The 2019-20 season is not finished just yet as the NBA will send 22 teams down to Orlando to resume and eventually finish the season, but there has been enough of the season to see who will earn All-NBA honors once it is all done.
23 of the NBA coaches were surveyed by The Athletic and they voted on and made their All-Defensive Teams. The First team consisted of Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, and Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons.
The Athletic praised Simmons for his versatility as they said:
Simmons edged Patrick Beverley for the second guard spot on the first team, with coaches pointing to Simmons’ height, long arms and quickness that make him a force for that huge Sixers team.
“Versatility, length — he can guard all five positions,” said one coach who listed Simmons on his All-Defensive First Team ballot. “In this day and age of positionless basketball, you want that kind of defender on the floor.”
The most egregious voting came on the Defensive Player of the Year vote. Simmons finished seventh in voting by the coaches as they all voted Gobert should win the award again, but Simmons should have a huge case to win the award outright this season. His work on that end has been well documented and for him to finish seventh in the voting is pretty surprising. [lawrence-related id=33881,33871,33850]