris Paul has missed the last few weeks due to injury, but there is no doubt he was one of the best players in the league when healthy. The point guard is simply a fantastic leader, and he has been the man mostly responsible for Phoenix’s rise in the West. With CP3 returning to play by the playoffs, the Suns have a fantastic chance to reach the Finals yet again.

Devin Booker

26.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Alongside Chris Paul, Devin Booker has been one of the best players in the Western Conference as a member of the Phoenix Suns. The shooting guard can score in almost every way, whether it is from the perimeter or around the basket. He is also growing his all-around game as he continues to blast defenders with dribble moves and a sniper of a jumpshot. There is no doubt that Booker is an MVP candidate and an All-NBA Team performer this season.

DeMar DeRozan

28.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 5.0 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Even though the Chicago Bulls are faltering against top-tier opponents during the regular-season, DeMar DeRozan has been a fantastic offensive player in the East. The swingman is playing the best basketball of his career, whether that means scoring the ball in clutch moments or improving the play of others around him. DeMar will be on an All-NBA Team this season and will be a forward for the Positionless All-NBA Second Team.

LeBron James

30.3 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.1 BPG

LeBron James is playing the best basketball of his career on the offensive end, going off against every opponent. James is still an unstoppable force when he attacks the basket at 6’9” and 260 lbs, and still has the athleticism to get up over the rim when necessary. The King has slacked off defensively due to his age, but there is no doubt he is easily a top-10 player in the game at age 37.

Karl-Anthony Towns

24.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.1 BPG

Karl-Anthony Towns looks happy to be playing basketball again after a few seasons of on-court and off-court distractions. The big man has placed his name among the greatest shooting big men ever after winning the 3-Point Contest, and his play for the Minnesota Timberwolves has been inspiring this season. Towns is balling in all areas this year and deserves an All-NBA spot.

All-NBA Positionless First Team

Ja Morant

27.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Ja Morant has been the most exciting player to follow this season because he is the second coming of Allen Iverson in terms of offensive brilliance and elite quickness with the ball. The young man has led the Memphis Grizzlies to a top-2 record in the West, and he has elevated the play of others around him. Even without Morant on the floor, the Grizzlies have an unbelievable 20-2 record. That does not mean that Memphis is better without him, it just means the guard has managed to give the rest of the team hope. Morant could be one of the best players in the world in due time, and this season was just an introduction.

Luka Doncic

28.3 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 8.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG

What Luka Doncic is doing this season is nothing short of incredible, because he is once again leading the Dallas Mavericks into the playoffs while posting monster numbers across the board. Similar to a young LeBron James, Luka Doncic has a natural ability to make others around him better and must be double-teamed when he has the ball. Doncic will soon be the face of the NBA as the young guys start taking over the NBA.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

30.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.4 BPG

Reigning NBA champion Giannis Antetokounmpo has thrust himself into position to win his third MVP after his amazing production over the last few weeks and is arguably the single greatest player in the game today. After all, no player can match up with him in terms of athleticism and all-around impact. The Greek Freak is posting up Hall of Fame numbers this year and will make an All-NBA First Team with ease.

Nikola Jokic

26.6 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 8.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG

Nikola Jokic deserves an All-NBA First Team selection, regardless of position. That is why he is the first name to appear at the center spot, as his numbers and impact for the Denver Nuggets makes him invaluable to his team. Thanks to Nikola and Nikola alone, Denver hold the 5th seed with a chance to be a dark horse in the playoffs once Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr return.

Joel Embiid

30.0 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.4 BPG

Alongside Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid deserves to be on the All-NBA First Team. But only one will make the All-NBA First Team at the end of the year, but both Embiid and Jokic will be on the Positionless Team with ease. There is no doubt that Embiid is a top-5 player in the game today because he can do things on both ends of the floor better than any other center. He might not have the passing or basketball IQ of Jokic, but he is a more complete defender and arguably a better scorer. 

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