Gobert, Davis headline All-Defensive 1st team
Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans teammates Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday, Victor Oladipo of the Indiana Pacers, and Robert Covington of the Philadelphia 76ers were named to the 2017-18 NBA All-Defensive first team on Wednesday.
Joel Embiid of the Sixers, Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors, Al Horford of the Boston Celtics, Dejounte Murray of the San Antonio Spurs, and Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves round out the second team.
Here's how voting among select media broke down:
Player | 1st Team (2 Pts.) | 2nd Team (1 Pt.) | Total Points | All-Defensive Selections |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gobert | 94 | 4 | 192 | 2 |
Davis | 73 | 17 | 163 | 3 |
Oladipo | 58 | 20 | 136 | 1 |
Holiday | 39 | 27 | 105 | 1 |
Covington | 27 | 36 | 90 | 1 |
Player | 1st Team (2 Pts.) | 2nd Team (1 Pt.) | Total Points | All-Defensive Selections |
---|---|---|---|---|
Embiid | 4 | 82 | 90 | 1 |
Green | 26 | 34 | 86 | 4 |
Horford | 24 | 37 | 85 | 1 |
Murray | 32 | 16 | 80 | 1 |
Butler | 20 | 39 | 79 | 4 |
Gobert sits as the favorite to take home the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award despite missing 26 games this season, while Davis and Holiday formed a vaunted big man/perimeter defense for the Pelicans. It's the third All-Defensive honor for Davis, and the first first-team nod.
Oladipo, Holiday, Covington, Embiid, Horford, and Murray are all first-time honorees, while Green and Butler pick up their fourth All-Defensive nods. For Butler, all have been second team.