By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The NBA has announced the best defensive players of the season and Gobert is the only European among them. According to the press release: “Gobert was voted to the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the second year in a row, as selected by a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. The 7-1 center from France earned 192 points, including 94 First Team votes. Davis, a two-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection, makes his debut on the First Team. The 6-11 forward/center received the second-most points (163) and First Team votes (73), behind Gobert.
The two big men are joined on the NBA All-Defensive First Team by Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo (136 points), Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (105) and Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (90). All three players are All-Defensive selections for the first time.
The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of 76ers center Joel Embiid (90 points), Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (86), Boston Celtics forward/center Al Horford (85), San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray (80) and Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Jimmy Butler (79). Like the First Team, the Second Team has three first-time All-Defensive selections: Embiid, Horford and Murray.
Embiid is the third finalist for the 2017-18 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, joining Gobert and Davis. The winner will be announced at the 2018 NBA Awards presented by Kia on Monday, June 25 on TNT (9 p.m. ET). The second annual NBA Awards, honoring this season’s top performers, will take place at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif.
Players were awarded two points for each NBA All-Defensive First Team vote and one point for each Second Team vote. Voters selected two guards, two forwards and one center for each team, choosing players at the position they play regularly. Players who received votes at multiple positions were slotted at the position where they received the most votes”.