Making the All-NBA Defensive Team is a phenomenal accomplishment for the league’s best defenders.
With only ten spots available across the All-NBA Defensive First and Second teams, getting a nod is incredibly difficult.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has his fair share of All-NBA Defensive Team selections. He has five first-team selections and one second-team selection to his name, though his last time making a team came in 2014.
This year, the NBA chose Jrue Holiday and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green for the All-NBA Defensive First Team.
James took to his Instagram story to congratulate Simmons and Green for their accomplishment:
It’s important to note that James, Simmons and Green are all under Klutch Sports Group, which also posted the photos of Simmons and Green that James shared on his story.
This is Simmon’s second time making the first team, as he made it in 2020. Green has four first-team selections under his belt, including this year’s, and two second-team selections.
The Lakers didn’t have any selections on either team this season despite finishing the campaign with the No. 1 ranked defense. However, Anthony Davis, Alex Caruso, Dennis Schroder and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all received votes for both teams.
Caldwell-Pope also received one vote for Defensive Player of the Year, which Gobert took home for the third time in his career.
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