Shai Gilgeous-Alexander unanimous pick for All-NBA 1st team

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The Toronto Raptors may have been shut out of the All-NBA teams, but at least Hamilton and Kitchener got some love.

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Back-to-back league MVP guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and sharp-shooting Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray were named to the first and third teams respectively, the NBA announced on Sunday.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who was born in Toronto but spent his formative years in Hamilton, was a unanimous selection on the first team along with Murray’s Nuggets teammate Nikola Jokic with all 100 voters in agreement.

The San Antonio Spurs’ 7-foot-4 phenom Victor Wembanyama was one vote shy of a unanimous selection as well, with just a single voter nominating him for the second team.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (91 first teams votes) and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (60) joined them.

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More accolades for back-to-back MVP

Gilgeous-Alexander’s nomination came after he joined Steve Nash as the only Canadians to win back-to-back NBA MVP awards and after he edged out Murray for the Clutch Player of the Year award as well.

He averaged 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and a career-high 6.6 assists per game, which helped him post a 15.2 wins share for the Western Conference finalist Thunder, according to Basketball Reference.

The Thunder were looking to put a stranglehold on their series against the Spurs on Sunday night with a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven set.

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Murray, meanwhile, picked up his first All-NBA nomination with 27 second-team votes and 68 third-team nods after averaging a career-high 25.4 points, 7.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game with the Nuggets.

Rounding out the third team were Pistons centre Jalen Duren, Thunder centre/forward Chet Holmgren, Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey and Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson.

The second team included Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown, L.A. Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant and New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson.

Two Raptors received votes as well: Scottie Barnes got nine third-team votes and Brandon Ingram got one. Also notably absent was 21-time All-NBA nominee LeBron James of the Lakers.

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