SAN ANTONIO – Two of the linchpins of the Spurs defense were honored by the NBA on Monday.
Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green were named to the NBA’s All-Defensive teams, the San Antonio Spurs announced.
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Leonard was named to the All-Defensive First Team for the third consecutive season.
He is the reigning back-to-back Defensive Player of Year and the only Spurs player to win the award multiple times.
#Spurs def. linchpins Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green honored by #NBA @WagnerboysBball alum Andre Roberson gets nod also: https://t.co/KG5Kn2b5fi pic.twitter.com/7Du3UwyVeu
— RJ Marquez (@KSATRJ) June 26, 2017
Leonard is widely considered in NBA circle to be the best defensive small forward in the league.
He averaged 1.8 steals and was one of only three players in the league this season to record at least 130 steals and 50 blocks.
Golden State’s Draymond Green and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo were the other two.
Green was named to the second team. It is the first time in his career he has been named to an All-NBA Defensive Team.
Green is the second guard in Spurs history to make an All-NBA Defensive team.
He is considered to be a lockdown defender on the perimeter and almost always defends the opponents top guard.
Green is the only guard in the NBA to have at least 50 steals and 50 blocks in each of the last five seasons.
Green and Leonard were part of a Spurs defense that allowed 98 points per game, second best in the league.
The Spurs now have eight players in its franchise history who have been named to All-Defensive teams.
They are George Johnson, Alvin Robertson, David Robinson, Dennis Rodman, Tim Duncan, Bruce Bowen, Leonard and Green.
Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green earn @NBA All-Defensive honors » https://t.co/clFkDYWTj1 pic.twitter.com/tHzwo1mVQj
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) June 26, 2017
San Antonio's Andre Roberson was also named to the second team.
It is the first time in his career Roberson has earned All-NBA Defensive honors.
The Wagner High School alum averaged just over a steal and block per game.
Below are the first and second teams:
2016-17 NBA All-Defensive First Team:
F- Draymond Green, Golden State
C- Rudy Gobert, Utah
F- Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio
G- Chris Paul, LA Clippers
G- Patrick Beverley, Houston
2016-17 NBA All-Defensive Second Team:
G- Tony Allen, Memphis
G- Danny Green, San Antonio
C- Anthony Davis, New Orleans
F- Andre Roberson, Oklahoma City
F- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee
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