2021-22 NBA All-Defensive Teams: See which 10 players made the cut originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The NBA All-Defensive Teams are here.
The league on Friday announced the 10 players chosen for the first and second teams to recognize their defensive prowess throughout the 2021-22 campaign.
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Here’s a full look at how the teams shaped up:
2021-22 NBA All-Defensive First Team:
- Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
- Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns
- Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
- Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
2021-22 NBA All-Defensive Second Team:
- Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
- Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks
- Matisse Thybulle, Philadelphia 76ers
- Robert Williams III, Boston Celtics
- Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
As expected, Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart and Phoenix Suns wing Mikal Bridges headlined the first team after being the top-two candidates for the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, with Smart taking home the prize. Smart received 99 first-team votes, just one short of a perfect score.
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Adebayo was just one point short of making the first team for the first time in his career. He had 57 first-team votes and 38 second-team votes for 152 total points. Jackson Jr. had 55 first-team votes and 43 second-team votes for 153 points, narrowly edging Adebayo. The Heat center has now made the second team in three consecutive seasons.
Here is how the rest of the voting panned out:
The Celtics (Smart, Williams) and Bucks (Antetokounmpo, Holiday) each had two representatives from the list.
