ALL NSL!!
 

No less then 24 hours ago this team existed with no Portland players present... Imagine the out cry and incessant whining coming from Portland if that ended up being the case. Regardless, a couple late votes came in and I guess If you had to pick your "lock" for All NSL team this would probably be it. Honourable mentions to Luka, Dame, Kawhi, Kristaps and Collins?... For narrowly missing out on a first team nod. A few of those names obviously getting some love with a spot in the second team but we will be adjusting and perfecting the voting system next season to iron out a few inconsistencies with results.

Moving along to the players who balled out all year long and truly earnt a spot to be considered within the top five stars in our league.

All NSL 1st Team;

G- Russell Westbrook (LAL): 35.9/6.4/6.7/1.6

G- James Harden (POR): 28.1/4.5/6.5/1.3

F- Lebron James (SAC): 33.3/7.8/6.9/2.2

F- Giannis Antetokounmpo (LAC): 39.6/13.7/6.5/2.1/1.9

F- Anthony Davis (CHI): 30/13.7/4.3/2.7/2.1

 

Russ dropped some serious numbers all year long and the Lakers on most nights were forced to live and die by the sword in what was Westbrooks hugely variant game. Some nights he took over and dominated and others he bricked them out of contention down the stretch. That's his game love it or leave it but for the most part he is elite in all facets of the game. They ran head on into the Kings and went down 4-1 with Russ having an underwhelming series to say the least. Alas, at least for now he continues as the face of the Lakers franchise and under the guidance of the new fresh faced GM we'll see where he takes them.

 

There was a world in that Harden wasn't a part of the NSL first team. Voters fatigue? The fact that he played next to legit all star talent all year? Who knows. It would make sense to have Portland represented in the all NSL team but not going to lie, low key wanted to see J-mac run off the deep end if it wasn't the case. Harden obviously was a big part of why they were so good and although he struggled at times in the post season he showed up when it mattered dismantling the Bulls on the way to a sweep.

 

1st Team All NSL, 1st team All Defence, third in MVP voting, All Star MVP, Making it to the Western conference finals... The Kings and James have a lot to be proud of both in terms of team and individual success. If you ask him and GM Klemmelo though it doesn't really soften the blow of the main goal being NSL champs. "There's always next year" as they say but how many more years does Lebron have once he starts playing past 65? Time will tell. 

 

Well yeah, we all knew the MVP had reserved a spot in this list. 20/28 had him as the most deserving of all and he amassed 113 total points over AD who was second at 48... I mean you'd have to be silly, scorned or physically unable to vote him in as he's your own player to not do so. His numbers post him being moved to the four were ridiculous and had he been there all year who knows how well the Clips would've gone. Regardless, it still wouldn't of really changed what happened in the post season which I'm sure will be at the top of the list of things to be addressed in LA.

AD was my vote for MVP... No hate against Giannis I just favor winning over not much else. Giannis of course had the all time stats but AD wasn't far behind and led the eventual Eastern Conference champs to 11 more wins over the Clips. Ether way you couldn't go wrong picking ether and I've broken down both these guys to wits end. All I will day is Congrats on the aforementioned players representing their teams and going down in the history books as the 5 most tactful and dominant players in the NSL's first season!

 

All NSL 2nd Team;

 

G- Dame Lillard (TOR): 29.9/3.8/6.2/1.4

G- Jimmy Butler (PHO): 23.6/5.4/4.7/2.6

F- Paul George (CLE):29.3/6.7/3.7/2

F- Luka Doncic (CHA): 22.6/6.4/5.4/1.2

F- Kristaps Porzingis (DAL): 27/11.7/3.3/1.9/2

 

Dame narrowly missed out on a first team nod as he was one of a couple names hovering in that spot that Harden leap frogged into at the last moment. Alas the second team couldn't be in better hands. The Raps had a strong showing in the post season but in the end perhaps were just a little too focused on "Dame Ball" and have since opted to send him out for PG and others. Amazing. Bit of bouncing around and he then finds himself on the very team that brutally ended the Raps and his dreams last season in the Wizards. Can't write this shit.

 

Jimmy G Buckets has done his fair share of bouncing around as well. A hired gun who has shown he can play the second option on a true contender or run his own team deep into the play offs. His box score numbers don't jump off the screen at you but if you watch any game he is in its not even in question. Plays on both ends and dominates his opponents like a rare few do. Onto now his FOURTH team in the spurs in the span of 12 months... Crazy.

 

PG has flown under the radar a little bit as he did most of his work for teams under the shadow of some big name stars whether it was Beal, Jokic or at this point alongside Holiday and Vuce at the Raps. I'm actually surprised at his numbers and as a top 10 guy in the league as per NLL rankings he should have no problem filling Dame's shoes. He essentially averaged the same amount of points but while takin a few more shots. What he lacks scoring at the FT line he makes up from 3. That being said he will need to pick it up and elevate to the next level if he expects to be running the show in Toronto.

 

Luka is a huge surprise if I'm being frank. Ranked 22 overall and there were number of names such as Kawhi, Tatum, Lavine and Booker who you could argue all have as valid a shot at taking his place. Perhaps it was just how the votes fell and he took advantage playing in a role that could see him take a forward spot over others despite him essentially running the whole Hornets offence. No doubt he will be up in these lists for years to come but maybe this year was a little bit of a gimmie.

 

The latvian Gangbanger could've easily taken a first team nod and you wouldn't bat an eyelid. The Mavs had their ups and downs but somehow clung onto an 8th seed in the West and giving the eventual Champs a full problems before they got nuked. It was fun as the time and looking forward if you picture a team with KD/Zinger/Oubre/FVF and so on it doesn't project to be a whole lot of fun out West fighting for a play off birth.