The 2019 NBA All-Defensive Teams have been revealed, with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz leading the field in First Team votes. Fellow 2019 Defensive Player of the Year finalists Paul George of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks were also named to the All-Defensive First Team, with Antetokounmpo’s teammate Eric Bledsoe and Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics rounding out the guard selections.
The 2018-19 NBA All-Defensive First Team!@Giannis_An34 @EBled2 @Yg_Trece @rudygobert27 @smart_MS3 pic.twitter.com/BXj7REv1dJ
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2019
NBA announces All-Defensive teams: pic.twitter.com/BzLEVy3fcy
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) May 22, 2019
The All-Defensive Second Team features Jrue Holiday leading the way as the top vote-getter, Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson making his long overdue debut in an All-Defensive team alongside his teammate, 2017 Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, and two-time Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard making the first ever All-Defensive team appearance for a member of the Toronto Raptors.
Kawhi Leonard has been named to the NBA's All-Defensive Second Team. It's his fifth career All-Defensive Team selection (three First teams, two Seconds) and the first time a Raptors player has ever made All-Defense.
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 22, 2019
Some players known for their defensive prowess who did not make either of the 2019 NBA All-Defensive Teams have gone to social media to express their frustrations:
Lol that’s funny!!!
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) May 22, 2019
Blatant Disrespect
But It’s All Good Real 1’s Know What’s Up— Myles Turner (@Original_Turner) May 22, 2019
No @Original_Turner on the All – Defense Team. How is this not worthy???? ???? pic.twitter.com/698aGUertW
— Thad Young (@yungsmoove21) May 22, 2019
