The 2015-16 NBA season was a fever dream. Honestly, if you weren't watching basketball that year, you missed the peak of the modern era. We had the Golden State Warriors shattering the 72-win ceiling, Kobe Bryant taking his final bow with a 60-point swan song, and a Cleveland Cavaliers team that looked dead in the water before pulling off the greatest heist in sports history. But when the dust settled on the regular season, the nba 2016 all nba teams list became a snapshot of a league in total transition. It was the moment the "Old Guard" and the "New Breed" basically stood on equal footing for the last time.
Look at the First Team. It’s a masterpiece.
You had Stephen Curry, the first-ever unanimous MVP, leading the charge. Beside him stood Russell Westbrook, who was just beginning his scorched-earth campaign against the triple-double record books. Then you had LeBron James, still the undisputed king of the mountain despite the noise from the Bay Area. Kawhi Leonard and DeAndre Jordan rounded out the top five. Seeing DeAndre Jordan on the First Team feels weird now, doesn't it? It’s a reminder of a specific era where the traditional rim-running center was still a massive tactical asset before the league went completely small-ball crazy.
Why the NBA 2016 All NBA Teams Selection Still Sparks Debate
The voting process that year was brutal. People forget that Kevin Durant—yes, that Kevin Durant—was relegated to the Second Team. Think about that for a second. One of the three best players on the planet couldn't crack the top five. But that’s what happens when you’re competing against a peak LeBron and a DPOY-caliber Kawhi Leonard.
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The Second Team was arguably just as terrifying as the first. Durant was joined by Draymond Green, Chris Paul, Damian Lillard, and DeMarcus "Boogie" Cousins. This was Boogie at his absolute apex in Sacramento, averaging nearly 27 points and 12 boards a night. He was the most skilled big man in the world, yet the Kings were so bad it almost felt like his brilliance was happening in a vacuum.
The Snubs and the Close Calls
James Harden. That’s the name everyone brings up when talking about the 2016 voting. Harden averaged 29 points, 7.5 assists, and 6 rebounds. He was a statistical monster. And yet? He didn't make any of the three nba 2016 all nba teams. Not a single one. Why? Mostly because the Rockets were a dysfunctional mess that year, barely squeaking into the playoffs with a 41-41 record. The "narrative" killed him. Voters were obsessed with his perceived lack of defensive effort—there were those viral "Harden defensive lapse" YouTube compilations that genuinely shifted the national conversation. It’s wild to think that a guy who would later become a perennial MVP candidate was completely left off the ballot despite having a historic offensive season.
Then there was Anthony Davis. AD had a monster year on paper, but injuries kept him to 61 games. In 2016, "availability is the best ability" was a mantra voters actually lived by. Today, 61 games might get you a First Team nod if your advanced stats are high enough, but back then, it was a death sentence for your accolades.
The Shift in Style: How the Center Position Evolved
The Third Team featured Paul George, LaMarcus Aldridge, Andre Drummond, Klay Thompson, and Kyle Lowry. This is where the transition of the league is most visible. Andre Drummond was the "traditional" vote—a guy who grabbed 15 rebounds a game and didn't do much else. Meanwhile, you had Draymond Green on the Second Team, basically inventing the "Point Center" role.
The battle for the center spots on the nba 2016 all nba teams was essentially a civil war between old-school scouting and new-school analytics. Drummond and Jordan represented the old world. Draymond and Cousins (to an extent) represented the new world where bigs had to pass, shoot, or switch on the perimeter.
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- First Team Center: DeAndre Jordan (The rim protector/Lob threat)
- Second Team Center: DeMarcus Cousins (The high-usage bruiser)
- Third Team Center: Andre Drummond (The glass cleaner)
Klay Thompson making the Third Team was also a massive nod to the "Gravity" era. He wasn't a primary playmaker, but his shooting was so lethal it changed how defenses functioned. It was the first time we truly saw how much value voters placed on being a "role player superstar" within a historically great system.
The LeBron vs. Kawhi Paradigm
For years, LeBron had the All-NBA First Team forward spot locked down like a fortress. In 2016, Kawhi Leonard finally broke through. This wasn't just about Kawhi’s defense, which was terrifying; it was about his offensive efficiency. He shot 44% from three that year. He led the Spurs to 67 wins. 67! In any other year, that's the best record in the league.
Kawhi making the First Team signaled that the Spurs were no longer Tim Duncan’s team. Duncan was still there, but he was the soul, not the engine. Kawhi was the engine. This selection solidified the "Two-Way Wing" as the most valuable archetype in basketball, a trend that has only intensified in the decade since.
Why 2016 Matters for History
If you look at the names across all fifteen spots, you see the bridge between eras. You have the tail end of the Chris Paul/Dwyane Wade (who missed out) dominance and the beginning of the Lillard/Curry/Westbrook explosion. It was the last year of the "Normal" NBA before Kevin Durant’s move to the Warriors changed the league's competitive balance for the next three years.
The 2016 teams are a reminder of a time when the Western Conference was so top-heavy it was comical. You had the 73-win Warriors, the 67-win Spurs, and the 55-win Thunder. All three of those teams had multiple All-NBA selections. The East, meanwhile, was basically LeBron and a handful of guys like Kyle Lowry and Paul George trying to play spoiler.
Understanding the Financial Impact
Making or missing these teams wasn't just about pride. It was about the money. The "Rose Rule" and various max-contract triggers were tied to these selections. For a guy like Anthony Davis or James Harden, missing out on the nba 2016 all nba teams literally cost them tens of millions of dollars in potential earnings. That's why the Harden snub was so controversial—it wasn't just a slight; it was a massive financial hit based on the subjective whims of 100 media members.
Final Perspective on the Class of 2016
When you look back at the nba 2016 all nba teams, don't just see a list of names. See it as the peak of the pace-and-space revolution. Steph Curry wasn't just a First Team guard; he was a glitch in the matrix. Russell Westbrook wasn't just an All-Star; he was a force of nature.
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The 2016 All-NBA list remains one of the most talented assemblies of basketball players ever put on paper. Even the Third Team—Lowry, Thompson, George, Aldridge, and Drummond—could probably win a title in most eras. It was a year of incredible health for the league's superstars and a year where the game changed forever.
Next Steps for Fans and Analysts
- Audit the Advanced Stats: If you want to see why James Harden was snubbed, go to Basketball-Reference and compare his Win Shares to those of Klay Thompson or Kyle Lowry. The gap is shocking.
- Watch the Tape: Go back and watch highlights of 2016 DeMarcus Cousins. It’s easy to forget how dominant he was before the injuries took their toll.
- Study the Contracts: Research how the 2016 All-NBA snubs influenced the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The "Designated Player Veteran Contract" was largely a response to the financial volatility these votes created.
- Compare to Today: Look at the 2024 or 2025 All-NBA teams. Notice the lack of centers like Drummond or Jordan. The "Positionless" era we live in now was born from the seeds planted in 2016.