Brunson's unanimous selection tells you everything
Jalen Brunson received all 20 votes for the NBA Cup All-Tournament Team after being named MVP of the competition. That's not just recognition—it's validation that he's operating at an elite level when games matter most. Unanimous selections don't happen by accident. They happen when a player performs so consistently well that nobody can justify voting for anyone else. Brunson did that throughout the tournament, delivering clutch performances that carried New York to the title.
What makes this impressive is the context. Brunson's not the most athletic guard, doesn't have the size advantage, and operates in a league where voters love chasing highlights. But he got every single vote because his game is undeniable. Smart shot selection, elite ball-handling under pressure, and the ability to score when defenses are locked in. That's what wins you unanimous recognition.
Karl-Anthony Towns getting 12 votes is the Knicks validation
Karl-Anthony Towns grabbed 12 votes, giving New York two players on the five-man All-Tournament Team. That's not coincidence—that's proof the Knicks' offseason gamble on Towns is paying off. When you trade for a former All-NBA center, you need him to deliver in meaningful games. Towns did exactly that during the Cup run, providing the interior scoring and rebounding that complemented Brunson's perimeter brilliance.
Towns has taken criticism his entire career for being soft in big moments. The Minnesota years were filled with playoff disappointments and questions about his defensive intensity. But in New York, surrounded by a tougher culture and playing alongside a legitimate closer in Brunson, he's showing a different version of himself. Getting 12 All-Tournament votes means the national media noticed. That matters for a player trying to rebuild his reputation.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 18 votes despite not winning the Cup
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received 18 votes despite Oklahoma City not winning the tournament. That's a testament to how dominant he was individually. When you're getting near-unanimous recognition without the trophy, you're doing something special. SGA carried the Thunder through the group stage and knockout rounds with scoring, playmaking, and two-way excellence that nobody could ignore.
The fact he got more votes than Towns but fewer than Brunson is exactly right. He was individually brilliant but didn't win. Brunson was individually brilliant and lifted his team to the title. That's the difference between 18 votes and 20 votes—one guy got the job completely done.
Luka and Fox at 11 votes each makes sense
Luka Doncic and De'Aaron Fox both grabbed 11 votes, rounding out the five-man team. Luka's inclusion is no surprise—he's one of the league's five best players and Dallas made a respectable Cup run. Fox's selection is more interesting because Sacramento didn't advance deep, but his individual performances were spectacular enough to earn recognition anyway.
Fox has been quietly putting together an All-NBA caliber season while Sacramento remains competitive in a brutal Western Conference. Getting 11 All-Tournament votes without a deep run shows voters respected his individual excellence even when team success wasn't there. That's rare. Usually, team performance drives these selections heavily.
The Victor Wembanyama vote count is the story nobody's talking about
Victor Wembanyama got five votes despite San Antonio reaching the finals. Five. That's fewer than Desmond Bane (eight votes) and OG Anunoby (seven votes), neither of whose teams made the final. It's the same total as teammate Stephon Castle, a rookie. For a generational talent who led his team to the championship game, that's surprisingly low recognition.
This tells you two things: either Wembanyama didn't dominate the tournament as much as people assumed, or voters are still figuring out how to evaluate his impact beyond traditional stats. My guess is the former. Wembanyama's defensive presence is enormous, but his offensive efficiency during the Cup probably wasn't elite enough to warrant more votes. When you're 7-foot-4 and your team makes the finals, voters expect total domination. Five votes suggests he was very good but not overwhelming.
Giannis, Jokic, and Vassell getting one vote each is ballot chaos
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Devin Vassell each received exactly one vote. That's almost certainly individual voters making weird choices rather than any real consensus. Jokic getting one vote when Denver didn't make noise in the Cup is someone voting on reputation. Giannis getting one vote when Milwaukee underperformed is similarly strange. Vassell's single vote is at least defensible given San Antonio's finals run, but it's still an outlier pick.
These single-vote selections expose how subjective these awards are. One voter thought Jokic deserved recognition despite minimal Cup impact. That's either contrarian for the sake of it or someone who didn't actually watch the tournament closely.
What this All-Tournament Team actually tells us
The NBA Cup All-Tournament Team confirms what we already knew: Jalen Brunson is elite, Karl-Anthony Towns is thriving in New York, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a superstar even without playoff success. Luka and Fox round out a group that reflects individual brilliance across different team contexts. The Wembanyama vote count is the only real surprise, suggesting voters still aren't sure how to rate his game beyond the hype. Brunson's unanimous selection is the headline, but Towns's 12 votes might be the most important validation for the Knicks' championship aspirations. You don't win titles without multiple players performing at All-NBA level in big moments. New York just proved they have that.