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The NBA announced on Friday the members of all defense teams for 2021-22, with some celebrities and this season in defense of the year, leading the first team.
Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, Memphis Grizzlies striker Jaren Jackson Jr., Utah Jazz center Rudy Robert, Milwaukee Bucks striker Janice Adetokunmpo and Phoenix Suns striker Michal Bridges has defended for the first time this season.
NBA Communications @NBAPR
The first full defensive team of Kia NBA 2021-22:
๐ Janice Adetokunmpo (Milwaukee)
๐ Michal Bridges (Phoenix)
ะะธ Rudy Robert (Utah)
๐ Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis)
๐ Marcus Smart (Boston) pic.twitter.com/YQgyjt9qSP
Meanwhile, Miami Heat’s great man Bam Adebayo, Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green, Milwaukee Bucks Guard Jrou Holiday, Philadelphia Guard 76ers Mathis Tibou and Boston Celtics Center Robert Williams III make up the second.
NBA Communications @NBAPR
2021-22 Kia NBA All-Defensive Second Team:
๐ Bam Adebayo (Miami)
๐ Draymond Green (Golden State)
๐ Jru Holliday (Milwaukee)
๐ Mathis Tibul (Philadelphia)
๐ Robert Williams III (Boston) pic.twitter.com/UJiVcGMyUw
Here is a look at the vote:
NBA Communications @NBAPR
Kia NBA defensive player of the year Marcus Smart of Boston and runner-up Michal Bridges of Phoenix received the most points in the 2021-22 Kia NBA All-Defensive Team.
More โก๏ธ pic.twitter.com/dUxDi2L2oc
The choice of Smart in the first team is not a surprise, since for the first time in his career he was named Defender of the Year. This is his third team selection for all defenses.
The 28-year-old was one of the driving forces behind the Celtics’ 1 defense this season. He is ranked seventh in the league with 1.7 thefts per game, equal to six thefts with 119 and has 19 games with at least three thefts.
Smart also finished in fourth place with 75 recovered loose balls, tied for 10th with 206 deflections and 16 draws. He also finished 3.2 fights in defense of a match, most of his career.
Jackson, meanwhile, helped the Grizzlies finish sixth in the NBA’s best defense rankings and second in the Western Conference. This is the first selection for all defensive teams in his career.
The 22-year-old finished the season with an average of 4.3 rebounds and a record-breaking 2.3 blocks per game. In addition, he finished with 769 contested shots, 63 recovered loose balls, 335 total defensive fights, 177 total blocks and 73 stolen balls.
Gober is the three-time defensive player of the year and this marks his sixth choice for all defensive teams. He helped Jazz finish 10th in the league’s top defenses and was a big reason Utah finished fifth in the Western Conference standings.
The 29-year-old played an average of 11 defensive rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. In addition, he finished with 862 contested strikes, 727 total defenses, 137 total blocks, 87 deflections and 28 loose balls.
Adetokunmpo won the DPoY in 2019-20 and this marks his fifth selection for all defensive teams. He helped the Bucks finish 14th in the NBA’s best defense rankings and was a big reason for the team to finish third in the Eastern Conference.
The 27-year-old played an average of 9.6 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocks per game in 2021-22. In addition, he finished with a total of 612 contested shots, 644 defensive fights, 72 stolen balls, 91 blocks, 115 deflections and 64 rebounds.
Bridges finished second in the DPoY voting this season, marking the first All-Defensive Team selection of his career. He helped the Suns finish third in the NBA’s best defense rankings and best in the Western Conference.
The 25-year-old has averaged 3.3 defensive rebounds and 1.2 steals per game this season. He also finished with a total of 168 deflections, 483 contested strikes, 273 defensive fights, 96 stolen thefts and 36 blockades.
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