NBA announces 2021-22 Kia All-Defensive 1st and 2nd Teams

May 23, 2022 World Sports

Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics and Mikal Bridges of the Phoenix Suns lead the 2021-22 Kia NBA All-Defensive 1st Team, the NBA announced today.

Smart and Bridges comprise the two guards on the Kia NBA All-Defensive 1st Team. Smart, the 2021-22 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year, received 198 points (99 First Team votes) to earn his third selection to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Bridges, who finished in second place for the Defensive Player of the Year Award in his third NBA season, received 193 points (95 First Team votes). This is Bridges’ first selection to the NBA All-Defensive Team (1st Team and 2nd Team).

Joining Smart and Bridges on the 2021-22 Kia NBA All-Defensive 1st Team are Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (171 points; 76 First Team votes), Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (156 points; 63 First Team votes) and Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (153 points; 55 First Team votes).