After being excluded from the league’s end-of-season awards the previous three seasons, Anthony Davis has been recognized as one of the NBA’s best defenders.
The Lakers big man was named to the 2023-24 All-Defensive first team Tuesday. Davis’ inclusion was expected after he finished in fourth place in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year, which was awarded to Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert.
Davis has been named to an All-Defensive team five times. He is now a three-time first-teamer (2018, ‘20, ‘24) and two-time second-teamer (2015, ‘17).
The 31-year-old big man finished the regular season tied with reigning and three-time MVP Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets for the second-most defensive rebounds per game (9.5) and tied with Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren for the fourth-most blocked shots per game (2.3).
Davis and San Antonio rookie Victor Wembanyama, who finished in second place in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year, were the only players to average at least three stocks (steals plus blocks) per game this past regular season.
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The All-Defensive teams were voted on by a panel of 99 reporters and broadcasters who cover the NBA.
This marked the first time the All-Defensive teams, along with the All-NBA teams to be revealed Wednesday evening, weren’t voted on by position.
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