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May 23 (UPI) -- Houston Rockets guard James Harden, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Oklahoma City forward Paul George -- the three finalists for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award -- were among the five players named to the All-NBA first team on Thursday afternoon. Antetokounmpo and George were named to the two first team forward spots. Golden State's Stephen Curry joined Harden as the guards. Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic was the first team center.
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Antetokounmpo and Harden were unanimous selections.
The second team featured Portland's Damian Lillard and Boston's Kyrie Irving at guard, Golden State's Kevin Durant and Toronto's Kawhi Leonard at forward and Philadelphia's Joel Embiid at center.
Lakers forward LeBron James joined Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook and Charlotte's Kemba Walker at guard and Utah's Rudy Gobert on the third team. Detroit's Blake Griffin was the other third team forward.
James was not a first team All-NBA selection for the first time since 2007. He was a second-team selection with the Cavaliers that season.
Lillard and Walker qualified for the "supermax," a designated veteran contract extension, by making one of the three All-NBA teams. Golden State's Klay Thompson and Washington's Bradley Beal missed out on qualifying.
