Gobert, Mitchell Left Off All-NBA Teams
May 24, 2022, 6:46 PM | Updated: 6:47 pm
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) and center Rudy Gobert (27) talk on the court during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. (Courtesy of Deseret News)
(Courtesy of Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – Neither Rudy Gobert nor Donovan Mitchell were named to the 2021-22 All-NBA teams on Tuesday.
Gobert had earned the honors each of the last three seasons, and has four All-NBA nods overall, but missed out on his fifth selection. The snub comes just days after being named to the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team.
The center has nine All-League appearances, and three Defensive Player of the Year awards, making him one of the most decorated centers in NBA history but was unable to add another All-NBA bid to his Hall of Fame resume this season.
No other center in NBA history has as many All-Defensive first team nods as Rudy Gobert. #TakeNote | @Hoophall https://t.co/kPfz0f7YDp
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 23, 2022
Gobert averaged 15.6 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks while shooting 71 percent from the floor.
The Jazz center’s rebounds and field goal percentage led the NBA.
With dominant seasons from Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, Gobert’s best bet was to be named to the All-NBA third-team but lost out to Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, and Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul joined Towns on the third-team.
Gobert received 45 total votes, including five second-team votes worth three points each, and 30 third-team votes to lead all centers who were not named to an All-NBA team.
Mitchell Misses Out On All-NBA Again
Like Gobert, Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell was once again left on the outside looking in.
The fifth-year guard averaged 25.9 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 44 percent from the floor and 35 percent from the three-point line.
However, the Jazz struggled overall as a team, finishing with the fifth-best record in the Western Conference just one year after finishing with the top record in the NBA.
The 2021-22 Kia All-NBA First Team:
🏀 Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee)
🏀 Devin Booker (Phoenix)
🏀 Luka Dončić (Dallas)
🏀 Nikola Jokić (Denver)
🏀 Jayson Tatum (Boston) pic.twitter.com/D0H6GEDrea— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 25, 2022
Despite helping the Jazz reach the playoffs in each of his five seasons in the NBA while leading the team in scoring, Mitchell has yet to earn All-NBA honors.
Mitchell was named to this third consecutive All-Star team in February as a reserve and earned NBA Player of the Month honors in December for the first time in his career.
The All-NBA first-team featured Suns guard Devin Booker, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The 2021-22 Kia All-NBA Second Team:
🏀 Stephen Curry (Golden State)
🏀 DeMar DeRozan (Chicago)
🏀 Kevin Durant (Brooklyn)
🏀 Joel Embiid (Philadelphia)
🏀 Ja Morant (Memphis) pic.twitter.com/qHqDWB42tz— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 25, 2022
The second-team was made up of Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Chicago Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan, Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, and Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant.
Mitchell received four total third-team votes to lead all guards who were not named to an All-NBA team.
