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  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama headline 2025–26 All-NBA First Team

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama headline 2025–26 All-NBA First Team

    The National Basketball Association (NBA) officially concluded its 2025–26 season awards cycle on Monday, May 25 (Philippine Standard Time), unveiling the All-NBA Teams in a release that highlighted both established superstars and rising young talent across the league.

     

    As expected, the All-NBA First Team closely mirrored the results of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) race, with reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander headlining the selections. The Oklahoma City Thunder star earned his fourth consecutive First Team honor, further cementing his status as one of the league’s premier two-way guards and the central figure of his franchise’s continued rise.

     

    Joining him on the First Team is Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokić, who added another accolade to his decorated résumé with his fifth career All-NBA First Team selection. The three-time MVP continued to showcase his unique all-around brilliance throughout the season, anchoring Denver’s offense with elite playmaking, scoring efficiency, and rebounding from the center position.

     

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    San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama also made history, securing his first-ever All-NBA First Team selection. In just his second season, the 7-foot-4 standout solidified his place among the league’s elite, delivering a dominant campaign on both ends of the floor and signaling the Spurs’ long-term return to contention.

     

    Rounding out the First Team selections are Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Dončić and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, both of whom were granted eligibility exceptions by the league after initially falling short of the standard games-played requirement for end-of-season awards due to injury-related absences. Their inclusion reflects the league’s acknowledgment of their impact when healthy, with both players posting standout numbers in limited action.

    Dončić continued to display his signature offensive brilliance, orchestrating the Lakers’ attack with elite scoring and playmaking, while Cunningham emerged as the centerpiece of Detroit’s rebuilding efforts, showcasing improved efficiency, leadership, and versatility before his season was interrupted.

     

    The 2025–26 All-NBA First Team ultimately underscores a blend of established dominance and emerging excellence, with Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokić, and Dončić representing the league’s elite guard-forward core, while Wembanyama and Cunningham highlight the NBA’s next generation of franchise-changing talents.

     

     

    2025-26 All-NBA First Team:

     

    • Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)
    • Luka Doncic (Los Angeles Lakers)
    • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
    • Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
    • Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)

    2025-26 All-NBA Second Team:

     

    • Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
    • Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)
    • Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets)
    • Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers)
    • Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)

    2025-26 All-NBA Third Team:

     

    • Jalen Duran (Detroit Pistons)
    • Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder)
    • Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks)
    • Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers)
    • Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets)

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  • NBA announces end-of-season award finalists for 2026: Star power and rising talent highlight list 

    NBA announces end-of-season award finalists for 2026: Star power and rising talent highlight list 

    The National Basketball Association has officially unveiled the finalists for its 2026 end-of-season awards, with the announcement made early Monday morning, April 20 (Philippine Standard Time). As the regular season draws to a close, the league’s top individual honors are once again at the center of attention, highlighting the standout performers across multiple categories.

     

    As is customary, NBA studio analysts revealed the top three finalists for each major award, including Most Valuable Player (MVP), Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player, Sixth Man of the Year, and Clutch Player of the Year. This year’s list features a compelling mix of established superstars and emerging talents who have made significant impacts throughout the season.

     

    NBA awards finalist list:

     

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    MVP

     

    • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
    • Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
    • Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)

    Defensive Player of the Year 

     

    • Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)
    • Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder)
    • Ausar Thompson (Detroit Pistons)

    Coach of the Year

     

    • Joe Mazzulla (Boston Celtics)
    • J.B. Bickerstaff (Detroit Pistons)
    • Mitch Johnson (San Antonio Spurs)

    Rookie of the Year

     

    • Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)
    • Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets)
    • VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers)

    Sixth Man of the Year

     

    • Keldon Johnson (San Antonio Spurs)
    • Jaime Jaquez (Miami Heat)
    • Tim Hardaway Jr. (Denver Nuggets)

    Clutch Player of the Year

     

    • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
    • Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
    • Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets)

    Notably, the league’s 65-game minimum requirement once again played a major role in determining award eligibility. Several high-profile stars were ruled ineligible for end-of-season honors and All-NBA team consideration after failing to meet the threshold. 

     

     

    Top players ineligible for NBA awards this season:

     

    • LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
    • Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
    • Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
    • Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
    • Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
    • Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
    • Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder)
    • Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)

    However, exceptions were granted in certain cases. Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham were both deemed eligible despite falling short of the 65-game requirement after successfully receiving an Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge exception. Additionally, while Edwards played only 59 games this season, he remained eligible for the Clutch Player of the Year award, as that specific honor does not fall under the same participation rule.

     

    With a diverse pool of finalists and several storylines shaping the race, this year’s NBA awards season promises to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. The winners are expected to be announced during the playoffs, adding further excitement as the league transitions from regular-season accolades to postseason intensity.

     

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  • Nikola Jokic and Jayson Tatum named NBA Players of the Week for Week 23 of the 2025-26 season

    Nikola Jokic and Jayson Tatum named NBA Players of the Week for Week 23 of the 2025-26 season

    As the 2025–26 NBA season enters its decisive stretch, where every possession begins to carry playoff weight, the league’s brightest stars are separating themselves not just through numbers—but through influence, leadership, and timing. Week 23 offered a clear snapshot of that reality, highlighting two superstars who are peaking in very different ways yet driving the same result.


    Against that backdrop, Nikola Jokic and Jayson Tatum have been named the NBA Players of the Week for Week 23 of the 2025–26 season, each delivering performances that could shape the trajectory of their teams heading into the postseason.

     

    Nikola Jokic (Western Conference Player of Week)

     

    The Denver Nuggets are peaking at the right time—and at the center of it all is Nikola Jokic, orchestrating one of the most complete stretches of basketball seen this season.

     

    Rather than simply scoring, Jokic has turned the Nuggets’ offense into a symphony of precision. Over four games, he posted averages of 26.0 points, 17.0 rebounds, and 14.0 assists, recording three triple-doubles and powering Denver to a perfect 4–0 week. His ability to control tempo, initiate offense, and dominate the glass has elevated the Nuggets to a six-game winning streak and a 48–28 record, good for fourth in the Western Conference.

     

    Jokic’s impact goes beyond the stat sheet. He currently ranks among the league leaders in assists despite being a center—a rarity in modern basketball—and continues to redefine the position with his playmaking vision.

     

    This marks another Player of the Week honor in a season that continues to build on Jokic’s already decorated background, which includes multiple awards and a reputation as one of the most versatile big men in NBA history.

     

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    Jayson Tatum (Eastern Conference Player of Week)

     

    In the Eastern Conference, Jayson Tatum had an average of 25.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists, continuing his steady climb back to elite form following an Achilles injury that once cast doubt over his campaign. Boston now sits at 50–25, firmly holding second place in the East and positioning itself as a serious title contender.

     

    Already a multiple-time All-Star and a cornerstone of Boston’s recent deep playoff runs, Tatum’s latest Player of the Week honor signals that he is once again hitting his stride at the most crucial point of the season.

     

    As the regular season winds down, Week 23 offered a glimpse of two MVP-caliber forces operating in different ways—Jokic with surgical brilliance and Tatum with determined evolution.

     

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