Victor Wembanyama made history by becoming the first rookie in NBA history to be named to the All-Defensive First Team. Joining him on the first team were Rudy Gobert, Bam Adebayo, Herb Jones, and Anthony Davis. Gobert, who received all 99 first-team votes, was a key part of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ top-ranked defense. Adebayo, known for his versatility, led the Miami Heat’s fifth-ranked defense, while Jones was a key contributor to the New Orleans Pelicans’ sixth-ranked defense. Davis, known for his defensive rebounds and blocks, rounded out the first team.
On the All-Defensive Second Team were Alex Caruso, Jrue Holiday, Jaden McDaniels, Jalen Suggs, and Derrick White. This marked the first season the league employed “positionless” voting for its All-Defensive and All-NBA teams, with players needing to play at least 65 games to be eligible. This change in voting allowed deserving players like Adebayo and Davis to be recognized for their defensive abilities. The switch to positionless voting raises questions about how guards and bigs will be judged relative to each other.
The biggest surprise of the All-Defensive teams was that the Timberwolves and Celtics, the top two teams in points allowed per possession, each had two players selected. Minnesota had Gobert and McDaniels, while Boston had White and Holiday. The Oklahoma City Thunder, despite having the fourth-best defensive rating in the regular season, did not have any players selected to the first or second teams. Luguentz Dort narrowly missed making the second team, finishing just behind Holiday in the voting.
Wembanyama, who led the league in blocks per game and defensive rebounds, was highly regarded among his peers as a stellar defender. Despite the Spurs’ lower-ranked defense, Wembanyama’s defensive skills earned him a spot on the All-Defensive First Team. Adebayo’s ability to switch onto guards and provide versatility made him a standout for the Heat, while Jones and Davis also contributed significantly to their teams’ defensive success. Gobert, who received his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award this season, was a unanimous first-team selection.
The change to positionless voting for the All-Defensive teams reflects a shift in recognizing the most deserving players regardless of their positions. This change allowed Adebayo to break through to the first team after several years as a second-team selection. Caruso, who had a strong defensive season, might have made the first team under the previous voting system. Overall, the All-Defensive teams for the 2023-24 season highlighted the top defensive talents in the league and raised questions about the voting process and player recognition going forward.
