NEW YORK – Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, winner of the last three Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards, headlines the NBA All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced today. Howard totaled 56 points overall, including 27 First Team votes.

Also selected to the All-Defensive First Team are guard Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics (39 points), forward LeBron James of the Miami Heat (38 points), forward Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics (33 points), and guard Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (33 points). Garnett and Bryant each earn All-Defensive First Team honors for the ninth time, tying Michael Jordan and Gary Payton for the most in NBA history.

Howard earned the 2010-11 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, becoming the first player to win the award three straight seasons. He led the league with 66 double-doubles, while ranking second in rebounds (14.1 rpg) and fourth in blocks (2.38 bpg). He recorded at least 1,000 rebounds and 100 blocked shots for the sixth straight year; since blocked shots were officially tracked in 1973-74, only Moses Malone has done it more (seven seasons). With Howard manning the middle, the Magic allowed 93.5 ppg, ranking fourth in that category.

The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of guards Tony Allen of the Memphis Grizzlies, and Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets, center Tyson Chandler of the Dallas Mavericks, forward Andre Iguodala of the Philadelphia 76ers, and forward-center Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls.

The voting panel consisted of the NBA’s 30 head coaches, who were asked to select NBA 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.

Attached are the results for the 2010-11 NBA All-Defensive Teams balloting:

2010-11 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM

Position               Player, Team                                    1^st           2^nd             Points

Center                 Dwight Howard, Orlando                   27           2                56

Guard                  Rajon Rondo, Boston                         16           7                39

Forward               LeBron James, Miami                        17           4                38

Guard                  Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers                  13           7                33

Forward               Kevin Garnett, Boston                       15           3                33

2010-11 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM

Position               Player, Team                                    1^st           2^nd             Points

     Guard                  Tony Allen, Memphis                        7             9                23

Guard                  Chris Paul, New Orleans                    6             6                18

Center                 Tyson Chandler, Dallas                      3             11              17

Forward               Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia              5             5                15

Forward/Center    Joakim Noah, Chicago                       3             9                15

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in parentheses): Derrick Rose, Chicago, 14 (4); Dwyane Wade, Miami, 13 (3); Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 13 (4); Gerald Wallace, Portland, 11 (1); Grant Hill, Phoenix 11 (4); Luol Deng, Chicago 11 (4); Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 11 (3); Chuck Hayes, Houston, 10 (2); Al Horford, Atlanta 7 (3); Josh Smith, Atlanta, 7 (1); Ron Artest, Los Angeles Lakers, 7 (1); Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City, 6 (1); Shane Battier, Memphis 5 (2); Thabo Sefolosha, Oklahoma City, 5; Wesley Matthews, Portland 4 (2), Kendrick Perkins, Oklahoma City, 3; Nicolas Batum, Portland, 3; (1); Joe Johnson, Atlanta; 2 (1); Keith Bogans, Chicago 2 (1); Kyle Lowry, Houston, 2; Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Lakers, 2; Luc Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee, 2; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 2 (1); Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee, 1; Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers 1; Arron Afflalo, Denver, 1; Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 1; Kirk Hinrich, Atlanta 1; Nene, Denver, 1; Ronnie Brewer, Chicago, 1; Shawn Marion, Dallas, 1; Tayshaun Prince, Detroit, 1.