Why one voter left Victor Wembanyama off All-NBA First Team

Key Points:

• Victor Wembanyama was named to the 2026 All-NBA First Team with 99 out of 100 votes, making him one of the most celebrated players this season.
• Justin Termine, host of NBA Today on SiriusXM NBA Radio, cast the only vote placing Wembanyama on the All-NBA Second Team, citing positional voting rules rather than a critique of Wembanyama’s talent.
• Termine argued that Nikola Jokić had a better regular season at the center position, and he voted strictly by position to honor historical fairness for past centers like Patrick Ewing, who were disadvantaged by similar voting rules.
• The NBA’s positional voting changes were implemented during the Jokić-Embiid era to prevent the second-best center from being overlooked, but Termine believes this system disrespects the legacy of dominant centers from earlier eras.
• Despite Wembanyama’s outstanding performance in the Western Conference Finals and widespread acclaim, Termine maintains his vote as a tribute to the history of the sport rather than a slight against Wembanyama.