-
Andrew LopezESPN
Boston CelticsGuard Marcus Smart, Utah Jazzcenter Rudy GobertAnd Milwaukee BucksForward Giannis AntetokounmpoThe 2021-22 NBA All-Defensive team was highlighted, which was announced on Friday night.
Smart was named the league’s Defensive Player-of-the Year for 2021-22. This is his third first team nomination. Smart was joined at the guard position by Mikal BridgesYou can find the Phoenix SunsHe earned his first All-Defensive team nomination. Smart and Bridges were the two top vote-getters.
Antetokounmpo was awarded his fifth All Defensive team award, and his fourth first selection. Since 1968-69 was the first year All-Defensive Teams were announced, Antetokounmpo is the only player with four first-team selections or multiple MVPs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, LeBron JamesTim Duncan.
Memphis was also joined Antetokounmpo in the forward spot Jaren Jackson JrLike Bridges,. was also selected for his first selection.
Gobert, who has won the Defensive Player Of The Year award three times in a row, was awarded his sixth consecutive selection. This breaks a tie with Hakeem OlajuwonAbdul-Jabbar, for the most consecutive first-team honors as a center.
Milwaukee’s second team won. Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia’s Matisse Thybulle, Miami’s Bam Adebayo, Golden State’s Draymond GreenBoston’s Robert Williams III.
Smart and Williams joined the team. This marks the first time Boston has had more than one player on the All-Defensive Team. Rajon RondoKevin Garnett and Kevin Garnett joined the squad in 2011-12.
Six Celtics players were awarded a vote. Jaylen Brown, Jayson TatumAnd Al HorfordAll three were selected for a first-team vote. Celtics reserve guard Derrick WhiteThe following was acquired by the at the trade deadline San Antonio SpursThree votes were cast for him in the second team.
Holiday’s fourth selection earned him $120,000 in bonus.
Green was Green’s seventh selection to this team, and he played in only 46 games. ESPN Stats and Information Research shows that Andrei Kirilenko (41) was the best player in 2004-05. Scottie PippenThe All-Defensive Team was made up of 44 players in 1997-98, but they played in fewer games.
Adebayo was selected for his third All-Defensive (all second team) career team, while Thybulle was on the second and Williams was on the first.
Rookies Evan MobleyHerb Jones of New Orleans and Herb Jones of Cleveland were the fifth and sixth place vote-getters for forwards. They missed the chance to become the first rookies in the All-Defensive squad since Tim Duncan did so in 1997-98.