Spurs’ Leonard, Warriors’ Green and Clippers’ Jordan make debuts on NBA All-Defensive First Team
NEW YORK – San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard, the Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year, headlines the 2014-15 NBA All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced today. He is one of three players to make his first All-Defensive First Team.
Leonard received 116 First Team votes and 242 points from a panel of 129 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The NBA All-Defensive First Team also includes forward Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors (229 points, 107 First Team votes), guard Tony Allen of the Memphis Grizzlies (207 points, 88 First Team votes), center DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers (187 points, 84 First Team votes) and guard Chris Paul of the Clippers (170 points, 67 First Team votes).
Green and Jordan, who finished second and third, respectively, in the voting for the 2014-15 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, join Leonard as first-time selections on the All-NBA Defensive First Team. Paul made the First Team for the fourth straight season and fifth time overall, while Allen earned his third First Team nod.
Players were awarded two points for each First Team vote and one point for each Second Team vote. Voters were asked to select two guards, two forwards and one center for each team, choosing players at the position they play regularly.
The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (47 First Team votes), Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (44), Warriors center Andrew Bogut (33), Washington Wizards guard John Wall (7) and Spurs forward Tim Duncan (5).
Leonard teamed with Duncan to help San Antonio hold opponents below 100 points per game (97.0) for the 20th consecutive season. Leonard averaged career highs of 5.9 defensive rebounds and a league-leading 2.31 steals for the Spurs, who were 5.1 points better per 100 possessions on defense when he was on the floor than when he was off the floor, according to NBA.com/Stats.
Green and Allen also had significant impacts on the defensive performance of their teams. The Warriors allowed a league-low 98.2 points per 100 possessions, a defensive rating that dropped to 96.0 with Green on the court and increased to 102.1 with him off the court. Memphis’ defensive rating was 8.7 points better with Allen on the floor (94.9 per 100 possessions) than with him off the floor (103.6 per 100 possessions). Green ranked 14th in the NBA in defensive rebounding (6.7 per game), and Allen finished third in steals (2.05 per game).
Paul ranked second in the NBA in total steals (156) and fifth in steals per game (1.90). Jordan led the NBA in defensive rebounding (10.1 per game) and was fourth in blocks (2.23 per game).
For the second year in a row, complete media voting results for each NBA annual award will be posted on NBA.com/official after the announcement of each winner. Click here for those results.
Below are the balloting results for the 2014-15 NBA All-Defensive Teams. The balloting was tabulated by the independent accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP.
2014-15 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM
Position Player, Team 1st Team 2nd Team Total
Votes (2 pts) Votes (1pt) Points
Forward Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio 116 10 242
Forward Draymond Green, Golden State 107 15 229
Guard Tony Allen, Memphis 88 31 207
Center DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers 84 19 187
Guard Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers 67 36 170
2014-15 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM
Position Player, Team 1st Team 2nd Team Total
Votes (2 pts) Votes (1pt) Points
Forward Anthony Davis, New Orleans 47 61 155
Guard Jimmy Butler, Chicago 44 44 132
Center Andrew Bogut, Golden State 33 36 102
Guard John Wall, Washington 7 53 67
Forward Tim Duncan, San Antonio 5 54 64
Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in parentheses): Rudy Gobert, Utah, 54 (5); LeBron James, Cleveland, 47 (6); Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 35 (13); Avery Bradley, Boston, 26 (5); Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Charlotte, 21 (2), Klay Thompson, Golden State, 19 (3); Marc Gasol, Memphis, 18 (2); Danny Green, San Antonio, 18; Trevor Ariza, Houston, 17 (1); Stephen Curry, Golden State, 14 (2); DeMarre Carroll, Atlanta, 11 (1); Patrick Beverley, Houston, 10 (1); Khris Middleton, Milwaukee, 9 (1); Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City, 8; Andre Iguodala, Golden State, 8; Paul Millsap, Atlanta, 8; Jeff Teague, Atlanta, 7 (1); Mike Conley, Memphis, 6 (2); Joakim Noah, Chicago, 6; Nerlens Noel, Philadelphia, 5 (1); P.J. Tucker, Phoenix, 4; Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee, 3; Pau Gasol, Chicago, 3; Wesley Matthews, Portland, 3; James Harden, Houston, 2; Marcus Smart, Boston, 2; Hassan Whiteside, Miami, 2 (1); Eric Bledsoe, Phoenix, 1; DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento, 1; Andre Drummond, Detroit, 1; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 1; Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers, 1; George Hill, Indiana, 1; Al Horford, Atlanta, 1; Victor Oladipo, Orlando, 1; Zaza Pachulia, Milwaukee, 1; Elfrid Payton, Orlando, 1; Zach Randolph, Memphis, 1; Rajon Rondo, Dallas, 1; Iman Shumpert, Cleveland, 1; Dwyane Wade, Miami, 1.