Today the NBA announced the first and second all-defensive teams for the 2018-2019 regular season.
As expected, Oklahoma City Thunder’s star Paul George not only made the list but was voted into the first team. This is the fourth time Paul George made an All-Defensive team in his career.
Despite another early exit in the playoffs and the shoulders’ injuries, this selection is not surprising. George had an amazing regular season on both ends of the floor while averaging career highs in the following stats:
- points 28.0, second overall
- rebounds 8.2
- assists 4.1
- steals 2.2, first overall
George led also the NBA also in deflections per game (at 3.8), and loose balls recovered per game (at 2.1).
The six-time All-Star is also a finalist for the MVP trophy (with Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden) and Defensive Player of the Year (with Rudy Gobert and again Giannis Antetokounmpo).
The other players voted in the first All-Defensive team are Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics), and Eric Bledsoe (Milwaukee Bucks).
The second All-Defensive team list: Jrue Holiday (New Orleans Pelicans), Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors), Kawhi Leonard (Toronto Raptors).
Two names left out of these two teams are kind of surprising: Patrick Beverly (Los Angeles Clippers) and PJ Tucker (Houston Rockets).