All-NBA Third Team Prior To COVID-19 Situation

Another day in quarantine and another need for more sports entertainment. Here is the third and final part of the series where the hypothetical All-NBA Teams wee looked at. This one looks at the All-NBA Third Team.

C: Joel Embiid – 44GP 23.4pts 11.8reb 3.1ast

Joel Embiid has had an injury-rattled season, but that still doesn’t stop him from making this team. Embiid played spectacularly when he put in the effort and showed on numerous occasions that he was the best center in the NBA. He only performed at that level when he had some motivation to be the best version of himself. A big reason why he was dropped to the Third Team is because of the lack of consistency which could be blamed on the numerous injuries he suffered which did not allow him to get into a flow for the majority of the season.

PF: Brandon Ingram – 56GP 24.3pts 6.3reb 4.3ast

Brandon Ingram has thrived in the New Orleans Pelicans’ situation. Traded from the Lakers in the off-season as part of a package deal for Anthony Davis, Ingram has proved to be a star for the team. He was selected to his first All-Star game this year as well. Before Zion Williamson returned from his season-long injury, BI had been the best player on the Pelicans’ roster, making a case for the most-improved player in the NBA. He has become a top player in the league, being versatile as he can play all positions because of his skill set and his Kevin Durant-like physique. Expect him to jump up to have to make a charge at the NBA-Second Team next year as he certainly has the potential to do so.

SF: Jayson Tatum – 59GP 23.6pts 7.1reb 2.9ast

Tatum has been a revelation for the Celtics this season. In the third season of his NBA career, Jayson Tatum has taken massive strides in terms of improving his game, becoming one of the best young stars that are expected to rise to the very top in years to come. His game really matured in the latter part of the season where he found some consistency and became arguably a top-10 player in the league. Making his first All-Star appearance this year, Tatum really picked up his game while playing alongside another young star in Jaylen Brown. Tatum, Brown, Kemba Walker and Gordon Hayward make up one of the most promising cores in the NBA. Tatum should be leading the charge every year and has the ability to win a future MVP, also helping the Celtics earn a Top-3 seed yearly. Expect Tatum to make more huge leaps in his game next season and he might be on a higher All-NBA Team.

SG: Bradley Beal – 57GP 30.1pts 4.2reb 6.1ast

The best player on the Washington Wizards and one of the best shooting guards in the game today, Bradley Beal has shown the basketball world that he was the biggest snub this year in the All-Star Game. Beal has been stuffing the stat sheet also becoming the first player to score 53 points or more in back-to-back games since the late Kobe Bryant. He has been the driving force in trying to push Washington into a playoff spot with virtually no other help. Beal is one of the most underrated guards in the game and is bound to improve as he is still just 26 years old. Beal should continue his other-worldly play even after John Wall returns from his injury and make and will have to be selected to the All-Star Game by the NBA next year to add to his resume.

PG: Kyle Lowry – 52GP 19.7pts 4.8reb 7.7ast

Kyle Lowry has been the heart and soul of the Raptors, leading them to the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference. Lowry has stepped up with the departure of Kawhi Leonard and has proved all the doubters wrong the season after he won an NBA Championship. Kyle Lowry missed his fair share of time this season due to injuries but has always stepped up in the clutch moments and shown up in the closing moments of the game. Everything he does doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet as he makes a lot of other contributions such as taking charges, sacrifice his body and making the right, unselfish play that gives his team a better chance to win. He is a player that has been overlooked by many and is showing that he is one of the most valuable players to his team in the league.

In summary, this list below would be the 2020 All-NBA Third Team prior to the NBA being suspended because of the coronavirus or COVID-19:

PG: Kyle Lowry – Toronto Raptors

SG: Bradley Beal – Washington Wizards

SF: Jayson Tatum – Boston Celtics

PF: Brandon Ingram – New Orleans Pelicans

C: Joel Embiid – Philadelphia 76’ers