The NBA announced its All-Rookie and All-Defensive teams in advance of its prime-time awards show Monday night and each featured a representative from the Milwaukee Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, a second team All-NBA selection and one of three finalists for the Most Improved Player award, earned a spot on the NBA's All-Defensive second team. He received seven first-team votes and 21 second-team votes from a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters, which gave him 35 points _ enough for the final forward spot on the second team.
Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon, one of the three finalists for the Rookie of the Year award, was a unanimous selection to the league's All-Rookie team. He was joined on that team by the other Rookie of the Year finalists, Dario Saric and Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, with Saric also a unanimous pick. Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield and New York Knicks center Willie Hernangomez filled out the rest of the first team.
This season, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks in points, assists, rebounds, blocked shots and steals and ranked in the top 20 in the NBA in each of those categories _ something that had never been done in league history. Overall, the 6-foot-11 point-forward ranked fifth in the NBA in blocks (151), ninth in steals (131), ninth in defensive win shares (4.5) and 13th in defensive rebounds (558).
The NBA All-Defensive first team included Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul and Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverly. Joining Antetokounmpo on the second team were Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen, Spurs guard Danny Green, New Orleans Pelicans center Anthony Davis and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Andre Roberson.
Brogdon, the 36th pick in last year's draft, averaged 10.2 points, 4.2 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 40.4 percent from 3-point range. His assists and steals per game were the most among rookies while his 3-point and free-throw percentages (86.5 percent) ranked second.
