After being named the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year last month, dominant San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama was also the lone unanimous pick for the All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced on Friday night.
Wembanyama, 22, was joined on the first team by one of his opponents in the Western Conference finals, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, along with Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson, Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert and Boston Celtics guard Derrick White.
Holmgren and Thompson finished second and third, respectively, behind Wembanyama — who led the NBA in blocks per game (3.1) for the third consecutive season — in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
In the voting for All-Defensive First Team, Holmgren placed second after receiving 93 first-place votes and four second-place votes for a total of 190 points. Thompson finished third with 72 first-place votes and 22 third-place votes (166 points). Gobert was fourth (61 first-place votes, 29 second-place votes) with 151, followed by White with 146 (58 first-place votes, 30 second-place votes).
Holmgren’s Thunder teammate, guard Cason Wallace, made the second team along with forward Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks guard OG Anunoby, guard Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo.
Adebayo was also named the NBA Social Justice Champion and will receive the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy, while the NBA will also donate $100,000 to the Bam, Books & Brotherhood Foundation.
“I accept this award not just for myself, but for every voice that has gone unheard and every person working behind the scenes to create a more just and compassionate world,” Adebayo said in a team release.
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. and Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris were the other finalists for the award.
–Field Level Media
