2025 NBA All Dawg Teams

Welcome one and all to the second annual Biasedly Unbiased Sports All Dawg teams. There are countless awards and recognitions across the NBA. Players that create winning cultures and star in their roles often are unrecognized by their peers. That is something I can simply not stand for. Dawgs have earned the right to be praised and I intend to do just that. The beauty of players that have that Dawg mentality is how their greatness is evaluated. Greatness for these players cannot be quantified and often goes unrecognized. With that being said, I think the term Dawg has become overused. Thankfully after lots of time watching hoops, I have become fluent in Dawg myself. So here is the official Biasedly Unbiased Sports definition of a Dawg.

Dawg: A player that brings intensity, mental strength, and grit to their game and is unbothered by any situation.

My favorite thing about Dawgs in the NBA is that they’re like dogs in real life. They come in all shapes, sizes, and breeds. People tend to think that all Dawgs have to be players that are world class defenders. While most Dawgs are tenacious defenders, it’s not a necessity for the award. Some players have a Dawg mentality based off their offense approach or unrelenting rebounding effort. However, the hungriest Dawgs are the ones that are great on both ends of the court. This has quickly become one of the favorite things I do. So please, celebrate the biggest Dawgs in the NBA with me.

2025 First Team All Dawg

Anthony Edwards, Guard, Minnesota Timberwolves

Ant-Man was a First Team selection in 2024 and to no surprise earned it again this season. Many times, players lose their Dawg once they reach superstar status. Thankfully for us, Edwards continues to approach the game with the correct mindset. While Edwards could easily rely too heavily on his jump shot and be passive defensively, he chooses each night not to. He takes advantage of his athleticism to both attack the rim and be a pest on the defensive end. Edwards truly plays with a tenacity that few others possess. The way he attacks the rim in mid air is jaw dropping. Edwards’ goal is not to dunk over you. His goal is to dunk through you and embarrass you and everyone you love. The development of his tenacity from just when he’s attacking the basket to the entirety of his game has helped Ant take the next steps. He took over the Timberwolves series against the Lakers and was the premier performer in a series that also featured LeBron James and Luka Doncic. That performance cemented his status as another First Team selection. Expect to see Anthony Edwards on our All Dawg teams for years to come.

Christian Braun, Guard, Denver Nuggets

Braun represents some fresh blood to our list. The former Kansas Jayhawk has played a pivotal role for Denver since his rookie season. Right away, Braun showed he was a Dawg but played limited minutes off the bench. In 2025, Braun became a starter after the departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He stepped into that role without missing a beat. Braun saw his stats and responsibilities step up without losing efficiency. Braun had the role of guarding opponent’s best scorer on many nights and doubled his points per game. In my opinion, this should have earned him the NBAs MIP. Taking into addition his ferocious finishing and defense is really what made him a First Team Dawg. Early in the season, Braun hammered one home on Rudy Gobert and immediately began talking sh*t towards the several time DPOY. It was a filthy slam and immediately put him on our watchlist. Additionally, we saw opposing players get frustrated with Braun’s intensity several times throughout the defense. A stingy defender, posterizer, and defensive irritant? Oh yes my friends, Christian Braun is a pure Dawg.

Lu Dort, Forward, Oklahoma City Thunder

Welcome back, Lu Dort. There was little doubt that Dort would be making his return to this list, especially after adding a NBA Championship to his resume. Dort has been a key part of the Thunder’s incredible improvement over the past few seasons. Most known for his lock down defense, I have been just as impressed with Dort’s improved shooting. During his rookie season in OKC, Dort shot an abysmal 29% from three. The initial reaction was that he would get played off the court by his lack of shooting. Fast forward to 2025 and he shot 41.2% from beyond the arc on nearly 6 attempts per game. The work ethic put in by Dort is prime Dawg mentality. You know our guy was grinding in the gym to improve his shooting and still be one of the premier defenders in Association. Dort is the type of player that would go unnoticed on an underperforming team. Thankfully, the stars aligned and the world gets to appreciate his defensive greatness. On a more serious note, I hope kids grow up admiring Lu and can be inspired to become the next generation of Dawgs. In the meantime, he will remain a menace. Long live the Dorture Chamber.

Jimmy Butler, Forward, Golden State Warriors

Now, Jimmy Butler is someone that has been doing it for a long time. He’s been a Dawg before being a Dawg was cool or even a thing. Jimmy has been a star in the NBA for over a decade and for a handful of those years he was one of the premier two-way players in the league. On offense, Butler finds his way towards the rim and doesn’t play the flashiest brand of basketball. What he does possess is a remarkable tenacity that shows up primarily when the lights are the brightest. During his final years in Miami, the term “Playoff Jimmy” became synonymous with the NBA playoffs. Jimmy upped his game and carried those Miami teams beyond their ceiling. On the defensive end of the court, Butler is a pest that routinely gets under the skin of opposing players. When he was traded to Golden State midseason, it reinvigorated the Jimmy Butler we know and love. He was getting to the free throw line at ease and taking a lot of pressure of Steph Curry. If it weren’t for the Curry injury, we might have seen Playoff Jimmy have another historic playoff run.

Isaiah Stewart, Forward, Detroit Pistons

Do I need to go into detail as to why the guy nicknamed “Beef Stew” made the All Dawg team? Isaiah Stewart might not wow anyone with his stats but he brings energy and toughness each second he is on the court. This season, Stewart saw his minutes decrease significantly but his impact did not. Despite the drop in minutes, he averaged a career high 1.4 blocks per game in 2025. Isaiah is a capable offensive player, but that is not where he makes his bread and butter. Stewart’s energy on defense makes him a vital part of this revamped Pistons team. The best Piston’s teams emulate the toughness of the city of Detroit. That is where Stewart has found his calling card in the NBA. He has become a fan favorite in Detroit and his grit is recognized across the league and applauded by lovers of Dawgs. I strongly believe the intangible impact Stewart has on the team, could have changed the outcome of their playoff series against New York. Unfortunately, he was only able to play in Game 1. Beef Stew will continue to make an impact in Detroit and most likely fight several people along the way.

2025 Second Team All Dawg

Jalen Brunson, Guard, New York Knicks

Brunson is one of those players I mentioned in the intro. He is not the strongest defender but is someone who undisputedly has that Dawg in him. The former Villanova star is generously listed at 6’2, 190 pounds despite probably being smaller. The mix of being undersized and not explosive athletically puts Brunson in a tough position. Still the mixture of savviness, skill, and Dawg has turned Brunson into one of the best players in the league. Brunson is incredible at getting to his spot and finishing through or forcing contact. He finishes through bigger defenders and creates separation when rising for a jump shot. To the dismay of many fans, Jalen is incredible at drawing fouls and getting to the line. Combined with his aggressive mentality, Brunson does not shy away from big moments. Throughout the 2024 and 2025 playoffs, Brunson has been inevitable in crunch time. Everyone knew he was getting the ball, but he was still near impossible to stop. Brunson is a living testament to the phrase, “It’s not the size of the Dawg in the fight but the size of the fight in the Dawg.”

Amen Thompson, Guard, Houston Rockets

If I had a subcategory for RDOY (Rookie Dawg of The Year), Amen Thompson would have ran away with it. Thompson made a massive jump in his second year and earned a First Team All Defense selection. He guarded some of the top players in the NBA and averaged 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. Thompson is a freak athletically. So much so that I think he and his twin brother, Ausar, were made in a test tube. Amen used that to his advantage on both ends of the court. Defensively, he routinely jumped passing lanes and made it impossible to get around him. On the offensive end, he overcame his developing shooting by getting to the basket with ease. Thompson does everything you’d expect a winning player to do. The scariest part is he’s still so young. As he makes improvements to his shooting and progresses intellectually, there’s no telling how good he can be. I expect Amen Thompson to be on many Dawg lists in the future as he potentially becomes a star.

Aaron Nesmith, Guard, Indiana Pacers

Now this is a personal favorite of mine and someone I’ve enjoyed watching improve throughout his five NBA seasons. I loved Aaron Nesmith coming out of Vanderbilt and was confused when he couldn’t find meaningful minutes in Boston. Thankfully, he has found his home in Indiana and has helped elevate the Pacers these last two seasons. Nesmith has improved vastly as a shooter and would’ve been the newest member of the 50/40/90 club if he’d played more games this season. Even so, shooting that efficiently while being an elite defender is something few players have been able to accomplish. Statistically, Nesmith’s defensive numbers don’t wow anyone. Nonetheless, he jumps off the screen defensively during every Pacers game. During Game 1 of the ECF against the Knicks, Nesmith spurred the Pacers onto a huge come back late in the 4th quarters. He drilled 6 threes in the 4th quarter and ended up with 30 points as the Pacers won in overtime. These were contested threes but Nesmith was unphased by the moment or the defense. That performance gave Nesmith one of the biggest heat check/Dawg games in the NBA this season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Forward, Milwaukee Bucks

The fact that Giannis has been a Top 5 player for the better part of a decade and remained a Dawg is truly extraordinary. The tale of Antetokounmpo is one of two polar opposite personalities. Off the court Giannis seems to be a great guy that loves to have fun. On the other hand, once he steps onto the court he has no friends. All he cares about is hooping to the best of his ability. It doesn’t matter if it’s a preseason game or the NBA Finals, Giannis is going to give it 110%. Where he has improved the most over the years is not settling for jump shots. While his shooting ability has greatly improved, Antetokounmpo is most effective dominating opposing defenses in the paint. Every time he shoots a three or midrange jumper, the opposing team breathes a sigh of relief. This season, Giannis settled less and was a speeding locomotive heading towards the basket. The Greek Freak also takes defense more seriously than most star players. He can switch onto any opposing player and loves blocking shots or getting steals to start a one man fast break. Despite all the praise, Giannis still wants to shove opposing players into the basket when he attacks for a dunk. That’s why he continues to earn a spot on our Dawg teams.

Jarrett Allen, Center, Cleveland Cavaliers

Jarrett Allen is someone that many people might not consider to be a Dawg. However, he’s one of the unsung heroes in the NBA. Allen shows up every game, he literally played all 82 games this season, and is a consistent force for the Cavaliers. Allen has averaged a double double or been within sniffing distance (.5 rebounds or less) for each of the last 6 seasons. As the old saying goes, he brings his lunch pail to the arena every game. The Cavs don’t have to run plays for him throughout the game but know he’ll find his way to 12+ points. Allen will either masterfully execute a pick and roll, get and offensive rebound, or take advantage when the ball is in his hands. Similar to Nesmith, Jarrett Allen is a fantastic defensive player but doesn’t have numbers that blow you away. Allen is a versatile big on defense and pairs wonderfully along fellow big Evan Mobley. While this might be a more under the radar selection, Allen fits everything I value when it comes to Dawgs. Availability, mentality, and consistency have all been mastered by Allen as he has carved his role in the league.

Honorable Mentions

Unfortunately, not everyone can make an All Dawg Team. Our two teams only hold 10 players, leaving a lot of these Dawgs metaphorically out in the cold. Even though I stated the term Dawg is overused in pop culture, there are still much more than 10 Dawgs in the NBA. Some of these players are past their prime, dealt with injuries, or are rising players in the league. Many of these players were hard to leave off both teams, but don’t be surprised to see them in the future.

Derrick White

Jrue Holiday

Josh Hart

Obi Toppin

TJ McConnell

Aaron Gordon

Alex Caruso

Draymond Green

Kris Dunn

Dillon Brooks

Steven Adams

Herb Jones

Future Watchlist

Honorable mention is filled with players that most likely have had Dawg status for years or are later on in their career. The Future All Dawg Watchlist is for players that I believe will earn some All Dawg Team recognition before their career is over. The future is bright for these young players and their respective teams should be happy to have players of their skillset and mentality.

Dyson Daniels

Davion Mitchell

Jalen Suggs

Paolo Banchero

Jaden McDaniels

Ausar Thompson

Stephon Castle

Ron Holland