The NBA announced the All-Defensive teams for the ongoing season, and it was Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. who headlined the first team.
Joining him were Brook Lopez (Milwaukee Bucks), Alex Caruso (Chicago Bulls), Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers), and Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks).
Making the second team were some seasoned names: Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), OG Anunoby (Toronto Raptors), Dillon Brooks (Memphis Grizzlies), Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors), and Derrick White (Boston Celtics).
2022-23 NBA All-Defensive teams:
First team: Jaren Jackson Jr., Brook Lopez, Alex Caruso, Evan Mobley, Jrue Holiday
Second team: Bam Adebayo, OG Anunoby, Dillon Brooks, Draymond Green, Derrick White
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 9, 2023
Per Bleacher Report, Jackson became the second Memphis player to win Defensive Player of the Year, joining Marc Gasol. This season saw him average 18.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in the regular season.
Meanwhile, Holiday averaged 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals for the Bucks, while his teammate, Lopez was a finalist for the DPOY award, and now finds a mention in the All-Defensive squad.
Moving to the second unit, Celtics guard White led the second-team votes and, to his credit, had an astonishing 76 shots in the regular season. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the omission of Celtics’ guard Marcus Smart who didn’t find a mention. The same for Los Angeles Lakers star, Anthony Davis.
The Athletic’s John Hollinger shared his two cents on Smart not making either team. “2022 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart didn’t make either team, but his teammate, White, did,” he said.
“Most clued-in Celtics observers will tell you that was the correct call — White was fantastic this year — but it still was a surprise to see the national vote go this way. Smart was only named on 23 ballots.”
The other bigger name was Brooks, who is now no more a part of the Memphis unit. His antics on the court aside, the guard did make a name for himself as the Grizzlies’ defensive powerhouse, and that earned him a spot in the second team alongside Green and Adebayo.
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