JAZZ: Kirilenko Named to NBA All-Defense First Team

ANDREI KIRILENKO NAMED TO NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM

Andrei Kirilenko of the Utah Jazz made his third All-Defensive Team appearance the NBA announced today. Kirilenko was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2003-04 and 2004-05.

Making his fifth consecutive appearance on the All-Defensive First Team is four-time Defensive Player of the Year, Ben Wallace. Wallace is joined by leading vote-getter Bruce Bowen of the San Antonio Spurs, named to the All-Defensive Team for the sixth consecutive season.

Also selected to the First Team are 2003-04 Defensive Player of the Year Ron Artest of the Sacramento Kings, who was named to the All-Defensive Team for the second time. Tying in votes received and rounding out the First Team are guards Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets, receiving their sixth and seventh All-Defensive honors, respectively.

Kirilenko tallied an NBA-best 220 blocks this season and finished second in blocks per game (3.2). Wallace was the only player in the league to finish in the Top 10 in rebounding (11.3 rpg, fourth), blocks (2.2 bpg, ninth) and steals (1.8 spg, 10th). Usually assigned to the opposing team’s biggest offensive threat, Bowen’s stellar one-on-one defense helped the Spurs hold opponents to 88.8 points per game, second in the league. Since joining the Kings on Jan. 25, Artest posted three or more steals in 14 outings and led the squad to a 25-14 run to capture their eighth straight playoff berth. Bryant ranked ninth in the NBA in steals with 1.8 per game, while Kidd finished eighth with 1.9 steals per game while averaging 7.3 rebounds.

The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of Denver’s Marcus Camby, Detroit’s Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince, Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett and San Antonio’s Tim Duncan.

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.

Following are the results for the 2005-06 NBA All-Defensive Teams:

2005-06 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM
Position	Player, Team	1st	2nd	Total Points
Guard	Bruce Bowen, San Antonio	26	3	55
Center	Ben Wallace, Detroit	26	2	54
Forward	Andrei Kirilenko, Utah	19	6	44
Forward	Ron Artest, Sacramento	11	8	30
Guard	Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers	12	4	28
Guard	Jason Kidd, New Jersey	9	10	28

2005-06 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM
Position	Player, Team	1st	2nd	Total Points
Forward	Tim Duncan, San Antonio	7	9	23
Guard	Chauncey Billups, Detroit	7	9	23
Forward	Kevin Garnett, Minnesota	4	10	18
Center	Marcus Camby, Denver	2	11	15
Forward	Tayshaun Prince, Detroit	3	7	13

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in parentheses): Rasheed Wallace, Detroit, 12 (3); Gerald Wallace, Charlotte, 11 (3); Shawn Marion, Phoenix, 11 (1); Raja Bell, Phoenix, 9 (2); Dwyane Wade, Miami, 8 (3); Kirk Hinrich, Chicago, 7 (3); Alonzo Mourning, Miami, 7 (1); Shane Battier, Memphis, 6 (1); Gilbert Arenas, Washington, 4 (1); Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia, 4; P.J. Brown, New Orleans/Okla. City, 3; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 3; Dwight Howard, Orlando, 3; Josh Howard, Dallas, 3 (1); Brevin Knight, Charlotte, 3; Shaquille O’Neal, Miami, 3 (1); Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers, 2 (1); LeBron James, Cleveland, 2 (1); Tony Parker, San Antonio, 2 (1); Quinton Ross, L.A. Clippers, 2 (1); Allen Iverson, Philadelphia, 2; Eddie Jones, Memphis, 2; Jason Collins, New Jersey, 1; Boris Diaw, Phoenix, 1; Pau Gasol, Memphis, 1; Trenton Hassel, Minnesota, 1; Mike James, Toronto, 1; Richard Jefferson, New Jersey, 1; Ruben Patterson, Denver, 1; Chris Paul, New Orleans/Okla. City, 1; Jason Terry, Dallas, 1; Yao Ming, Houston, 1.