2026-27 NBA All-NBA, All-Defense & All-Rookie Picks

Since they became incentivized by mandatory boosts in contract extensions, the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams have become even more important for players, executives, and fans to monitor.

There have been no positional requirements for these teams since 2023-24, the year after Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid were co-favorites as dominant centers in the league. The past two seasons, players have only been eligible for All-NBA or All-Defensive teams if they meet the 65-game requirement. The requirement doesn’t apply to All-Rookie teams.

All-NBA Team Picks

This year, the top three candidates for MVP (Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Victor Wembanyama) are considered virtual locks for first-team All-NBA if they play 65-plus games. Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo are considered probable to earn the honor, although those players have a recent history of injury woes.

Sleepers for All-NBA include Jaylen Brown (+1200) with the new-look Philadelphia 76ers, Tyrese Haliburton (+2500) as he returns from injury, Scottie Barnes (+3500) as he backs up a dominant defensive campaign, and Cooper Flagg (+7000), who could make a major leap in his second NBA season.

Here are our picks for the first-team. No big surprises here.

First Team All-NBA Picks

Player	Team	Odds to Make All-NBA
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander		-700
Nikola Jokic		-600
Victor Wembanyama		-380
Giannis Antetokounmpo		-120
Luka Doncic		-190

The market for the second or third All-NBA teams is a bit more open. DraftKings Sportsbook presents the market for a player to be named to any All-NBA team, so the favorites have very short odds and there are 16 players with odds of -110 or shorter implied to grab one of the 15 available spots.

In this market it comes down to health as much as anything, with veterans like Kawhi Leonard (-160), Stephen Curry (-150), and Joel Embiid (+475) questionable to meet the 65-game requirement, especially considering they’ve already earned the honor multiple times.

When any of those players become ineligible, it would open the door for younger stars to grab a spot on the second or third team. Here are our picks for the second team.

Second Team All-NBA Picks

Player	Team	Odds to Make All-NBA
Jayson Tatum		+275
Anthony Edwards		+165
Cade Cunningham		+275
Jalen Brunson		+200
Donovan Mitchell		+425

The third team is where it really gets interesting. Last season, breakout stars Jalen Duren, Jalen Johnson, and Tyrese Maxey grabbed spots, and Chet Holmgren and Jamal Murray earned their first selections.

Will more young stars make the leap onto an All-NBA roster? Or will some veterans or bounce back candidates earn their status?

Third Team All-NBA Picks

Player	Team	Odds to Make All-NBA
Kevin Durant		+3000
Tyrese Maxey		+1800
Scottie Barnes		+3500
Paolo Banchero		+7500
Cooper Flagg		+7000

All-Defense Team Picks

There are two NBA All-Defensive teams with no positional requirements. But again, players must suit up for a minimum amount of average minutes over 65 games. There is only a market at DraftKings for players to be named first-team All-Defense. We will still pick both teams.

Fresh off a unanimous Defensive Player of the Year selection, Wembanyama is a massive favorite (-600) to make first-team All-Defense and repeat as DPOY (-360). Evan Mobley won DPOY two years ago when Wemby was ineligible, yet he’s considered more of a longshot for first-team at +350 odds since he didn’t make either team last year.

Rudy Gobert (-145) has been ultra-consistent in this market with a first-team selection in 8 of the past 10 seasons. Holmgren (-200) finished second in DPOY voting last year and seems like a reliable bet for All-Defensive selections going forward.

Detroit’s Ausar Thompson (-165) and Houston’s Amen Thompson (+285) are considered the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. Ausar received the third-most votes overall while earning his initial first-team selection last year, and Amen finished 12th overall with 46 voter points, narrowly missing second-team status.

First Team All-Defensive Picks

Player	Team	Odds to Make First Team All-Defense
Victor Wembanyama		-600
Chet Holmgren		-200
Scottie Barnes		+180
Ausar Thompson		-165
Rudy Gobert		-145

Dyson Daniels (+180) looks to follow up on a first-team selection and Scottie Barnes (+180) has vowed to earn the honor after falling just short and getting “snubbed” with a second-team selection last season. Derrick White (+285) earned first-team status last year and Cason Wallace (+330), Bam Adebayo (+450), and OG Anunoby (+500) rounded out the second team.

Longshots in this market include Adebayo’s new teammate, Giannis Antetokounmpo (+600) and Wolves stopper Jaden McDaniels (+1200). Centers Walker Kessler (+850), Jaren Jackson Jr. (+1200), and Ivica Zubac (+2000) will be thrust into rim-protecting roles with new teams. Spurs guard Stephon Castle (+1500) came up just short of a second-team selection last season.

Second Team All-Defensive Picks

Player	Team	Odds to Make First Team All-Defense
Giannis Antetokounmpo		+600
Evan Mobley		+350
Amen Thompson		+285
Dyson Daniels		+180
Stephon Castle		+1500

All-Rookie Team Picks

We have two All-Rookie teams and DraftKings is taking bets on players to earn a first-team selection. Note that these players don’t have to meet the 65-game requirement, but missing a significant portion of the season due to injury would hurt their case. This is a very deep rookie class with relatively flat odds in the Rookie of The Year market.

Duke product Cameron Boozer (+270) is the favorite with Memphis, followed by electric Bulls forward Caleb Wilson (+340) after a sensational preseason. Darryn Peterson (+360) has also impressed and he enters the year with a clear high usage role for Utah. Then there is No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybansta (+475) with a deflated price in the ROTY market because he’s expected to share usage with Trae Young and Anthony Davis in Washington.

All four of those players have odds of -300 or shorter to earn first-team All-Rookie selections. The next favorites are small guards Darius Acuff Jr. (+145) and Mikel Brown Jr. (+220), along with Yaxel Lendeborg (+150) as he comes off a National Championship with Michigan.

First Team All-Rookie Picks

Player	Team	Odds to Make First Team All-Rookie
AJ Dybantsa		-500
Cameron Boozer		-500
Yaxel Lendeborg		+150
Darryn Peterson		-500
Darius Acuff Jr.		+145

Longshots to make first-team include Arizona product Brayden Burries (+500), Hornets big man Hannes Steinbach (+1000), and Thunder center Aday Mara (+1000).