James, Howard lead All-NBA selections

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-05-07 09:29

NEW YORK - Most Valuable Player LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and defensive wizard Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic were unanimous selections to this season's All-NBA team, the league said Thursday.

From L to R: Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant, LeBron James

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat joined James and Howard on the first team.

James, the league's back-to-back MVP, earned first team honors for the third consecutive season and fourth overall. The Cavaliers forward was second in the NBA in scoring (29.7 points per game) while leading Cleveland to a league-best 61-21 regular-season record.

Howard, the NBA defensive player of the year, also won All-NBA first team honors for the third straight year. The Magic center became the first player to lead the league in rebounding and blocks in consecutive seasons.

Bryant, who missed being a unanimous selection by three votes, was chosen for the fifth consecutive season and eighth time in his career with fellow guard Wade gaining the honor for two years running.

Durant, a third-year forward who led the NBA in scoring with a 30.1 average, is the lone newcomer to the first team.

The second team consisted of Phoenix's Steve Nash, Utah's Deron Williams, Denver's Carmelo Anthony, Dallas's Dirk Nowitzki, and Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire.

Third team members were Atlanta's Joe Johnson, Portland's Brandon Roy, San Antonio's Tim Duncan, the Los Angeles Lakers' Paul Gasol, and Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut.

The teams were selected by a panel of journalists.