Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George was named to the 2018-19 NBA All-Defensive First Team, the league announced in a press release on Wednesday.
The award is the fourth time George has been named to an All-Defensive Team, including the second time placing on the All-Defensive First Team (2014).
He did not place on a defensive team last season.
George received 195 points (96 First Team votes) for his second First Team selection, finishing just one point shy of Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert as the top vote-getter.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo finished third in voting behind George and Gobert. The trio of players are all finalists for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
The All-Defensive Teams were selected by a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. Players were awarded two points for each First Team vote and one point for each Second Team vote. Voters selected two guards, two forwards and one center for each team, choosing players at the position they play regularly.
George finished first in steals with a career-high 2.2 per game and is viewed as one of the best two-way players in the NBA. He led the NBA in deflections (3.8) and loose-balls recovered (2.1) while he finished 14th in defensive rating.
The All-Defensive First Team honor figures to be the first award for George this season. Many believe George is a virtual lock to earn a place on the All-NBA First Team after turning in his best season to date. As previously mentioned, he is also a finalist for MVP and DPOY.
Russell Westbrook also received votes for the Second Team.
