May 20, 2015 - 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).