Giannis Antetokounmpo Named to All-NBA First Team

In a continuing parade of regular season accolades for Giannis Antetokounmpo even after the Milwaukee Bucks unceremonious postseason exit, he was recently chosen unanimously to the All-NBA First Team.

This marks Giannis’s second consecutive year on All-NBA First Team after making Second Team in both 2016-17 and 2017-18. This was expected of course. What most fans held out hope for was the inclusion of Khris Middleton on the All-NBA Third Team following what was a breakout offensive year for the wing out of Texas A&M.

The sticking point will be that Khris Middleton notched 82 total points, the most of anyone not to make an All-NBA Team and more than both of the Third Team guards, Ben Simmons and Russell Westbrook. Can you imagine how deadly of a shooting backcourt that would be? *rolls eyeballs 360 degrees*

It’s a bummer for Middleton to miss out. Joel Embiid is really the only other player who could have a gripe with missing out, coming in with 79 total points, which wasn’t quite enough to unseat Rudy Gobert on Third Team. Still, there’s something quintessentially Khris about continuing to show out yet remain award-free when it comes to the official accolades. Already, it’s seemed like many people are pointing to him as one of the biggest snubs of this exercise.

Shout out Brook Lopez for snagging one All-NBA Third Team vote as well. Long live local media votes! (Disclaimer: double shouts to whoever voted Brook if they’re outside of the Milwaukee market.)

Either way, congrats to this trio for a fantastic season, and let’s hope Khris can get his due next year even among a crowded forward crop across the league.