featured-image

Kobe Bryant Earns Record-Tying 11th All-NBA First-Team Selection

kobe bryant 1st team banner

NEW YORK, May 23, 2013 – Kobe Bryant, an All-NBA First Team selection for the eighth straight season, scored 2,133 points, averaging 27.3 points. This season, he moved past Wilt Chamberlain for fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Additionally, Bryant eclipsed the 2,000-point mark in a single season for the eighth time in his 17-year NBA career, in the process becoming just the fourth player in NBA history to score 2,000 points in a season at age 34 or older, joining Alex English, Jordan and Malone, each of whom did so twice.

Dwight Howard shoots a free throw in front of Kobe Bryant

Joining Kobe Bryant on the First Team are Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs, Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers, and LeBron James of the Miami Heat. For Bryant, his 11th First Team nod ties him with Hall of Famer Karl Malone for the most such selections. Bryant had been tied at 10 with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Bob Cousy, Michael Jordan, Bob Pettit and Jerry West.

Duncan earns his 10th First Team selection and first since 2006-07. In his 16th NBA campaign, Duncan averaged 17.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.65 blocks, ranking third overall in the latter. He shot .502 from the floor and a career-best .817 from the free throw line.

In earning his fourth All-NBA First Team selection, Durant averaged 28.1 points while shooting .510 from the field, .416 from distance and .905 from the free throw line. With those percentages, Durant became just the second player in NBA history (Larry Bird; 1986-87) to average 28-plus points while going .500/.400/.900 during the year. Additionally, Durant’s field goal and free throw percentages represented career bests.

Paul, an All-NBA First Team selection for the third time, had a league-best 4.26 assist-to-turnover ratio; he had 13 games in which he dished at least 11 assists while committing no more than one turnover. The 2013 All-Star Game MVP, Paul averaged 16.9 points, ranked second in assists with 9.7 apg and paced the league in steals with 2.41 spg.

The All-NBA Second Team consists of guards Tony Parker of the Spurs and Russell Westbrook of the Thunder, forwards Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks and Blake Griffin of the Clippers, and center Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies.

The All-NBA Third Team includes the Houston Rockets’ James Harden and the Heat’s Dwyane Wade at guard, the Indiana Pacers’ Paul George and the Golden State Warriors’ David Lee at forward, and the Lakers’ Dwight Howard at center.

The All-NBA Teams were chosen by a panel of 119 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis. Below are the results of the voting for the 2012-13 All-NBA Teams, with First Team votes in parentheses. The balloting was tabulated by the independent accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP.

2012-13 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM

PositionPlayer, Team (1st Team Votes)Points
ForwardLeBron James, Miami (119)595
ForwardKevin Durant, Oklahoma City (102)555
CenterTim Duncan, San Antonio (45)392
GuardKobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers (91)521
GuardChris Paul, L.A. Clippers (97)537

2012-13 ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM

PositionPlayer, Team (1st Team Votes)Points
ForwardCarmelo Anthony, New York (24)397
ForwardBlake Griffin, L.A. Clippers132
CenterMarc Gasol, Memphis (38)295
GuardTony Parker, San Antonio (16)273
GuardRussell Westbrook, Oklahoma City (20)306

2012-13 ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM

PositionPlayer, Team (1st Team Votes)Points
ForwardDavid Lee, Golden State79
ForwardPaul George, Indiana73
CenterDwight Howard, L.A. Lakers (17)203
GuardDwyane Wade, Miami (3)145
GuardJames Harden, Houston (5)253