The 2025-26 NBA regular season is in the books, and the debate over the league's top honors is heating up. As an official voter for the seventh consecutive year, I'm ready to share my projected picks for the All-NBA, All-Defensive, and All-Rookie teams. While final eligibility checks based on the 65-game rule might cause a tweak or two, here's a look at how my ballot is shaping up for the year-end awards.

Let's start with the most prestigious list: the All-NBA First Team. This group looks remarkably familiar—it's my exact MVP ballot. Leading the charge is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose two-way dominance has powered the Oklahoma City Thunder. He's joined by the San Antonio Spurs' generational talent, Victor Wembanyama, and the Denver Nuggets' perennial engine, Nikola Jokić. The final two spots feature the Dallas Mavericks' maestro, Luka Dončić (pending the resolution of his games-played challenge), and the Boston Celtics' explosive wing, Jaylen Brown. If eligible, Detroit's Cade Cunningham would also be in this elite conversation.

Moving to the All-NBA Second Team, we find a mix of veteran excellence and rising stardom. The LA Clippers' Kawhi Leonard, a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, headlines this squad. He's flanked by the Cleveland Cavaliers' dynamic scorer, Donovan Mitchell, and the ageless wonder from the Houston Rockets, Kevin Durant. Rounding out the second team are the Philadelphia 76ers' lightning-quick guard, Tyrese Maxey, and the Oklahoma City Thunder's versatile big man, Chet Holmgren.

Durant's inclusion deserves special attention. At 37 years old, nearly seven years removed from a devastating Achilles injury, he has logged the second-most minutes in the entire league. His production has been nothing short of spectacular: nearly 26 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game on elite 52/41/88 shooting splits. He has single-handedly kept the Rockets' offense afloat as a top-10 unit despite the season-long absence of Fred VanVleet and the mid-season loss of Steven Adams.

For all their flaws, the Rockets' ability to survive those injuries and remain competitive is a testament to Durant's enduring greatness. His season is a masterclass in longevity and skill, proving that even in the league's modern era, true superstars can defy time and expectations.