On May 21st, 2024, the NBA announced the first and second All-Defensive Team. The teams consist of the best defensive players in the NBA. These players lead their teams in locking down opponents and are the consistent anchors holding them steady.
A good chunk of the players named have been on these teams before. One is the current DPOY. However, another player is making his All-Defensive Team debut as it is his rookie year. Here is a breakdown of the teams and reasons as to why these players made it.
All-Defensive Second Team
Though they are considered the second team, a lot of players on this list are just as good defensively as the first team. The team consists of Alex Caruso, Jrue Holiday, Jaden McDaniels, Jalen Suggs, and Derrick White. Three out of the five players can be found dishing it out in the playoffs which is proof that defense does win championships.
Alex Caruso is a top tier defender for the Chicago Bulls. When stepping onto the court the Bulls see their defensive rating go up three points. The guard averaged 1.0 blocks per game and 1.7 steals per game. He’s a quick player who can come up from behind and snatch the ball from just about any ball handler.
Next up is Jrue Holiday. Holiday has moved to a much more defensive minded play style with his trade to the Boston Celtics. Of course, Jrue Holiday has always been an amazing defenseman as he has been on All-Defensive Teams six times, which is very impressive. However, with the Celtics having an arsenal of scorers Holiday’s defense has become the most important part of his game now.
Jaden McDaniels is the only forward on this list of elite guards. He’s averaging 2.2 defensive rebounds per game, 1.0 steals per game, and 1.2 blocks per game. McDaniels is a guy that players fear to go up against when driving to the rim. He has a quick block recovery time so he’s capable of springing back up and getting another on a put back.
Jalen Suggs is another speedy shot blocking guard. He has the hops to meet bigger players at the rim and knock a ball into the stands. His quick hands also lead to solid steals. He gave the Orlando Magic 2.4 defensive rebounds per game, 1.4 steals per game, and .6 blocks per game.
Finally, there’s the second Boston Celtics player on the team: Derrick White. This is White’s second time making a team, and he’s known for his chase down blocks and ability to always be there at the right time. During the regular season, he averaged 5.5 defensive rebounds per game, .7 steals per game, and 1.9 blocks per game.
All-Defensive First Team
The All-Defensive First Team is the cream of the crop of defensive players. This year, the first team consisted of Bam Adebayo, Rudy Gobert, Herbert Jones, Anthony Davis, and Victor Wembanyama. As one can see the first team this season was reserved for the big guys who protect the paint minus Herbert Jones who can slip into the guard position at 6’7″.
Starting things off is the Miami Heat’s dangerous center Bam Adebayo. This regular season, Adebayo gave his team 8.1 defensive rebounds per game, 1.1 steals per game, and .9 blocks per game. He placed in 12th place for rebounds in the league. Adebayo is one of the best rim protectors in the league making players stop short when they see him.
Rudy Gobert has made it onto his seventh All-Defensive Team which is quite the accomplishment. He is also the reigning (and 4x) DPOY of the league showing that he is one of the most elite defenders in the game. Gobert is an absolute powerhouse on the boards and in the shot blocking category with 2.1 blocks per game in the regular season.
Herbert Jones is the shortest player on this list, but that doesn’t make him any less of a defensive threat. The New Orleans Pelicans player had a solid performance this year with 1.4 steals per game. He’s an explosive player who has had a great year blocking shots around the perimeter and in the paint.
There is no question that Anthony Davis is an elite defender. The center finished 3rd in the league for rebounds with 9.5 of the 12.6 being on the defensive end. He also averaged a huge 2.3 blocks per game for his Los Angeles Lakers team. He has now made an NBA All-Defensive Team five times, which is very impressive.
Lastly, there’s the rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama. With a fantastic 8.4 defensive rebounds per game and 3.6 blocks per game, there was no question that Wemby would make an appearance on the list. Arguably, the young star should’ve been the DPOY winner. He will probably be on every first team for years to come.
The All-Defensive Team and Playoffs Correlation
Within this list, every single player made either the play-in or the playoffs but one. Now, two out of the four teams left are still on this list. These players are Jaden McDaniels of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Jrue Holiday and Derrick White of the Boston Celtics. This shows how great defense leads to team success.
Right now, it seems like the Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves have a great chance of clashing in the finals. This means that NBA fans can sit back and watch as three elite defenders try and win their teams a ring. It will be a very exciting matchup if it happens.
Every single player named on these two teams deserved to be there. They’ve all stepped up their games on the defensive end of the court while still providing points offensively. It’s always great to see a player earn their flowers for defending when so much of the hype is built around offensive minded players.
About the Author
Elizabeth is an avid watcher of all things sports. However, the Boston sports teams will always be her number one. Her favorite sport to watch is basketball, but she also enjoys professional wrestling, soccer, and baseball. You can find her on X @edellapiana1 to check out more content.
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