2023 All-NBA team predictions

With the 2022-23 NBA regular season coming to an end, the award winners are becoming more evident. Few awards may be as crucial as the All-NBA teams due to the significant financial implications of the honor. If Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant makes one of the All-NBA teams, his contract will be worth $233 million, $194 million if he doesn't. 

Here are the All-NBA team predictions:

Third Team All-NBA:

Guard: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks (24 ppg, 6.2 assists on 59.7% TS)
Guard: Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers (28.3 ppg, 4.4 assists on 61.4% TS)
Forward: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics (26.6 ppg, 6.9 rebounds on 58.1% TS)
Forward: Julius Randle, New York Knicks (25.1 ppg, 10 rebounds on 58.1% TS)
Center: Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings (19.2 ppg, 12.4 rebounds and 7.3 assists)

The Knicks (47-33) duo, Brunson and Randle, deserve recognition for their outstanding season, reviving the franchise and sparking hope in Madison Square Garden. Mitchell is having the best season of his career with the Cavs (50-30). His presence has turned Cleveland into a dangerous playoff team. Someone in Sacramento deserves to make one of these All-NBA teams due to their magical campaign. With the insane talent at the guard position in both conferences, Sabonis is the likely choice. 

Anthony Davis, De'Aaron Fox and Morant are the three most prominent names to miss out.

Second Team All-NBA:

Guard: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers (32.2 ppg, 7.3 assists on 64.5% TS)
Guard: Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks (32.7 ppg, 8.1 assists and 8.7 rebounds)
Forward: Kevin Durant, Pheonix Suns (29.1 ppg, 6.7 rebounds on 69.9% TS)
Forward: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (29 ppg, 8.4 rebounds and  6.8 assists)
Center: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets (24.8 ppg, 11.9 rebounds and 9.8 assists)

Despite Portland's (33-46) struggles all season, Lillard has been fantastic, averaging a career-high in points per game. Before the trade deadline, Dončić looked like a surefire first-team All-Team. However, his recent struggles and constant defensive woes land him on the second team. Durant and James have had strong seasons, but Durant has missed almost half the season, and James isn't too far behind. It will be difficult for them to make the first team over Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Jokić has been superb all season, but it won't be enough to finish ahead of Embiid, the likely MVP.

First Team All-NBA:

Guard: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (29.6 ppg, 6.3 assists on 65.3% TS)
Guard: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (31.5 ppg, 5.4 assists on 62.8% TS)
Forward: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics (30.2 ppg, 8.8 rebounds on 60.7% TS)
Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (31.1 ppg, 11.8 rebounds on  60.5% TS)
Center: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers (33.3 ppg, 10.2 rebounds on 65.4% TS)

It's about time NBA fans and the media put respect on Gilgeous-Alexander's name. He's been phenomenal all season and is an absolute superstar in the making. Curry's ability to move without the basketball, his positive defensive play and his rebounding this season give him the edge over Dončić and Lillard. Tatum and Antetokounmpo have had outstanding seasons and rightfully deserve a first-team honor. Embiid has been the most dominant player in the NBA this season. After finishing second in MVP voting to Jokić two consecutive seasons, the third time's the charm and it's likely Embiid will flip the table.