Oklahoma City Thunder wing Lu Dort did not make an All-NBA Defensive Team, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t get any recognition.
The second-year player received one First Team and 15 Second Team votes. The NBA announced the teams on Monday.
Dort received the third-most votes among players who were not selected for a team. Phoenix Suns wing Mikal Bridges had four First Team and 31 Second Team votes, while Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart finished with one vote for First Team and 20 for Second.
Despite the Thunder’s poor record, Dort showed his acumen on the defensive end of the court. He defended the opponent’s best player most night with little regard to position and saw his fouls tick down from his rookie year. He appeared in 52 of 72 games this season.
Bridges, the best defender on the Suns, played all 72 games. Smart appeared in 48 for the Celtics.
The most controversial selection was Philadelphia 76ers guard Matisse Thybulle, who only averaged 20 minutes per game. He was an absolute wrecking ball to offensive schemes, though, and with 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks per game even with that relatively small minute count, the stats back up the eye test.
All-Defensive First Team
- Guard: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
- Guard: Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks
- Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
- Forward: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
- Center: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
All-Defensive Second Team
- Guard: Matisse Thybulle, Philadelphia 76ers
- Guard: Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
- Forward: Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
- Forward: Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
- Center: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers