Victor Wembanyama was one vote away from joining Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic

Victor Wembanyama was one vote away from joining Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama secured All-NBA First Team status with 99 of 100 possible first-place votes, leading a dominant regular-season awards period for the young star.

The NBA released the official 2025-26 All-NBA teams just before San Antonio played the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. A global media panel of 100 voters selected the team using a weighted system that awards 5 points for each First Team vote, 3 points for each Second Team vote, and 1 point for each Third Team vote.

Wembanyama joined Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Cade Cunningham on the First Team. Gilgeous-Alexander, who won back-to-back NBA MVP awards, and Jokic each received 100 first-place votes. Wembanyama missed a perfect score by one vote.

This All-NBA nod caps off an exceptional week for the sophomore big man, who was also named the Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year and headlined the All-Defensive First Team alongside Thunder center Chet Holmgren.

The announcement served as the perfect backdrop for the postseason, where the Spurs evened the Western Conference Finals at 2-2 with a resounding 103-82 Game 4 victory. Wembanyama completely dominated the contest with 33 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks, bouncing back after taking their Game 3 loss personally.

Backed by newly acquired guard De’Aaron Fox, who anchored the team with a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double, San Antonio played with noticeably improved force, speed, and defensive intensity.

Following the blowout, the best-of-seven series now shifts to Oklahoma City for a crucial Game 5 at the Paycom Center. Historically, the winner of a tied Game 5 in a 2-2 series goes on to advance 81.8% of the time.

A victory on the road would put San Antonio in the driver’s seat, granting them a golden opportunity to close out the defending Western Conference champions back in front of their home crowd for Game 6.

The rest of the league’s elite talent was spread across the remaining All-NBA rosters. The Second Team selections included Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Donovan Mitchell.

Jaylen Brown led with 44 first-place votes, the most among players who missed the First Team. Kawhi Leonard got his seventh All-NBA selection, and Kevin Durant made history as the 12th player in NBA history to earn 12 All-NBA honors.

The Third Team showed the league’s rising stars, featuring Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray, Jalen Johnson, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Duren. This marked the first time all five players earned an All-NBA nod in the same season.

Several of the league’s top stars were absent from rosters. LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Giannis Antetokounmpo did not meet the 65-game minimum to be eligible for postseason awards.

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Victor Wembanyama was one vote away from joining Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic

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