Brooklyn Nets guard Mikal Bridges received votes for the NBA All-Defensive teams, but did not receive enough votes to make either of the All-Defensive teams, according to an announcement by the NBA on Tuesday. As a result, Bridges was slated in the “other players receiving votes: guards” section.
Bridges, 26, received six first-team votes (each vote is two points) and 21 second-team votes (one point each) for a total of 33 total points. The guards who made first-team or second-team were: Jrue Holiday, Alex Caruso, Derrick White, and Dillon Brooks. Some are making the case that Bridges should have made one of the teams based off what he did this season.
Bridges finished the 2022-23 season tied for 32nd in steals per game (1.1) and tied for 49th in blocks per game (0.7). The former Villanova Wildcat did finish 18th in defensive win shares (3.1), but also finished 81st defensive box plus/minus. Bridges is regarded as one of the better wing defenders in the league, but he had to take more of an offensive role once he was traded to the Nets at the trade deadline.
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