The All-NBA team represents elite status, and there's a lot at stake -- a lot more than usual -- when it comes to the voting this season.
LeBron James has a chance to make the first team for the ninth consecutive season, joining Karl Malone and Larry Bird as the only players to do so since the ABA-NBA merger. With Kevin Durant healthy and Kawhi Leonard emerging as a candidate, however, LeBron is no sure thing.
The historical legacy of James' spot pales in comparisons to the financial implications for Anthony Davis. Because of the so-called Derrick Rose rule, Davis has approximately $24 million on the line based on whether he makes one of the All-NBA teams and qualifies to make a larger percentage of the salary cap during his five-year extension that kicks in next season.
Will James make first team? Will Davis make any of the three? I put together a model of what has mattered to All-NBA voting in the past to help answer those questions and more.