Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert earned the most votes for NBA All-Defensive First Team, the league has announced on Wednesday. Gobert, who is also the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year, earned 94 First Team votes. He averaged 13.5 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game during the regular season, and was the big part of the Jazz’s Western Conference first-round win against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Behind Gobert is New Orleans Pelicans’ forward Anthony Davis who earned his first NBA All-Defensive First Team selection. Davis, who has two NBA All-Defensive Second Team selections, earned 73 first-team votes. He had an MVP-worthy campaign after the Pelicans lost DeMarcus Cousins, averaging 28.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals and led the league in blocks with 2.6 per game.
Rudy Gobert and Anthony Davis are joined on NBA All-Defensive First Team by Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo, Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday and Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington. This is also the first selection for Oladipo, Holiday and Covington.
The 2017-18 NBA All-Defense First Team! @VicOladipo @Jrue_Holiday11 @Holla_At_Rob33 @AntDavis23 @rudygobert27 pic.twitter.com/yk94xYliI6
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2018
NBA Defensive Player of the Year finalist, 76ers’ Joel Embiid, didn’t find his place on the NBA All-Defensive First Team. He did, however, made it into NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection. He is joined by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, Boston Celtics center Al Horford, San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jimmy Butler.
Six players selected to an NBA All-Defensive Team for their First Time! pic.twitter.com/sm9nmQOIT6
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) May 23, 2018
