Smart, Giannis highlight NBA All-Defensive teams
Newly crowned Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart is among the players selected to the NBA's 2021-2022 All-Defensive teams, the league announced Friday.
Smart earned a spot on the first team alongside Phoenix Suns wing Mikal Bridges, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr.
| First Team | Player | Career All-Defensive Team selections |
|---|---|---|
| F | Giannis Antetokounmpo | 5 |
| F | Jaren Jackson Jr. | 1 |
| C | Rudy Gobert | 6 |
| G | Marcus Smart | 3 |
| G | Mikal Bridges | 1 |
This marks Smart's third All-Defensive first-team appearance in four seasons, tallying 99 out of 100 first-team votes. Gobert has made six straight All-Defensive first-team selections. Antetokounmpo, the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year, has been selected to the first team in four consecutive seasons.
Bridges and Jackson Jr. received their first All-Defensive nods. It's the first time two players debuted on the first team since the 2018-2019 campaign.
The second team is led by former Defensive Player of the Year honoree Draymond Green with his seventh nod. The Warriors veteran is joined by Bucks guard Jrue Holiday, Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo, Philadelphia 76ers wing Mattise Thybulle, and Celtics big man Robert Williams, who was picked for his first All-Defensive team.
| Second Team | Player | Career All-Defensive Team selections |
|---|---|---|
| F | Draymond Green | 7 |
| F | Bam Adebayo | 3 |
| C | Robert Williams | 1 |
| G | Matisse Thybulle | 2 |
| G | Jrue Holiday | 4 |