Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert was named to the All-NBA Third Team on Tuesday, while guard Donovan Mitchell missed out on making the squads.
It’s the fourth time Gobert has made All-NBA in his career, including three years in a row making the league’s third team. In 2016-17, Gobert was named All-NBA Second Team. As the Jazz pointed out in a press release announcing Gobert’s nod, Gobert is ranked No. 1 in the NBA over the last five seasons in blocks, and No. 2 in rebounds.
But it is Mitchell’s snub that will carry more impact on the franchise. Had Mitchell earned any All-NBA team nod, his contract with the Jazz for the next five seasons would have expanded to being worth $195.6 million. Because Mitchell didn’t make the team, however, the Jazz will pay Mitchell $163 million over the course of the deal.
That’s bad news for Mitchell, but could be good news for the Jazz, as they try to build around Mitchell in the years to come — they could have additional salary available to lure other players.
Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Dallas’ Luka Doncic, and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard made the first team. On the second team, Phoenix’s Chris Paul, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, New York’s Julius Randle, and the Lakers’ LeBron James were featured. Gobert was joined by Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving, Washington’s Bradley Beal, Miami’s Jimmy Butler, and L.A.’s Paul George.
Mitchell earned two second-team votes and 20 third-team votes, making him third in the list of All-NBA guard snubs. Brooklyn’s James Harden (two first-team votes, three second-team votes, and 22 third-team votes) and Washington’s Russell Westbrook (one first-team vote, six second-team votes, and 21 third-team votes) surpassed Mitchell’s vote total.
Gobert earned 26 second-team votes and 70 third-team votes from the 100 media voters.
