Last Updated on July 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The NBA All-NBA Second Team recognizes five of the league’s best players each season who narrowly miss First Team honors. Since the All-NBA Team was introduced in 1946–47, the Second Team has celebrated many of basketball’s greatest stars, including MVPs, Hall of Famers, scoring champions, and NBA champions.
An All-NBA Second Team selection is one of the NBA’s highest individual honors, recognizing players who rank among the league’s elite during the regular season.
What Is the NBA All-NBA Second Team?
The All-NBA Team is voted on annually by a panel of media members following the conclusion of the regular season.
Today, three All-NBA teams are selected:
- All-NBA First Team
- All-NBA Second Team
- All-NBA Third Team (added in 1988–89)
Beginning with the 2023–24 season, All-NBA voting became positionless, allowing the 15 highest vote-getters to be selected regardless of position.
Prior to 2023–24, the teams consisted of:
- Two guards
- Two forwards
- One center
NBA All-NBA Second Team Players by Season
| Season | Second Team Players |
|---|---|
| 1946–47 | Bob Feerick, Stan Miasek, Ed Sadowski, Fred Scolari, Angelo Musi |
| 1947–48 | Max Zaslofsky, George Senesky, Connie Simmons, Ed Sadowski, Bob Feerick |
| 1948–49 | George Mikan, Max Zaslofsky, Andy Phillip, Jim Pollard, Joe Fulks |
| 1949–50 | Dolph Schayes, Bob Davies, Alex Groza, Bobby Wanzer, Vern Mikkelsen |
| 1950–51 | Dolph Schayes, Bob Cousy, Paul Arizin, George Mikan, Vern Mikkelsen |
| 1951–52 | Bob Cousy, Paul Arizin, George Mikan, Andy Phillip, Jim Pollard |
| 1952–53 | George Mikan, Bob Cousy, Paul Arizin, Dolph Schayes, Jim Pollard |
| 1953–54 | Bob Cousy, Neil Johnston, Paul Arizin, Dolph Schayes, Slater Martin |
| 1954–55 | Bob Cousy, Dolph Schayes, Bill Sharman, Neil Johnston, Jim Pollard |
| 1955–56 | Bob Cousy, Paul Arizin, Bill Sharman, Dolph Schayes, Maurice Stokes |
| 1956–57 | Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, Dolph Schayes, Tom Heinsohn, George Yardley |
| 1957–58 | Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Dolph Schayes, George Yardley, Bill Sharman |
| 1958–59 | Bob Pettit, Elgin Baylor, Bob Cousy, Dolph Schayes, Bill Russell |
| 1959–60 | Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Jack Twyman |
| 1960–61 | Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Dolph Schayes |
| 1961–62 | Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Pettit, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson |
| 1962–63 | Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Pettit, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West |
| 1963–64 | Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Bob Pettit |
| 1964–65 | Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor |
| 1965–66 | Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor, Bill Russell |
| 1966–67 | Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Rick Barry, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell |
| 1967–68 | Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell |
| 1968–69 | Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Billy Cunningham, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson |
| 1969–70 | Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Willis Reed, Billy Cunningham, Oscar Robertson |
| 1970–71 | Walt Frazier, Jerry West, Billy Cunningham, Dave Bing, Willis Reed |
| 1971–72 | Walt Frazier, Jerry West, Billy Cunningham, Bob Love, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1972–73 | John Havlicek, Rick Barry, Nate Thurmond, Dave Cowens, Spencer Haywood |
| 1973–74 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Havlicek, Rick Barry, Bob McAdoo, Elvin Hayes |
| 1974–75 | Bob McAdoo, Rick Barry, Elvin Hayes, Dave Cowens, Phil Smith |
| 1975–76 | John Havlicek, Bob McAdoo, Dave Cowens, Rick Barry, George McGinnis |
| 1976–77 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, George Gervin, Bill Walton, Julius Erving, David Thompson |
| 1977–78 | George Gervin, Bill Walton, David Thompson, Elvin Hayes, Maurice Lucas |
| 1978–79 | George Gervin, David Thompson, Bill Walton, Elvin Hayes, World B. Free |
| 1979–80 | George Gervin, Julius Erving, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Cartwright, Gus Williams |
| 1980–81 | Julius Erving, George Gervin, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Tiny Archibald |
| 1981–82 | George Gervin, Julius Erving, Larry Bird, Moses Malone, Gus Williams |
| 1982–83 | Larry Bird, Julius Erving, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sidney Moncrief, Moses Malone |
| 1983–84 | Larry Bird, Bernard King, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Isiah Thomas |
| 1984–85 | Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Terry Cummings, Isiah Thomas, Moses Malone |
| 1985–86 | Dominique Wilkins, Hakeem Olajuwon, Isiah Thomas, Alex English, Sidney Moncrief |
| 1986–87 | Hakeem Olajuwon, Dominique Wilkins, Kevin McHale, Isiah Thomas, Fat Lever |
| 1987–88 | Hakeem Olajuwon, Dominique Wilkins, Clyde Drexler, John Stockton, Fat Lever |
| 1988–89 | Kevin Johnson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing |
| 1989–90 | Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 1990–91 | Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Chris Mullin |
| 1991–92 | Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Kevin Johnson |
| 1992–93 | Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Kevin Johnson, Mark Price, Karl Malone |
| 1993–94 | Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Johnson, Mark Price, Dominique Wilkins |
| 1994–95 | Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Scottie Pippen, John Stockton, Anfernee Hardaway |
| 1995–96 | Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, Scottie Pippen, Gary Payton, Anfernee Hardaway |
| 1996–97 | Karl Malone, Tim Hardaway, Glen Rice, Gary Payton, Patrick Ewing |
| 1997–98 | Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Mitch Richmond, Vin Baker, Tim Hardaway |
| 1998–99 | Shaquille O’Neal, Jason Kidd, Karl Malone, Alonzo Mourning, Allen Iverson |
| 1999–00 | Shaquille O’Neal, Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Allen Iverson, Alonzo Mourning |
| 2000–01 | Shaquille O’Neal, Tracy McGrady, Chris Webber, Allen Iverson, Karl Malone |
| 2001–02 | Jason Kidd, Tracy McGrady, Chris Webber, Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Payton |
| 2002–03 | Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, Shaquille O’Neal, Sam Cassell |
| 2003–04 | Kobe Bryant, Peja Stojaković, Jermaine O’Neal, Shaquille O’Neal, Sam Cassell |
| 2004–05 | Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Nash, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Amar’e Stoudemire |
| 2005–06 | LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Chauncey Billups, Elton Brand |
| 2006–07 | Steve Nash, Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Gilbert Arenas, Carlos Boozer |
| 2007–08 | Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Amar’e Stoudemire, Chris Paul, Manu Ginóbili |
| 2008–09 | Dwyane Wade, Brandon Roy, Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming, Paul Pierce |
| 2009–10 | Amar’e Stoudemire, Dwyane Wade, Steve Nash, Deron Williams, Dirk Nowitzki |
| 2010–11 | Dirk Nowitzki, Amar’e Stoudemire, Dwyane Wade, Pau Gasol, Russell Westbrook |
| 2011–12 | Andrew Bynum, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker, Blake Griffin |
| 2012–13 | Carmelo Anthony, Blake Griffin, Marc Gasol, Russell Westbrook, Kobe Bryant |
| 2013–14 | Chris Paul, Stephen Curry, Kevin Love, Dwight Howard, Joakim Noah |
| 2014–15 | Tim Duncan, Chris Paul, Pau Gasol, Russell Westbrook, LaMarcus Aldridge |
| 2015–16 | Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, DeMarcus Cousins, Damian Lillard, Draymond Green |
| 2016–17 | Stephen Curry, Isaiah Thomas, Rudy Gobert, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| 2017–18 | Stephen Curry, DeMar DeRozan, Joel Embiid, LaMarcus Aldridge, Russell Westbrook |
| 2018–19 | Damian Lillard, Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving |
| 2019–20 | Damian Lillard, Nikola Jokić, Chris Paul, Pascal Siakam, Kawhi Leonard |
| 2020–21 | Chris Paul, Julius Randle, Damian Lillard, Joel Embiid, LeBron James |
| 2021–22 | Ja Morant, Stephen Curry, DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid |
| 2022–23 | Donovan Mitchell, Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Jaylen Brown, Nikola Jokić |
| 2023–24 | Jalen Brunson, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Kawhi Leonard |
| 2024–25 | Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, Jaren Jackson Jr., Donovan Mitchell |
Players with the Most All-NBA Second Team Selections
Several legends built remarkable careers with multiple Second Team honors, including:
- Jerry West
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Hakeem Olajuwon
- Shaquille O’Neal
- Karl Malone
- John Stockton
- Clyde Drexler
- Stephen Curry
- Kevin Durant
- Dirk Nowitzki
Many of these players also accumulated numerous First Team selections and MVP awards during their careers.
MVP Winners Who Earned Second Team Honors
Many NBA MVPs have appeared on the All-NBA Second Team during different seasons, including:
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Larry Bird
- Magic Johnson
- Michael Jordan
- Hakeem Olajuwon
- Karl Malone
- Shaquille O’Neal
- Tim Duncan
- Dirk Nowitzki
- LeBron James
- Stephen Curry
- Kevin Durant
- Nikola Jokić
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
This illustrates the exceptional competition among the league’s elite, where MVP-caliber players may still finish behind other outstanding performers in All-NBA voting.
Hall of Fame Second Team Players
The All-NBA Second Team has featured many of basketball’s greatest players, including:
- Jerry West
- Oscar Robertson
- Wilt Chamberlain
- Bill Russell
- Elgin Baylor
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Julius Erving
- Larry Bird
- Magic Johnson
- Hakeem Olajuwon
- Shaquille O’Neal
- Karl Malone
- John Stockton
- Dirk Nowitzki
- Dwyane Wade
Why the Award Matters
An All-NBA Second Team selection recognizes a player as one of the NBA’s top performers during the regular season. For many superstars, repeated Second Team honors strengthen Hall of Fame résumés, influence contract incentives, and highlight sustained excellence over long careers.
Even without First Team recognition, earning multiple Second Team selections is a mark of elite consistency in one of the world’s most competitive basketball leagues.
Related Player Lists
- All-NBA First Team Players
- All-NBA Third Team Players
- NBA MVP Winners
- NBA All-Star Players
- NBA All-Defensive First Team Players
- NBA All-Defensive Second Team Players
- NBA Hall of Fame Players
- NBA Champions (Players)