With the 2015 All-NBA team selections out and about, Tim Duncan joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kobe Bryant as the only players with 15 selections all-time, more than any other NBA player, while Dirk Nowitzki completed the shortlist of three among the active players in the top 10.
10. Dirk Nowitzki – 12 Selections
The 36 year old German has now completed 17 NBA seasons, all with the Dallas Mavericks. In 12 of them he has been selected to one of the three All-NBA teams. He made the first four times (2005-2007, 2009), second team five times (2002-2003, 2008, 2010-2011) and three times to the third team (2001, 2004, 2012). Nowitzki won the regular season MVP in 2007 and the Finals MVP in 2011.
9. Dolph Schayes – 12 Selections
A huge part of the league’s early days, Schayes played his entire career (1948-1964) for one franchise: The Syracuse Nationals, later turning into the Philadelphia 76ers. Schayes was a six-time All-NBA first team selection (1952-1955, 1957-1958) and six times a second team selection (1950-1951, 1956, 1959-1961).
8. Hakeem Olajuwon – 12 Selections
Olajuwon, the number one draft pick in the famous class of 1984, spent 17 of his 18 NBA seasons with the Houston Rockets, winning two NBA championships with them, including one regular season MVP and two Finals MVP. He was a six-time first team selection (1987-1989, 1993-1994, 1997), three times in the second team (1986, 1990, 1996) and three times in the third team (1991, 1995, 1999). He spent his final season playing for the Toronto Raptors.
7. Jerry West – 12 Selections
The logo (although the NBA will never admit it), West played in the NBA from 1960 to 1974, all with the Los Angeles Lakers. A scoring champions in 1970, West was a 10-time first team selection (1962-1967, 1970-1973) and two more times selected to the second team (1968, 1969). He is the last player to win the Finals MVP for a losing team.
6. Bob Cousy – 12 Selections
Cousy played for the Boston Celtics from 1950 until 1963 before one final season in Cincinnati. He won the MVP once (1957) and made the All-NBA first team 10 times (1952-1961), twice more making the second team (1962, 1963). He won six NBA championship with the Celtics.
5. Shaquille O’Neal – 14 Selections
Unlike most of the players on this list, Shaq got around, playing for six different NBA teams: The Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics. His career spanned 19 seasons, in which he won four NBA titles, three Finals MVPs, one regular season MVP and two scoring titles. He was a 8-time first team selection (1998, 2000-2006), twice in the second team (1995, 1999) and four times in the third team (1994, 1996-1997, 2009).
4. Karl Malone – 14 Selections
Malone played in the NBA for 19 years, 18 of them for the Utah Jazz. He’s twice won the regular season MVP award. Of his All-NBA selections, 11 were to the first team (1989-1999), two the second (1988, 2000) and one to the third (2001). He’s also the only player on this list without a NBA championship, twice losing in the finals.
3. Tim Duncan – 15 Selections
Duncan has been in the league since 1997 and still hasn’t had enough, playing all his 18 season for the Spurs. He’s a two-time regular season MVP and three times in the finals, winning five NBA championships in San Antonio. He’s a 10-time first team selection (1998-2005, 2007, 2013), three times in the second team (2006, 2008-2009) and twice in the third team (2010, 2015).
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 15 Selections
The NBA’s all-time leader in points and also MVP awards (six), Abdul-Jabbar played in the league for 20 seasons. The first six in Milwaukee with the Bucks, and from 1975 he was a Laker, winning five titles, adding to his one with the Bucks. 10 Of his selections to the All-NBA teams were to the first (1971-1974, 1976-1977, 1980-1981, 1984, 1986) and five to the second (1970, 1978-1979, 1983, 1985).
1. Kobe Bryant – 15 Selections
Like Duncan and Nowitzki who are on this list, Bryant is still active, although just barely, not playing a lot these last two years. Still, he has quite a record behind him in 19 NBA seasons, all with the Lakers, that include five NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, one regular season MVP and two scoring titles. He’s a 11-time first team selection (2002-2004, 2006-2013), twice to the second team (2000, 2001) and twice to the third team (1999, 2005).
Where’s Michael Jordan, you ask? Well, Jordan is just beneath the top 10 with 11 selections, 10 of them to the first team and just one to the second team. He had only 15 full NBA seasons, which explains it. And LeBron James? After only 12 seasons in the league, he’s up to 11 selections, nine of them on the first team. He’s getting close.