Making an All-NBA Team is an honor for NBA players because only 15 stars per year can manage to be selected. The format was historically 2 guards, 2 forwards, and a center, but that has been changed to simply frontcourt and backcourt players to accommodate the amount of versatility that stars show in the modern game.
- All-NBA Third Team
- Reggie Miller
- Mitch Richmond
- Scottie Pippen
- Glen Rice
- Dikembe Mutombo
- All-NBA Second Team
- Rod Strickland
- Tim Hardaway
- Grant Hill
- Vin Baker
- David Robinson
- All-NBA First Team
- Gary Payton
- Michael Jordan
- Karl Malone
- Tim Duncan
- Shaquille O’Neal
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But one of the most interesting seasons in NBA history with regards to All-NBA Teams has to come in the 1997-1998 season. We saw a ton of Hall of Fame players make All-NBA Teams, and only a select few were able to make the iconic team. Without further ado, here are all 3 All-NBA Teams during the 1998 season:
All-NBA Third Team
Reggie Miller
19.5 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.1 BPG
One of the most clutch players in NBA history, Reggie Miller, was at his clutch-shooting best during the 1998 season. This was the last season that Reggie averaged at least 19 PPG, and he did it while nailing 42.9% of his three-pointers. Leading the Indiana Pacers to a 58-24 record, which was good for 2nd in the Eastern Conference. Of course, Reggie was the star for a Pacers team that lost in 7 games to the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Mitch Richmond
23.2 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG
One of the premier scorers of his era, Mitch Richmond, is an excellent outside shooter and a consistent offensive player with a silky smooth touch. Even if his team did not perform well during the regular season, Richmond was very effective, with his scoring at 44.5% from the field and 38.9% from three. Getting to the foul line at least 3 times per game, Mitch also nailed 86.4% of his foul shots.
Scottie Pippen
19.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Scottie Pippen failed to make his 7th straight All-Star Team during the 1998 season, despite putting up strong all-around numbers and helping Michael Jordan lead the Bulls to the best record in the Eastern Conference. As one of the best defensive players in the game, Pippen was the sidekick to MJ as the team won its 6th championship through the second 3-peat. Due to his success, Scottie was an easy choice for an All-NBA Team selection.
Glen Rice
22.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Making his third straight All-Star Team, Glen Rice was arguably the best all-around player for the Charlotte Hornets in 1998. The 6’8” small forward averaged 22.3 PPG on a scintillating 43.3% shooting from three and 84.9% from the stripe. Rice was the best shooter on the Hornets team that finished with a 51-31 record, which was good for 4th in the East. Unfortunately, Rice and the Hornets ran into Jordan and the Bulls in the second round of the playoffs.
Dikembe Mutombo
13.4 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.4 SPG, 3.4 BPG
The most dominant shot-blocker in the league, Dikembe Mutombo, averaged over 3 BPG while continuing his All-Star form as soon as he arrived at the Atlanta Hawks from the Denver Nuggets. Mutombo was simply an enforcer for his team, defending the rim with force and also taking up space in the paint. Thanks to Mutombo’s defensive leadership, the Hawks finished with a strong 50-32 record but eventually lost in the first round to the Charlotte Hornets.
All-NBA Second Team
Rod Strickland
17.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 10.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Rod Strickland was a very popular player during his time, and he had his best season in 1998 by leading the league in assists. The talented 6’3” point guard was spectacular for the Washington Wizards, averaging a monster double-double on 43.4% shooting from the field. Armed with dribble moves and elite offensive IQ, “Hot Rod” Strickland was simply sensational as Washington finished above .500 but still barely missed the playoffs.
Tim Hardaway
18.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 8.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG
One of the greatest dribblers of all time, Tim Hardaway made his second straight All-Star Team with the Miami Heat as the team finished 3rd in the Eastern Conference. The 1998 season would also mark his 5th total All-Star selection, and he did it in an exciting fashion. Miami went as Hardaway went, as he was absolutely critical on the offensive end for his squad. Unfortunately for Hardaway and the Heat, the New York Knicks ended their playoff run in 5 games.
Grant Hill
21.1 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 6.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.7 BPG
One of the most talented wings in NBA history, Grant Hill made his 4th straight All-Star Team with the Detroit Pistons. After winning Rookie of the Year and bursting onto the scene as an All-Star, Hill was his usual dominant self by producing elite all-around numbers. Detroit was not a winning team just yet, but Hill was showing glimpses of becoming the next-best player in the world after Michael Jordan ran off into the sunset. Of course, injuries greatly derailed Hill’s career.
Vin Baker
19.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.0 BPG
A 6’11” big man who would make his 4th straight All-Star Team, his first selection came with the Seattle SuperSonics. Paired with superstar Gary Payton, Baker was critical to a SuperSonics team that finished with an excellent 61-21 record in the West. That record was good for second in the West, but Baker was unable to help Seattle get past the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the playoffs.
David Robinson
21.6 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 2.6 BPG
The Admiral, David Robinson, made his 8th All-Star Team with the San Antonio Spurs at age 32. The big man was still one of the most dominant players in the league, putting up a monster double-double with elite defensive numbers. Robinson led San Antonio to a 56-26 record and eventually made it to the second round of the playoffs. But Robinson and company fell to Karl Malone and the Utah Jazz, not taking away from the Spurs’ franchise player’s incredible regular season.
All-NBA First Team
Gary Payton
19.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 8.3 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG
The Glove, Gary Payton, formed an incredible duo with big man, Vin Baker in Seattle. A competitive guard with a high basketball IQ, Gary Payton, played all 82 games at 38.4 MPG at a star level on both ends of the floor. Seattle finished with the second-best record in the league, and there was no doubt who the premier point guard in the game was. Losing to the Lakers in the second round is nothing to be ashamed about, and Payton was easily a First Team performer.
Michael Jordan
28.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG
The greatest player of all time was still the best player in the world during the 1998 season. The superstar shooting guard was fresh off his 5th NBA championship and 9th straight scoring title, turning that into his 6th title and 10th scoring title in 1998. MJ was not only the best scorer in the world, but possibly the most dominant defensive guard in the game alongside Gary Payton. The 1998 season was the last one where Jordan was the best player in the world, and he capped it with an MVP award.
Karl Malone
27.0 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.9 BPG
The Mailman once again had an incredible season for the Utah Jazz, making his 11th All-Star Team as the best power forward in the game. With the arrival of Tim Duncan in San Antonio, Malone knew he had some competition, but was still the king of his spot. Malone put up 27.0 PPG and 10.3 RPG on 53.0% shooting from the field, guiding Utah to the best record in the East and also making the NBA Finals in a losing effort to the Bulls.
Tim Duncan
21.1 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.7 SPG, 2.5 BPG
Rookie of the Year Tim Duncan was sensational as soon as he arrived in the league, making All-NBA First Team and somehow usurping veteran David Robinson as the most talented player on the San Antonio Spurs. A dominant defensive power forward with an incredibly high basketball IQ, Duncan was shockingly great as he made the All-Star Team by playing all 82 games. The future would be bright in San Antonio, even if the squad was not ready to defeat Malone and the Jazz in the second round of the playoffs.
Shaquille O’Neal
28.3 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 2.4 BPG
The most dominant physical specimen in the game, Shaquille O’Neal, was beginning his reign in the league with the Lakers. The center put up monster numbers across the board, carrying the Lakers to a 61-21 record despite falling in the Western Conference Finals to the Utah Jazz. Alongside 19-year-old Kobe Bryant, who made his first All-Star Team, O’Neal would soon have enough help to start dominating the league. But in 1998, there was no doubt that Shaq was the best center in the game by a wide margin.
