The 2016-17 All-NBA team, as selected by league media, was announced Thursday, but not without controversy from top to bottom. LeBron James made the first team for a record-tying 11th time, but the King was shockingly not a unanimous first-team choice.
Joining James on the first team were Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis and James Harden -- this year's only unanimous first-team selection.
Karl-Anthony Towns received two first-team votes, but his 50 votes weren't enough to make the third team. Towns and his former Kentucky teammate, Devin Booker, expressed their displeasure on Twitter.
So we're gonna pretend KAT wasn't suppose to be on any All-NBA?🤔
— Devin Booker (@DevinBook) May 18, 2017
😴
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) May 18, 2017
Draymond Green was equally frustrated about the absence of teammate Klay Thompson (14 votes). Other notable snubs include Chris Paul (49), Marc Gasol (48), DeMarcus Cousins (42) and Paul George (40).
But what do you think about the selections?
Due to a rule under the new collective bargaining agreement, the All-NBA snub was particularly costly to George and the Indiana Pacers.
If George had made one of the three teams, he would have qualified for the new designated player extension, which would mean the Pacers would be more likely to sign him, writes Brian Windhorst. The rule is intended to help teams keep their franchise players, but should media votes help determine players' futures? A few players weighed in.
Craxy how expensive those All-NBA votes were this year 👀 wonder how long the NBA will allow that to be the deciding factor
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) May 18, 2017
Anybody shocked that neither Hayward or Paul George didn't make 3rd team All- NBA? 👀 This Draft and Free Agency just got more interesting
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) May 18, 2017
Now it's your turn to share your opinion. What do you think about the new rule?
On the flip side, Harden and John Wall will benefit from the new rule. They will both become eligible to sign new five-year max contract extensions this summer after making the All-NBA team.
-- John Wilmhoff
