The NBA today announced the All-Defensive Teams for the 2018-19 season.
In addition to being the three finalists for the 2018-19 Defensive Player of the Year award, Utah Jazz centre Rudy Gobert, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo headline the 2018-19 NBA All-Defensive First Team. The trio is joined by Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart and Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe.
The winner of the 2018-19 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award will be revealed at the 2019 NBA Awards presented by Kia on Tuesday, June 25. The third annual NBA Awards, honouring this season’s top performers, will take place at Barker Hangar in Los Angeles.
Toronto Raptors forward and two-time Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard earned 2018-19 NBA All-Defensive Second Team honours alongside Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, Philadelphia 76ers centre Joel Embiid, New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday and Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson.
2018-19 NBA All-Defensive First Team
- Rudy Gobert, Jazz
- Paul George, Thunder
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
- Marcus Smart, Celtics
- Eric Bledsoe, Bucks
2018-19 All-Defensive Second Team
- Jrue Holiday, Pelicans
- Klay Thompson, Warriors
- Joel Embiid, 76ers
- Draymond Green, Warriors
- Kawhi Leonard, Raptors
The NBA All-Defensive Teams were selected by a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. Players were awarded two points for each First Team vote and one point for each Second Team vote. Voters selected 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.
Other players receiving votes
- Danny Green, Raptors
- Patrick Beverley, Clippers
- Derrick White, Spurs
- PJ Tucker, Rockets
- Pascal Siakam, Raptors
- Myles Turner, Pacers
- Jimmy Butler, 76ers
- Russell Westbrook, Thunder
