2022-23 All-NBA picks, snubs: Predicting first, second, third teams

One of the most intensely debated topics in pro basketball each season is the All-NBA teams, and this year is no exception.

There were so many fantastic performances throughout the league during the 2022-23 campaign. A lot of good players are going to be snubbed from these three teams.

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The league will reveal the first, second and third All-NBA teams Wednesday night. The Boston Celtics could potentially have two of the 15 players named.

Here are our predictions for each team.

First Team

Guard: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

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Guard: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder

Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Forward: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Center: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

It was tough to choose between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Stephen Curry for the second guard spot on the first team. SGA got the edge because he was more valuable and played a larger role in the Thunder's success than Curry did for the Warriors. It's not a slight at Curry, just an acknowledgement that Gilgeous-Alexander carried a Thunder team to the play-in tournament when most experts predicted they'd be a bottom-five team again. Gilgeous-Alexander finished fourth in points per game (31.4) and fifth in free throw percentage (90.5). He also played 12 more games than Curry.

Joel Embiid won league MVP over Nikola Jokic, and since many of the same voters also have ballots for All-NBA teams, it wouldn't be surprising if the Sixers center gets the nod for the first team as well. It would be deserved, too, after Embiid led the league in scoring (33.1 ppg) and shot really well from the field (54.8 percent) and the free throw line (85.7 percent).

Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo were both easy first-team picks. The Bucks and Celtics finished with the first- and second-best records in the league, respectively, and each player scored 30-plus points per game. Tatum set career highs in points (30.1), rebounds (8.8) and assists (4.6) per game. He also attempted a career-high 8.4 free throws per game.

The Mavericks failed to even make the play-in tournament after reaching the Western Conference Finals last season, but Luka Doncic was absolutely fantastic for Dallas. He finished second in scoring (32.4 ppg) and nearly averaged a triple-double for the whole season (32.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 8 apg).

Second Team

Guard: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

Guard: Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

Forward: Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

Forward: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Center: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Donovan Mitchell was the best player on a Cavs team that exceeded expectations as the No. 4 seed in the East and made the playoffs without LeBron James for the first time since 1998. Mitchell finished 10th in scoring (28.3 ppg) and shot a career-best 48.4 percent from the field and 86.7 percent from the free throw line.

Curry could have been a first-team selection, so he's an easy pick for the second team. He finished No. 7 in points per game (29.4) and 3-point shooting (42.7 percent), while ranking No. 3 in free throw percentage (91.5). He was so close to tallying his second career 50-40-90 season. His 49.3 field goal percentage came up just a bit short.

Butler put together another strong all-around season. He was an efficient offensive player with 22.9 points per game (the highest of his Heat career) while shooting a career-best 53.9 percent from the field. Butler is still an excellent defensive player, too.

Jokic is on the second team only because of his position. He was one of the top two players in the league this season along with Embiid. In fact, his stats this season were mostly better than the previous two years when he won back-to-back MVP awards. Jokic improved his field goal and 3-point percentages by nearly five points over last season. He almost averaged a triple-double with 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game.

Jaylen Brown set career highs in points (26.6) and rebounds (6.9) per game, as well as field goal (49.1) and free throw (76.5) percentages. Brown also was an excellent perimeter defender. Overall, Brown was the second-best player on the second-best team in the regular season. Earning a spot on one of the three All-NBA teams would be massively beneficial for Brown financially and make him super-max eligible in his next contract.

Third Team

Guard: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Guard: De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings

Forward: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

Forward: Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz

Center: Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James only played in 55 games, but he also put up ridiculous stats (28.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 6.8 apg) at 38 years old, which is just remarkable. De'Aaron Fox took his game to another level and was the driving force behind the Kings earning their first playoff appearance since 2005. Lauri Markkanen deservedly won the Most Improved Player Award after averaging 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Did anyone think Markkanen would play that well and make the All-Star Game? No way.

The Blazers fell way below expectations this season, but Damian Lillard played too well to leave him off one of these teams. In addition to finishing third in points per game (32.2), he also was one of just two players to attempt seven-plus free throws and make at least three 3-pointers per game (Tatum was the other).

Anthony Davis played in just 56 games, but he was phenomenal when healthy. Before Kings fans get mad -- Domantas Sabonis easily could be on this third team at center, especially when he played in 79 games for the third-best team in a loaded Western Conference. However, Davis averaged more points, rebounds, blocks and steals per game. Davis is a better defensive player, too.

Davis: 25.9 ppg, 12.5 rpb, 2.6 apg, 2.0 bpg, 1.1 spg
Sabonis: 19.1 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 7.3 apg, 0.5 bpg, 0.8 spg

When you factor in all of that, Davis gets a slight edge.