NBA Announces All-Defensive Teams

Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs has been unanimously selected to the 2015-16 NBA All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced today.  The 6’7 forward is the only player this season to receive all 130 First Team votes (260 total points) from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters in the United States and Canada.

The NBA All-Defensive First Team also features forward Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors (251 points, 123 First Team votes), center DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers (137 points, 47 First Team votes) and guards Avery Bradley of the Boston Celtics (149 points, 62 First Team votes) and Chris Paul of the Clippers (148 points, 59 First Team votes).

Paul was named to the First Team for the fifth consecutive season and sixth time overall, making him the 12th player all time with at least six career nods.  Leonard, Green and Jordan made the First Team for the second straight season, while Bradley earned the honor for the first time.

The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of forwards Paul Millsap of the Atlanta Hawks (97 points, 11 First Team votes) and Paul George of the Indiana Pacers (48 points, five First Team votes), center Hassan Whiteside of the Miami Heat (126 points, 44 First Team votes) and guards Tony Allen of the Memphis Grizzlies (121 points, 44 First Team votes) and Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls (62 points, 18 First Team votes).

Players were awarded two points for each First Team vote and one point for each Second Team vote.  Voters were asked to select two guards, two forwards and one center for each team, choosing players at the position they play regularly.  Players who received votes at multiple positions were slotted at the position where they received the most votes.

FIRST TEAM

Forward      Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio       130                        —                      260

Forward      Draymond Green, Golden State   123                        5                      251

Center         DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers    47                          43                    137

Guard        Avery Bradley, Boston                 62                          25                    149

Guard         Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers              59                          30                    148

SECOND TEAM

Forward      Paul Millsap, Atlanta                    11                          75                    97

Forward      Paul George, Indiana                    5                            38                    48

Center        Hassan Whiteside, Miami             44                          38                    126

Guard         Tony Allen, Memphis                   44                          33                    121

Guard         Jimmy Butler, Chicago                 18                          26                    62

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in parentheses): Rudy Gobert, Utah, 64 (17); Klay Thompson, Golden State, 49 (16); Jae Crowder, Boston, 47 (3); LeBron James, Cleveland, 43 (5); Kyle Lowry, Toronto, 43 (9); Danny Green, San Antonio, 39 (9); Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 35 (12); Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 33 (5); Ricky Rubio, Minnesota, 30 (6); Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Detroit, 27 (3); Anthony Davis, New Orleans, 24 (3); Andre Drummond, Detroit, 14 (5); Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City, 14 (1); Stephen Curry, Golden State, 13 (3); Andre Iguodala, Golden State, 13 (3); Patrick Beverley, Houston, 11 (1); Al Horford, Atlanta, 7 (1); Marcus Smart, Boston, 7 (2); John Wall, Washington, 6; Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee, 3; Trevor Ariza, Houston, 3; Kent Bazemore, Atlanta, 3; Andrew Bogut, Golden State, 3 (1); DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento, 3 (1); Nicolas Batum, Charlotte, 2; Victor Oladipo, Orlando, 2 (1); LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio, 1; Harrison Barnes, Golden State, 1; Bismack Biyombo, Toronto, 1; Mike Conley, Memphis, 1; Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City, 1; Derrick Favors, Utah, 1; George Hill, Indiana, 1; Wesley Matthews, Dallas, 1; Luc Mbah a Moute, Los Angeles Clippers; Kristaps Porzingis, New York, 1; Andre Roberson, Oklahoma City, 1; Mike Scott, Atlanta, 1; Dwyane Wade, Miami, 1.