Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 at 3:23 pm  |  174 responses

’08-09 All-Defensive Teams Announced

by Ryne Nelson

Dwight Howard, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, headlines the ’08-09 All-Defensive First Team. This season marks Howard’s first First Team selection and certainly not his last.

This is Kevin Garnett’s eighth First Team selection, which ties him with Tim Duncan for the most career First Team awards among active players. Duncan has been on either the First or Second Team every year of his career, giving him the most selections of any player in history. Duncan’s 12 career selections tops Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bobby Jones’ 11. Congrats to the Big Fundamental!

Kobe’s nine career selections ties him with Jason Kidd for third among active players. Bryant’s seven First Team awards put him well within grasp of tying or surpassing (you know he’ll be trying) Michael Jordan and Gary Payton’s record nine First Team selections.

Dwyane Wade was the first player under 6-5 to compile 100 steals and 100 blocks in a season and finished third in the Defensive Player of the Year Voting. Despite those credentials, Wade finished on the Second Team, well behind Chris Paul. Like Howard, this was Paul’s first season on the First Team.

Last but not least, LeBron James finished third in total points. Oddly, it’s his first time making either the First or Second Team.

’08-09 ALL-DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM
Player 1st 2nd Points
Dwight Howard 27 1 55
Kobe Bryant 24 5 53
LeBron James 22 3 47
Chris Paul 15 6 36
Kevin Garnett 13 9 35
’08-09 ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM
Tim Duncan 10 10 30
Dwyane Wade 9 8 26
Rajon Rondo 4 15 23
Shane Battier 6 10 22
Ron Artest 5 12 22
Notables, point totals (First Team votes in parentheses): Tayshaun Prince, 15 (3); Raja Bell, 8 (2); Joel Przybilla, 7 (1); Chauncey Billups, 5; Ronnie Brewer, 5 (1); Andre Iguodala, 5; Yao Ming, 5; Emeka Okafor, 5 (1); Kendrick Perkins, 4 (1).

The voting panel consisted of the 30 head coaches, who were asked to select All-Defensive First and Second Teams by position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players from their own team. Two points were awarded for a First Team vote and one point was awarded for a Second Team vote.

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  • chazz michael michaels

    chris paul only on der cuz he hit dudes in tha balls

  • http://maybeididhypeuphisdfencejustalittle.com nbk

    although LeBron isn’t the best in the league, come on now. If Battier played the whole season this probably wouldn’t be a conversation. That list would be 25 games long.

  • http://thatwillneverhappenquailyourretarted.com nbk

    And Jukai, I am not saying anything the media or coaches haven’t already proven they believe. And those people get paid for what they do so I don’t think you saying I’m wrong means anything at all.

  • buggsie7_aus

    why no love for the birdman?

  • http://fjdklsf.com Jukai

    NBK: The coaches don’t get paid for this. That’s dumb. Coaches have countless scouts and coordinators feeding them information, THEY don’t have to go out and find it themselves. Ask any scout or defensive coordinator who they’d rather have on a key defensive play, Rondo or Chris Paul… Lebron or Shane Battier… ask the same guys if they could switch out the two on every possession or just keep in Paul/Lebron for both offense and defense, and see what they say. I mean, god damn, one coach voted for Howard as all-defensive second team. One dude thought Joel Pryzbilla was a good defender. That’s just downright arrogant of you to say something like that.
    You’re also still wrong.

  • ScottiePippen

    Didn’t Cris Paul get consistently torched in the Olympics? By that Aussie Kid?

    Where is Cris Anderson, He was second in the league in blocks averaging about 20 minutes a game. Delonte West? anyone?

    None of these guys takes on the other teams #1 perimeter defender like in the good old days of Mike and GP and Scottie. Now you have to save your energy for offense and rarely see Marquee guys matched up like Dwade and Kobe, they hardly guard each other when they play

    This list is terrible

  • I am the walrus

    LeBron is a fridge…

  • http://thatwillneverhappenquailyourretarted.com nbk

    I never once said LeBron is better thn Shane Battier at defense, in fact I said if Shane Battier played the whole year we wouldn’t be having this conversation. But he didn’t and its not about who they would want on a big possession its about their body of work for the season! and i am not wrong, they get paid to know the opposing team and the impact each player has on their success, its what being a coach is. Don’t call me arrogant, I simply stated they get paid to know the game, you sit on Slamonline and act like your the judge of right and wrong. I am merely defending why LeBron James deservedly got 1st team all defense for the 2008-09 season, and my support stands with paid professionals who gameplan their teams offense and defense around opposing players thus making my “arrogant” a$$ assume they know a thing or two about what their voting on. And I am also backed by those in the media that get a vote, with whom are paid professionals who critique and judge everything every player and coach do. So you my friend are wrong, for assuming your right with no basis but your own crappy assessment.

  • cdef28

    Too much is being made of LeBron’s defense. I don’t think he should be on first team, but if you finish second in DPOY, you have to make first team. However, I have a problem with KG making the first team. How many games did he miss this season?

  • C-Mac

    No love for the Birdman? at least one vote!
    and there is no way Lebron is ahead of Wade, as much as i love his game, Wade needs that spot like donald trump needs a new wig.
    when was the last time in recent memory that guys were scared of getting their shots blocked by a 6 5 shooting guard?

  • BostonBaller

    I can’t argue w/ the coaches although coaches make mistakes on the regular all the time. Like most awards they are swayed by names and opinions. nbk is right that James had the same role on D that KG does BUT there is no comparison who has the better all around D (KG) As far as the rabid dog piece, well James doesn’t bark but he is always posing & cutting up in his own way (which is fine) CP3 is a great lane defender but a lot of the steals he gets are actually unforced turnovers by the offensive player that he picks up (I guess that’s a steal in todays NBA)

  • BostonBaller

    Everyone here is giving their take on this and arguing their point b/c that’s what this is about but it’s amazing how there is atleast 1 person who has to make a dumb comment about a player that has nothing to do with the topic. You know who you are and Rondo doesn’t suck. When KG retires, Perk with consistently make 2nd & some 1st team D teams. The Hulk puts in It’s hard to keep Billups off these lists…

  • ABIMATOR

    Wade should be on d 1st team

  • g

    woow this league loves lebron so much its crazy but my picks are rondo wade ron artest garnett and howard

  • http://sfdjilf.com Jukai

    Once again, NBK, COACHES don’t get paid for that, SCOUTS AND DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS GET PAID FOR THAT! Then they instruct the coach how to run the gameplan! Read what I write.

  • Tavoris

    Jukai, there’s no need to explain the obvious…nbk is ALWAYS on the defensive. Wait-that would make him the resident expert on defense.

  • Adrian

    I think battier and artest off set each other, one of those guys needs a first team bid.

    good to see Rondo getting his due.

  • youngmuggsy

    It says alot about Lebron talent that he can make the all-defensive team when he clearly doesn’t put alot of effort on that end of the court, unless he has a chance to get a highlight reel block in transition of course.

  • chaps

    lebron is a machine but his os hasn’t upgraded to play defense like kobe. First team isn’t warranted here.

  • rutax

    all im gonna say is……

    Dwade will pin ya ass straight up…when you know hes gna challenge you…or when u challenge him….

    Lebron only gets his pins from help or behind the back when u dont even know hes there

    Dwade challenges EVERYTHING…doesnt care if hes on the hightlight

    Lebron wont challenge if he knows hes a second late….HES ALL ABOUT THE HIGHLIGHT..AND THE CROWD…(look at the games against miami….wade will go at him…try and block him…but he wont try and block wade…wade aint scared of nobody)

    im a wade and lebron fan….but i hate lebron for the fact that hes about stats and hightlights….sort of like kobe…but lebrons a team player but is still about the highlight

  • rutax

    Wade may not be as great as you may like….but atleast he doesnt play for stats

  • http://thatwillneverhappenquailyourretarted.com nbk

    Jukai the information still comes through the head coach. If your ignorant enough to think you know more then the coaches then enjoy your opinion, but until you make millions of dollars to know basketball I am not going to care whether you think I am right or wrong. Tavoris your logic is constantly faulty you have fun in wonderland or wherever you live.

  • Flash

    WADE WAS ROBBED!!! lebron shouldnt be on the 1st team! thats what happens when the whole fu**in nba people loves you so much!

  • Flash

    DWADE DESERVES FIRST TEAM!!! I BET THOSE COACHES THAT VOTED FOR HIM FOR 1ST ARE WINNERS! THE REST ARE FULL OF SH**!!! ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO VOTED FOR LEBRON!

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