The NBA announced its All-Defensive First Team and Second Team on Wednesday, and Houston Rockets forward P.J. Tucker came up just short in the voting. The teams are selected by a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters in which players can receive a first-team vote that’s worth two points or a second-team vote that’s worth one.
Tucker finished with 38 points, only one behind Toronto Raptors superstar Kawhi Leonard (39 points) for the final forward spot on the All-Defensive Second Team. Tucker actually received more second-team votes (36) than Leonard (29), but the Toronto forward beat him in first-team votes, 5-1. Golden State’s Draymond Green (61 points) was the other All-Defensive Second Team forward.
Oklahoma City’s Paul George (193 points) and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (195 points) were the All-Defensive First Team forwards. Both are also candidates for NBA Defensive Player of the Year, along with All-Defensive First Team center Rudy Gobert (196 points).
Chris Paul (five second-team votes and one first-team) and James Harden (two first-team votes) were the other two Rockets to receive votes.
