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The 2005-06 NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns highlights the All-NBA First Team as the NBA announced the 2005-06 All-NBA teams today.

Joining Nash at guard on the All-NBA First Team is 2005-06 NBA leading scorer Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks were selected at forward and Shaquille O’Neal of the Miami Heat was selected at the center position to round out the First Team.

Nash, selected to the First Team for the second straight year, averaged career highs in points (18.8), rebounds (4.2), minutes (35.5), field goal percentage (.512) and free throw percentage (.921) while dishing out a league-high 10.5 assists per game. He posted 3.3 more points per game than last season, the second-largest scoring increase following an MVP season (Larry Bird, 4.5 ppg, 1984-85).

Bryant led the NBA in scoring with 35.4 points per game while posting 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists to earn his fourth All-NBA First Team selection. He totaled 2,832 points this season, marking the seventh highest scoring season in NBA history behind only Michael Jordan (1986-88) and Wilt Chamberlain (1960-64). Bryant recorded six 50-point games this season, including the second-highest scoring game in NBA history when he tallied 81 points on Jan. 22 (Chamberlain, 100, 1961-62).

James makes his first appearance on the All-NBA First Team, leading all players in All-NBA first place votes (116) and total points (610). Behind James’ averages of 31.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists, the Cavaliers advanced to the playoffs for the first time in eight years. He joined Hall of Famers Oscar Robertson and Jerry West and five-time NBA MVP Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to post at least 31 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Making his second consecutive appearance on the All-NBA First Team, Nowitzki led the Mavericks to a 60-22 season, the second-best record in the Western Conference. He posted a career-high 26.6 points and a team-high 9.0 rebounds per game, while recording career-high percentages from the floor (.480), from three-point range (.406) and from the free throw line (.901).

O’Neal has been selected to the All-NBA First Team for the seventh consecutive year and for the eighth time in his career. Averaging 20.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.76 blocks, the 14-year veteran led the Heat to a Southeast Division title. O’Neal shot 60 percent from the field, leading the league in field goal percentage for the ninth time in his career, tying Chamberlain for the most in league history, and becoming only the sixth player in NBA history to shoot 60 percent or better in consecutive seasons.

The All-NBA Second Team consists of Detroit’s Chauncey Billups and Miami’s Dwyane Wade at the guard positions, San Antonio’s Tim Duncan and the L.A. Clippers Elton Brand at the forward spots and Detroit’s Ben Wallace at the center position.

The All-NBA Third Team includes Eastern Conference guards Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers and Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards and a Western Conference frontline of Phoenix’s Shawn Marion, Denver’s Carmelo Anthony and Houston’s Yao Ming.

The 126-member voting panel of writers and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada consisted of national media members and members from each of the league’s 30 teams who regularly cover the NBA. The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis.

 2005-06 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM

Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes)    Points
Forward  LeBron James, Cleveland (116)    610
Forward  Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas (105)      584
Center   Shaquille O’Neal, Miami (45)     402
Guard    Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers (110)   597
Guard    Steve Nash, Phoenix (106)        583

2005-06 ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM

Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes)    Points
Forward  Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers (15)  309
Forward  Tim Duncan, San Antonio (17)     277
Center   Ben Wallace, Detroit (44)        363
Guard    Chauncey Billups, Detroit (21)   378
Guard    Dwyane Wade, Miami (13)          373

2005-06 ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM

Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes)    Points
Forward  Shawn Marion, Phoenix (4)        270
Forward  Carmelo Anthony, Denver           97
Center   Yao Ming, Houston (30)           261
Guard    Allen Iverson, Philadelphia (1)  104
Guard    Gilbert Arenas, Washington        79