(USA Today Sports Images)
The National Basketball Association announced the All-NBA teams for the 2015-2016 season. The Los Angeles Clippers had two representatives, just like the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
Center DeAndre Jordan jumped from Third Team in 2014-2015 to First Team in 2015-2016, while point guard Chris Paul made the Second Team for the second year in a row. Jordan is the third player in Clippers franchise history to make the First Team, and the second center, as Buffalo Braves C Bob McAdoo made it as the 1974-1975 NBA MVP. Paul made the First Team in his first three seasons with the Clippers (2011-2014), and the Clippers are the only team to have at least two All-NBA players every season since 2011-2012.
Of all 19 2-man lineups that played at least 2,000 minutes together, Jordan and Paul ranked 5th in net rating. Jordan and Paul were also the only pair of teammates to be on the NBA All-Defensive Team this season.
Jordan earned an All-NBA selection for the second straight year, jumping from Third Team status in 2014-2015. Jordan led the league in defensive rebounds per game (10.3), was second in rebounds per game (13.8) and blocks per game (2.3), and led the league in field goal percentage for the fourth season in a row (70.3 percent). Jordan, the 35th pick (2nd round) in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Clippers, is the third former 2nd-round pick to be named to the All-NBA First Team since 1992-1993 (Cleveland PG Mark Price in 1992-1993, Memphis C Marc Gasol in 2014-2015).
Jordan has yet to be selected to an All-Star Game, but All-NBA teams hold more weight anyway. Jordan is the first All-NBA First Team selection that was snubbed from that season’s All-Star Game since Hall-of-Fame SG Pete Maravich in 1975-1976, and is the first player since the NBA All-Star Game debuted in the 1950-1951 season to be selected to the All-NBA First Team despite never making a previous All-Star Game. Only five players finished their NBA careers with a First Team selection, but not an All-Star Game appearance: Bob Feerick (career: 1946-1950), Stan Miasek (1946-1950, 1951-1953), Bones McKinney (1946-1952), Ed Sadowski (1946-1950), and Howie Dallmar (1946-1949).
Jordan was joined on the First Team by Golden State Warriors unanimous NBA MVP point guard Stephen Curry, Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard, and Cleveland Cavaliers small forward LeBron James.
Paul trailed two point guards for a First Team spot this season. It marks the first time since 2004-2005 that two PGs made the All-NBA First Teams (2004-2005 MVP Steve Nash, Hall-of-Famer Allen Iverson). Paul was an All-Star for the ninth straight season, an NBA All-Defensive First Team selection for the fifth straight season, and averaged at least 18 points and 9 assists per game for the 7th time in his career; only Hall-of-Famers Oscar Robertson (9) and Magic Johnson (8) have more of those seasons.
Paul was joined on the Second Team by Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (another All-Star Game snub), Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green, and Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins.
The 2015-2016 All-NBA Third Team was made up of Indiana Pacers small forward Paul George, San Antonio Spurs power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond, Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson, and Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry.
Clippers PF Blake Griffin, who missed 47 games this season due to injury and suspension, failed to make an All-NBA team for the first time in five seasons. He got one vote for Third Team from Golden State analyst Jim Barnett of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. But judging by Barnett’s retweet, Griffin’s lone vote should still be taken with a grain of salt.
@uograd66 @elkapwn best supporting actor in #FlopCity
— Chron Don (@Chron_Don) May 26, 2016
