The National Basketball Association announced today that for the first time in franchise history, three Clippers have been selected to All-NBA Teams. Guard Chris Paul has been named to the 2014-15 All-NBA Second Team while forward Blake Griffin and center DeAndre Jordan have been named to the 2014-15 All-NBA Third Team. This is the first time an NBA team has had three players on an All-NBA team since the Phoenix Suns in 2004-05 (Steve Nash, Amar’e Stoudemire, Shawn Marion).
This is Paul’s second time making the All-NBA Second Team (2009). He was voted All-NBA First Team the past three seasons. Paul had another stellar season that saw him make his eighth straight All-Star appearance and also earn a spot on the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the fourth straight season. Paul led the NBA in assists (10.2 apg) and was fourth in steals (1.90 spg), while averaging 19.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in 82 games (all starts). He was the only player in the NBA to average 19+ points, 10+ assists and 1.5+ steals and one of only three players to ever sustain those averages for an entire season since 1973-74.
After being voted to the All-NBA Second Team the past three seasons, this is Griffin’s first time on the All-NBA Third Team. He averaged 21.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and a career-high 5.3 assists per game over 67 games (all starts). He is one of only 10 players in NBA history to average 21.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 5.0 apg and shoot at least 50 percent from the field. Griffin made his fifth straight All-Star game appearance this season.
Jordan makes an All-NBA team for the first time in his career. The Texas A&M product had a career-year, leading the NBA in field goal percentage (.710), rebounds (15.0) and defensive rebounds (10.1) while ranking fourth in the league in blocks (2.2). He also averaged 12.8 points in 82 games (all starts). Jordan became to third player in NBA history to average 11+ points and 14.5+ rebounds in less than 35 minutes per game and his .710 field goal percent was the NBA’s second-highest of any player in a single season in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain’s .727 in 1972-73. This is the second straight season Jordan has led the NBA in field goal percentage and rebounding.
Joining Paul on the All-NBA Second Team is Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, LaMarcus Aldridge of the Portland Trail Blazers, Pau Gasol of the Chicago Bulls and DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings.
In addition to Griffin and Jordan, the All-NBA Third Team is composed of the Warriors’ Klay Thompson, the Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving and the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan.
The All-NBA Teams were chosen by a panel of 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. Voters were asked to select two guards, two forwards and one center for each team, choosing players at the position they play regularly.