Our 2026 All NBA Teams

We lock in our 2026 All-NBA teams, then stress-test the picks by asking who truly drives wins across a full regular season. We debate the biggest snubs and mismatches, from Donovan Mitchell’s placement to the case for Jaylen Brown over Luka Doncic. 
• How we define All-NBA as season impact, not just top 15 talent 
• Our All-NBA first team picks and why they make sense 
• Second team and third team selections and which teams double up 
• Third team questions around Jalen Duren and Chet Holmgren 
• Snub cases for Deni Avdija and Scottie Barnes based on load and context 
• Why Donovan Mitchell feels too high compared with Jamal Murray and Tyrese Maxey 
• The argument for Jaylen Brown on first team over Luka Doncic 
• Why it feels strange seeing LeBron James off the list 
• Bam Adebayo’s missing selection and what it says about voting 
• Next season names to watch for a breakout All-NBA push 
Please make sure to like, subscribe, comment, tell anyone who's anyone about the show. 

Transcript

Welcome And Subscribe Request

SPEAKER_00 0:00

What's up everybody? It's your favorite show's favorite show Get a Bucket. I'm your host, Train as usual. Hope you're all having a wonderful, wonderful day. Today we're gonna talk about the all NBA team selections for the 2026 NBA season. But before we do that, please make sure to hit that like and subscribe button. Comment tell anyone who's anyone about the show. Trying to get the ratings up a little bit, you know, just a little bit. And if you wonder where you've heard this before, that's because you've been listening to me Monday through Friday at 11 o'clock a.m. Eastern Standard Time. So I greatly appreciate you for your efforts. Now, we're gonna talk about the All NBA team selections.

How I Pick All NBA

SPEAKER_00 0:29

And you might be wondering, like, you know, how do you even select them? Well, you know, I'm gonna just tell you why how I select mine personally. It's not the person who can get a bucket the most. So, you know, I'm like the they do get on the list from time to time for sure, but that's not it. To you can have a top rebound or the most overall impacting player, right? Usually your stars are who are are in on this list. It's not the top 15 best players, it's more so just who encompasses, who impacted their season for their team immensely. And just broken down into three teams. That's how I look at it

First Team Picks Revealed

SPEAKER_00 1:03

personally. So, team one, we got SGA from the from the Thunder, Jokik from the Nuggets, Wimby from the Spurs, Luca from my Lakers, and Cade Cunningham from the Pistons. I'm not gonna talk about my gripes right now

Second And Third Team List

SPEAKER_00 1:20

for the first team. Let's move on down to the second team. I'm just gonna list them off right now. I'm gonna do the same thing for the third team. We got Jalen Brown from the Celtics, Kawhi Leonard from the Clippers, Donovan Mitchell from the Cavs, Kevin Durant from the Rockets, Jalen Brunson from the Knicks, and that encompasses the second team. Now, the third team, Tyrese Maxie from the 76ers, Jamal Murray from the Nuggets, Jalen Johnson from the Hawks, Jalen Duran, or Jalen Duran, oh my gosh, from the Pistons, and then Chet Holmgren from the Thunders. So off top, we only had two teams that boasted two players on this list. We got OKC with SGA and Chet, and then you got Jalen Duran and Cade Cunningham. I'm sorry, three teams. Where is my math going, right? But those are the Pistons, and then we got Jamal Murray and Nicole Jokic from the Denver Nuggets.

Third Team Debates And Snubs

SPEAKER_00 2:09

I got a couple of issues, right? Because hear me out, too. We do have a couple of snubs that we can talk about as well. Third team, I don't know. I'm okay with Tyrese and Jamal being up here. Jalen played well. I'm talking about Johnson from the Hawks. Jalen Duran, he had a good he had a good season, do not get me wrong. And I think he benefited more from the Pistons being a one seed in the East. Because even if they were like a three-seed, I still think Cade is going to be up here. And probably on the first team still. Although him and JB could have flip-flopped, personally for me. Jalen Brunson, I'm talking about. But that's another discussion for another day. I've still had it, but you know, it's another discussion for another day. So I hear that. I hear that. But Jalen Duran and Chet Holmgren are two players that I do think could have been taken off the third team. And you you may be wondering, well, who might I put on this list? Well, I could have, hell, actually, as I think about it, shoot, I probably could have brought down Donovan Mitchell from the second team to the third team. But again, we'll talk about that later. Denny Obdia from the Blazers. I don't I don't know about Kat. Not as much. Don't get me wrong. Like, he played pretty well this season. Playoff, he's been doing pretty well. This is a regular season award, right? And I think during the regular season, Kat did perform well. He just didn't dominate or carry his team more so than uh Denny Obdia did. Like, remember Portland Trail Blazers, nobody really expected them to make the playoffs. And they made the playoffs as a seventh seed. Like, that's you know what I'm saying? Like, I I but that I just just if you're not a real sports fan, tell me who, or hell, if you are a sports fan, tell me who's on the Blazers right now. Go. Bet you $10 is gonna be a short list for you person. I can name some, I can name a good amount of players on the Blazers. It's gonna be tough for you. And that's my point. He didn't have the same caliber team that other teams, the other players did. Not saying his team was trash, right? Because the Blazers actually didn't do that bad. But Denny played a really big part. He did prove some, he did prove us some things in the playoffs. But again, in the regular season, he was moving them puppies. He was hooping. So again, ladies and gentlemen, I think Denny could have been on the third team. Also, Scotty Barnes. Scotty Barnes played phenomenal this season. Early on, they were like, what, a two-seed? It was looking like the Raptors might even be in the thick of things when it talks about contention. I didn't think they were contenders. I still don't have them as contenders. And personally, I think Scotty Barnes needs to be a second option paired with Anthony Edwards. But again, that's another discussion for another day. Scotty Barnes could have been another player that could have also been the third team. We're talking about, again, carrying the Raptors. He's arguably their best player. Yes, they have BI. RJ Barrett played well for him for sure. They were injured a little bit too. I hear you all that. I'm just saying, ladies and gentlemen, I think Scotty Barnes or Denny Obdia should have been selected for that third team, all NBA caliber team. You know what I'm saying? Like they he they they had that talent. If you want to add cat, I hear it. I do hear it. And I do think there's a world where maybe they outplayed both Jalen Durin and Chet Homgren. More specifically, Chet Homgren. But I mean, you know, Jalen Duran, he played well this season, too. Again, Chet Depoy race, Jalen, hell, we could probably possibly put him in the most improved category. Honestly, he played that well. But I could also see both of them getting off of the third team. But I'm not losing no sleep over the third team being selected, just to be clear.

Why Donovan Feels Too High

SPEAKER_00 5:34

The second team, I only have a real gripe with Donovan Mitchell. I understand why he's there, but hear me out though. I don't think Donovan Mitchell had a better season than Jamal Murray. I don't. I think Donovan Mitchell's a better player than Jamal Murray. I don't think Donovan Mitchell played better than Jamal Murray did this season. Jamal Murray was in the MVP race for me. Hell, I should make an argument for why Jamal Murray should even move up a little bit more. Same with Tyrese Maxie into the second team. So I hear you, right? They may not have the same fan base the way Donovan Mitchell does. But then again, as I think about it, hell, Jamal Murray got the nuggets to focus on, and he got all of Toronto backing him. That's a solid amount of, you know what I'm saying? Like support right there. So it's very baffling how Buddy really got up here the way he did. Like I Donovan meaning. I thought Donovan should have been more in the third team. Again, he didn't play better than Jamal nor Tyrese. You can even argue Jalen Johnson, because again, the Hawks, they did do they did alright. They did alright, right? They were a six-seed, Cavs were a four seed. I don't know, man. That's a little tough. Even though the 76ers were a seven seed, I hear you. I genuinely do. But the Cavs were a little bit healthier than the 76ers. And Tyrese had to had to keep elevating his team up. Donovan didn't have to do that as much. So again, for me personally, I might not have had Donovan as that second team. But am I going to lose sleep? No. Jalen Brown. Actually, I lose a little sleep that JB couldn't have made the first team. I ain't gonna hold you. I really do. Kawhi, if he had kept up that track record, that trend of him dominating the way he was during the regular season. Hell, even All-Star, right? Like even the All-Star game. If he was continuing that, and if the Clippers had moved up a little bit, I might have wanted to put Kawhi on that first team. But Kawhi as a second team, pretty solid. I will say that. Pretty solid. KD here, he kept his team afloat. Even though his team was solid, don't get me wrong, Alfred Shangoon was there. You might have even thought, oh, he should have been snub. He was snub. He should have been on the teams. I don't know about that this season. But he still played well. Iman Thompson played well. Like he had some Jabari Smith Jr. played good ball. Paul Reed, I mean, or um Reed Shepard played some good basketball. They didn't have Fred Van Fleet. I understand why KD's up here. Again, hell, KD was in the MVP race for me, top five, maybe even lower, as low as number six for me. So having him on my second team, I'm not gonna lose no sleep over, personally. Only person I'm I the closest I would be losing sleep over is Donovan Mitchell. Should have been dropped to that third team. But again, we're here. It is what it is. I might lose more sleep that Jalen Brown didn't make the first team, though.

Jalen Brown Over Luka Argument

SPEAKER_00 8:14

Like I don't lose sleep that JB's on the second team. I thought he should have been on the first team. Because you want to wonder who I want to take off. It's Luka Doncic. On my Lakers, take him off. I hear you. We were a four seed. I get it. But remember though, remember though, remember though. He's the same, he's the same player that he's always been, meaning he don't really defend like that. Meanwhile, JB gave what? Maybe two, three less points, but more defensive focus. Like, and when I say focus, I mean JB's defensive. Like he focuses more on that, or defense, he focuses more on that than Luca does. And to be clear, hell, the Celtics had a better record than us. And we were for the most part healthy. I don't want to act like Austin Reeves, one, doesn't matter, but two, moves the goalpost for us even more. Like it doesn't, don't get me wrong. He's our third option, but hell, y'all see what happens when we lose when we have him as a third option. We don't do as well. Look at when we went up against the Nuggets a couple seasons ago. Lost. Then he was our third option yet again. At that time, it was arguable the first time. Then the second time we go up in the first round, still lose. And he's supposed to be our third, our third option. Like we don't do well with Austin Reeves as a third option. Don't worry about the regular season. Kudos on the regular season, but hell, there were a lot of teams that did not perform well based on injury, or maybe they just underperformed. But we get a fourth seed, let's be clear. Warriors were injured, Rockets were injured. Remember, Fred Van Fleet, that was a big impact. Wolves were even injured too. Those are three teams right there that were probably better than us end of day. And I personally think we would have dropped lower than that. Now we in the play end. Then we end up getting to play the Thunder or the Damn Spurs, which both of them would have put BTA work against us. Because they did so in the regular season. So again, ladies and gentlemen, I don't think Luca should have been first team. I didn't have Luca higher than Jalen Brown in my MVP list. I did not. Cade Cunningham, I did. It was arguable too. And honestly, once I thought he wasn't going to hit the game's play threshold, which he technically did not, but they allowed him to be up here. Cool. Then I vaulted Cade right back above JB. Because I think nobody expected the Pistons to be this high this early. But we also didn't expect the Celtics to be that high this early, too. So keep in mind, both of them had a surprise. Victor Wimbinyama, understand why he's there. His team was number two in the league, as well as SGA. So I understand why they did that. And then Yoke, I understand that his team was a top three seed behind the Spurs and the Nuggets. I mean the Spurs and the Thunder. I understand why he's there. And he did his thing. Even though he didn't play as many games, right? JB played more games than all these boys. I'm if I'm not mistaken. His numbers were there too. We're talking about the playmaking. The assists went up. The rebounds were solid. He was averaging about 28, 29 points a game on solid shooting. And again, his team was a three-seed. I thought Jalen Brown should have been from the second team to the first. You moved down Luka Donczyk. And again, Celtics looked better than the Lakers to me. So, yes, Luca had a miraculous, what was it? Like season of month of averaging 30 points or something like that. Ridiculous numbers. Then he got 600 points in the month of, like, in the month of March. Kudos to him. Like he was hooping for sure. But I think from start to finish, Jalen Brown played better basketball. So him being in the for on the first team should have occurred over Luca Dante. I think we just did a little disservice here. I might have even considered putting Kawhi Leonard in the mix for first option over Luca. Because again, Kawhi does not have what? A real running mate right now. It was supposed to be Benedict Matherman and then Darius Garland got injured. Those are a little bit different than what Luca had. Because we remember, he still has LeBron James. Even though LeBron is old, is old, right? 41. I heard you. LeBron has still been moving them puppies still. Freaking nature athlete, 6'8, 250, still running a good 40-yard dash, I'm assuming. But he is solid as a second option for sure. I don't know what to tell you. And then if we're looking at numbers, well, hell, Austin Reeves was giving us 25 points. So by some people's definition, well, that's a store. Hence why he might get paid the five-year $239 million or some other offer, which I hope we do not give him unless we're looking to trade him. But even still, and this is another reason why I'm taking Luca off my damn first team personally. The man wouldn't want to trade Austin Reeves if we can get someone like Giannis. That's just stupid to me. Personally, hell, we're like, what? You you want to Okay, whatever, though. Like IQ clearly ain't there. That's a little bit biased, though, but if we're talking about on the court on like during the game, I would have put Jalen Brown higher than Luca Donci.

LeBron Missing And Bam Snub

SPEAKER_00 12:58

Also, I just want to say this too, speaking of LeBron James, it is weird not seeing LeBron James on this list. I get it, right? He didn't play enough games. Kudos to him. But you know, what is it? 20, this is like the 21st season that he has not been on an all NBA team selection. That's pretty spectacular. I'm not gonna lie to you. Tip of the cap tumbling again. His longevity is a masterpiece. It's beautiful. I appreciate the game. It's just weird to see it. Like it really is. Like it's just it's just another indicator that he's gonna be retiring at some point in time over the next two seasons. I'm expecting him to retire. That's just personally. Also, it's very weird that Bam Adiba could not get selected to one of these teams. I hear it though. I do hear it. I'm just saying in the season where he dropped 80 points in one game, 83 to be exact, damn, he couldn't get an all-NBA selection. That is tough. All I'm saying, bro, is it it didn't, I bet you money it didn't happen to Will, and I bet you money it didn't happen to Kobe. They made an all-NBA team selection. Oh, that's disgusting work. I again, I understand it. I understand it. Next season, though, I will be curious who makes an all-NBA selection who's a newcomer.

Next Season Newcomers To Watch

SPEAKER_00 14:12

Could it be a Denny Avia? Could it be a Scotty Barnes? Like, I don't think James Harden is gonna make a comeback personally. Lamelo Ball, that could be interesting. Stefan Castle, I think that could be smooth. Also, J Dub, Jalen Williams. Will he replace someone like a Chet Hongren? Because he's technically viewed as OKC's second option. And remember, he did do pretty well in the finals just last season. So, I mean, let's see, especially, and imagine if the Thunder lose. What if he's that puts a chip on their shoulder? Now they're hungry. Oh, I would love to see that as well. Also, with Bam, can he become an all-NBA selection next season? I think there's a possibility, but I do want to see what the Miami Heat do. They have some interesting talent for sure. Cooper Flag was up here as well, ladies and gentlemen. My man got a third-team selection. Also, so did Derek White. Kudos to them. Brandon Ingram got one. Evan Mobley got one. I need to see more out of Evan Mobley. Because he has all NBA caliber talent. But until he actually displays his dominance more, which I think that's because he ain't working out enough as he should. Like he needs to bulk up a little bit the way Giannis did, which Giannis is a physical freak in comparison, so I hear you. But still, he needs to be able to do so and be able to dominate. Because respectfully, if Evan Mobley, currently as constructed, is not the best player on the cast, Cavs not going to win a championship. I don't know what to tell you. Brandon Ingram, he needs to be the second option, which is why I need to see Scotty Barnes as an all-team, all NBA caliber player. I do see him there. He needs to make that selection next season. Again, he got the talent. I think that the voters really just need to get that right next season. Cooper Flag, if we can get all NBA team selection next season, that'd be kind of tough, bro. That would be very tough to see happen. I ain't gonna lie to you, as a Duke fan, I'm very, I would be very happy.

Your Picks And Closing

SPEAKER_00 15:58

But ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, what do you all think of the all NBA team selections this season? Did you like them? Did you not like them? Who would you rather have as your first team, as your second team, as your third team? I told you I'm not really losing too much sleep over some of these selections. Maybe some on the first team, front, some on the second team, and then some on the third team. I could maybe do a couple change arounds. But I'm gonna still get my sleep into the day. So I'm curious who you all have. Let me know in the comment section below. But, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, that does conclude the end of the episode. So please make sure to like, subscribe, comment, tell anyone who's anyone about the show. My name is Trey, I'm the host of Get a Bucket. I hope you're all having a good one. Take care.