Earning what Nuggets coach George Karl called “The honor in the league,” Denver’s Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony both made third-team all-NBA, the league announced today.
“Making all-NBA is the status of acceptance, the status of ‘you’ve arrived,’ ” Karl said.
The first team included Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki, who the Nuggets will face tonight in Game 5 of the conference semifinals; if Denver wins, its in the conference finals for the first time since 1985. On the all-NBA team, Nowitzki is joined by fellow forward LeBron James of Cleveland, guards Kobe Bryant of the Lakers and Dwyane Wade of Miami and at center, Orlando’s Dwight Howard.
The second team features guards Brandon Roy of Portland and Chris Paul of New Orleans, the team Denver defeated in the first round. At center is Houston’s Yao Ming, and the Spurs’ Tim Duncan and Celtics’ Paul Pierce are the forwards.
The third team is center Shaquille O’Neal from the Suns, forward Pau Gasol from the Lakers and guard Tony Parker from the Spurs, joining Denver’s Billups and Anthony.
“For Melo, this is a huge step,” Karl said of the 24-year-old forward. “And I think he understands the reason he gets it is because the team finished in second place, 54 wins, and that’s respected by the basketball world, not stats of points or big games of individuality, but more of how do you make your team successful.”
The all-NBA teams were chosen by a panel of 122 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
