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Who Made the NBA All 1st Team and What It Reveals About This Season's Top Performers
2025-11-20 16:02
Looking back at this season's NBA All-1st Team selections, I can't help but feel we're witnessing one of the most fascinating shifts in basketball hierarchy in recent memory. When the official announcement came through, seeing Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokić, and Jayson Tatum on that list felt both inevitable and revolutionary. What strikes me most about this group isn't just their individual brilliance—it's how they collectively represent the changing face of elite basketball. We're seeing a move away from traditional positional thinking toward what I like to call "basketball savants," players who simply understand the game on a different level regardless of their listed position.
The inclusion of both Dončić and Gilgeous-Alexander particularly fascinates me because it signals something important about where the league is heading. We're in an era where having multiple primary ball-handlers and creators isn't just an advantage—it's becoming essential for championship aspirations. Watching these two operate, I'm consistently amazed by how they control games without necessarily dominating the ball in traditional ways. Dončić's usage rate sits around 35% while maintaining elite efficiency, which is frankly ridiculous when you consider the defensive attention he commands every single night. Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander's mid-range mastery has become this beautiful anachronism in a three-point obsessed league—he's shooting 54% on long twos while attempting nearly eight per game, numbers that would make Kobe Bryant nod in approval.
What really stands out to me this season is how these selections reflect broader trends in player development and team construction. The game has become so globalized that we're seeing skills from different basketball cultures merge in fascinating ways. Jokić's sublime passing from the center position feels like something out of European basketball textbooks, while Tatum's combination of three-point volume and defensive versatility represents the modern NBA ideal. Having covered basketball across different leagues, I see parallels between what makes these NBA stars successful and what we're seeing in other developing basketball markets. Just last week, I was reviewing footage from the Philippine NCAA where a young coach who just led University of Santo Tomas to its first juniors championship since 2001 is bringing fresh perspectives to Charles Tiu's staff. While the level of play differs dramatically, the underlying principles of skill development and tactical innovation translate across competitions.
The statistical profiles of this year's All-1st Team members reveal some interesting patterns about what the league values most in its elite performers. All five players averaged at least 25 points per game while maintaining true shooting percentages above 58%, which speaks to the premium placed on efficient scoring volume. But beyond the raw numbers, what impresses me is their two-way impact—each brings significant defensive value while carrying massive offensive loads. Giannis might be the most extreme example, routinely guarding all five positions while functioning as Milwaukee's primary offensive engine. His combination of 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game while anchoring one of the league's best defenses is something we haven't seen since prime LeBron James.
What I find particularly compelling about this group is how they've evolved their games to meet modern demands. Jokić has quietly become a respectable three-point shooter at 35%, forcing defenders to respect him beyond the arc and creating driving lanes for cutters. Tatum has increased his playmaking output to nearly 5 assists per game while reducing turnovers, showing growth in areas beyond scoring. These aren't static superstars—they're constantly adapting, and that evolutionary trait might be the most important quality for sustained excellence in today's NBA.
The international flavor of this year's team also deserves mention, with only Tatum representing the United States. Having watched basketball evolve globally over the past two decades, I believe we're seeing the fruits of cross-pollination between different basketball philosophies. The European emphasis on skill development and team concepts has merged with American athleticism and individual creativity to produce these complete players who excel in multiple domains. It's no coincidence that four of the five selections have significant international backgrounds—the game has truly become global, and the NBA is better for it.
As I reflect on what this All-1st Team tells us about the current state of basketball, I'm struck by how these players represent both continuity and change. They maintain the individual brilliance we've always celebrated in basketball's elite while embodying the positionless, skill-forward approach that defines the modern game. Their success isn't just about physical gifts—though they have those in abundance—but about basketball intelligence and adaptability. In many ways, they're setting the template for the next generation of stars, showing that excellence requires evolving beyond traditional positional constraints and developing complete skill sets. The beautiful part is that as these standards rise globally, we're seeing similar patterns of innovation and development in leagues worldwide, from the NBA right down to collegiate competitions like the NCAA Season 101 where fresh tactical perspectives are reshaping how the game is played and taught.
Heather Bolton Suber ’02
Leah Schnell ’01
Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93
Dr. Ralph Swearngin
Point University will induct four members into the Athletics Hall of Fame during a luncheon on Friday, October 24, during Homecoming weekend.
The class of 2025 includes Leah Schnell ’01, Heather Bolton Suber ’02, Dr. Ralph Swearngin and Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93. The Athletics Hall of Fame was launched in May 2024, when six inaugural members were inducted.
“We look forward to honoring the second Hall of Fame class during Homecoming,” said Jaunelle White, vice president of intercollegiate athletics and chief student development officer. “It’s always a great feeling to have our alumni back on campus mingling with our current student-athletes and coaches. These individuals were elite during their time at Atlanta Christian College and deserve to be recognized.”
Schnell attended Atlanta Christian College from 1998 to 2001, where she earned a degree in business while competing in both basketball and volleyball. On the basketball court, she earned First Team All-Conference, Scholar Athlete, and First Team All-American honors for three consecutive years. Schnell also held the title of all-time leading scorer from 1998-2001. She now thrives as a commercial construction project manager at Barnsley Construction Group and as an entrepreneur.
Suber, from Havana, Florida, attended ACC from 1998 to 2002. A dedicated two-sport athlete, she earned numerous accolades, including First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention and First Team All-American. One of her most memorable achievements came when she made eleven three-pointers in a single game. Suber graduated with a degree in early childhood education and went on to earn a master’s degree in education and a specialist degree in instructional technology. For over 23 years, she has served as an educator.
Swearngin has had a distinguished career in education, athletics and ministry spanning several decades, including 20 years at ACC in roles such as professor, dean of students, athletics director and coach. He held national leadership positions with the NCCAA, served as a trustee of Point University for over 10 years, and worked extensively in ministry and education in California, earning degrees from Whittier College and Georgia State University. His athletic involvement includes 23 years as a high school football official in California and Georgia, 22 years with the Georgia High School Association — retiring as executive director in 2014 — and service on national football and softball rules committees. Honored with multiple Hall of Fame inductions and the Atlanta Falcons Lifetime Achievement Award, Swearngin has authored two books and remains active in retirement through preaching and leading Bible studies, alongside his wife of 58 years, Evelyn.
Wiggins grew up in Roswell, Georgia, where she began playing basketball at the age of ten. After two years at Florida State University, she transferred to ACC in 1990. While at ACC, Wiggins was named to the All-American team in both 1991 and 1992. In her final year, she led her team in scoring, helping them finish second in the nation, and was named national MVP in 1992. She earned a bachelor of science in elementary education in 1993 and later received a master’s degree in technology and media sciences from Georgia Southern University in 2009. For the past 33 years, Wiggins has worked as a dedicated educator. In 1997, she married Todd Wiggins. Together, they have two children, Preston, 26, and Logan, 22.
