CHRIS PAUL EARNS SECOND TEAM ALL-NBA HONORS
May 13, 2008
The NBA announced today that New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul was selected to the All-NBA Second Team. It is the second time in his career Paul has earned All-NBA accolades, after becoming the first Hornet in franchise history to earn first team honors for the 2007-08 season.
LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, winner of the 2008-09 Most Valuable Player Award presented by Kia Motors, headlined the first team. James was joined by center Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, forward Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks, guard Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and guard Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat.
Joining Paul on the second team are center Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets, guard Brandon Roy of the Portland Trail Blazers, forward Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs and forward Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics.
Paul led the NBA in assists and steals for the second-straight season, becoming the first player in NBA history to do so. Paul, who averaged 2.77 steals per game, set an NBA record for consecutive games with a steal (108) passing Alvin Robertson’s mark of 106 straight games, 12/17 vs. SAS.
For the season, he averaged career-highs in points (22.8), rebounds (5.5), steals (2.8) and minutes (38.5), to go along with 11.0 assists in 78 games (all starts). Paul was named the starting point guard for the Western Conference All-Stars where he had 14 points and 14 assists (becoming just the fourth player in All-Star Game history to reach 14+ points and 14+ assists in the game and his second straight season to do so) in 29 minutes. He was a two-time Western Conference Player of the Month (Nov. and Mar.) and four-time Western Conference Player of the Week (more than any other Western Conference player).
The All-NBA Teams were chosen by a panel of 122 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis.
David West also received 12 votes towards earning a spot on the All-NBA squads.
Below are the results of the voting for the 2008-09 All-NBA Teams, with First Team votes in parentheses:
| 2008-09 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM |
| Position |
Player, Team |
(1st Team Votes) |
Points |
| Forward |
LeBron James, Cleveland |
(122) |
610 |
| Forward |
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas |
(35) |
383 |
| Center |
Dwight Howard, Orlando |
(116) |
598 |
| Guard |
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers |
(119) |
604 |
| Guard |
Dwyane Wade, Miami |
(103) |
572 |
| 2008-09 ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM |
| Position |
Player, Team |
(1st Team Votes) |
Points |
| Forward |
Tim Duncan, San Antonio |
(39) |
378 |
| Forward |
Paul Pierce, Boston |
(27) |
330 |
| Center |
Yao Ming, Houston |
(8) |
354 |
| Guard |
Brandon Roy, Portland |
- |
189 |
| Guard |
Chris Paul, New Orleans |
(32) |
424 |
| 2008-09 ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM |
| Position |
Player, Team |
(1st Team Votes) |
Points |
| Forward |
Carmelo Anthony, Denver |
(2) |
116 |
| Forward |
Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers |
(2) |
165 |
| Center |
Shaquille O'Neal, Phoenix |
- |
68 |
| Guard |
Chauncey Billups, Denver |
- |
131 |
| Guard |
Tony Parker, San Antonio |
(1) |
158 |
Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first team votes in parentheses):
Deron Williams, Utah, 105; Kevin Garnett, Boston, 72; Chris Bosh, Toronto, 56; Joe Johnson, Atlanta, 36, Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City, 34; Danny Granger, Indiana, 25;
David West, New Orleans, 12; Mo Williams, Cleveland, 10; Al Jefferson, Minnesota, 8; Steve Nash, Phoenix, 7; Antawn Jamison, Washington, 7; Ray Allen, Boston, 6; Nene, Denver, 6; Devin Harris, New Jersey, 5; LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland, 4; David Lee, New York, 4; Rajon Rondo, Boston, 2; Vince Carter, New Jersey, 1; Paul Millsap, Utah, 1; O.J. Mayo, Memphis, 1; Mehmet Okur, Utah, 1; Jermaine O’Neal, Miami, 1; Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando, 1; Derrick Rose, Chicago, 1; Caron Butler, Washington, 1; Carlos Boozer, Utah, 1; Andre Miller, Philadelphia, 1; Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia, 1.