logo
Canadian Luguentz Dort named to NBA's All-Defensive Team

Canadian Luguentz Dort named to NBA's All-Defensive Team

National Post22-05-2025

Cleveland's Evan Mobley, the defensive player of the year this season, was also the top vote-getter for the NBA's All-Defensive team that was revealed on Thursday and includes Canadian Luguentz Dort.
Article content
Article content
Mobley got 99 first-team votes from a global panel of 100 writers and broadcasters who cover the NBA and cast ballots to determine award winners. He was a second-team pick on the lone other ballot.
Article content
Montreal's Dort appeared on 99 ballots as he continued his rise from an undrafted player on a two-way contract to an elite NBA defender for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Article content
Dort, who was named to the All-Defensive first team a day after Thunder teammate and fellow Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA MVP, has teamed with Alex Caruso to form a top-level defensive duo that helped Oklahoma City finish with the best regular-season record. The Thunder took a 1-0 lead into Game 2 on the Western Conference final Wednesday against visiting Minnesota.
Article content
Atlanta's Dyson Daniels, Golden State's Draymond Green and Houston's Amen Thompson rounded out the first team. Daniels joined Mobley as the only players to appear on all 100 ballots; Daniels got 91 first-team nods and nine second-team votes.
Article content
Green — now a five-time first-team selection and a nine-time All-Defensive pick overall — appeared on 98 ballots and Thompson was on 97 ballots.
Article content
The second team was Portland's Toumani Camara, Minnesota's Rudy Gobert, Memphis' Jaren Jackson Jr., Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams and the Los Angeles Clippers' Ivica Zubac.
Article content
Gobert is now an eight-time All-Defensive team selection.
Article content
Ballots were cast shortly before the start of the playoffs. The final awards to be handed out by the league to recognize excellence in this regular season will come Friday, when the All-NBA teams are unveiled.
Article content
The other awards that were part of that voting process and have already been unveiled: Oklahoma City's Gilgeous-Alexander winning MVP, Cleveland's Kenny Atkinson winning coach of the year, Atlanta's Dyson Daniels winning most improved player, San Antonio's Stephon Castle winning rookie of the year, Cleveland's Evan Mobley winning defensive player of the year, New York's Jalen Brunson winning clutch player of the year and Boston's Payton Pritchard winning sixth man of the year.
Article content
Other awards announced by the league since the end of the regular season: Golden State's Stephen Curry won the Twyman-Stokes teammate of the year award, Warriors teammate Green won the hustle award, Oklahoma City's Sam Presti won executive of the year and Boston's Jrue Holiday won the sportsmanship award for the second time in his career as well as the league's social justice award.
Article content

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Hall of Famer Don Nelson selected as this year's winner of Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award
Hall of Famer Don Nelson selected as this year's winner of Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award

Winnipeg Free Press

time39 minutes ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Hall of Famer Don Nelson selected as this year's winner of Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Don Nelson has been invited to the NBA Finals countless times in recent years, always declining those opportunities. This time, his peers found a way to ensure he couldn't say no. Nelson — a Basketball Hall of Famer and three-time NBA coach of the year — was announced Sunday as this year's recipient of the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the National Basketball Coaches Association. It will be formally given out Sunday night, about an hour before Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. 'History has already reflected Don Nelson's staggering contributions as a cutting-edge innovator and visionary of the NBA game,' said Pacers coach and NBCA President Rick Carlisle. 'Back in the '80s and '90s, he made teams adjust to historic pace, liberal 3-point shooting, inverted offense, and disruptive defensive schemes. All this while establishing himself as one of the most compelling personalities in all of professional sports.' Nelson, 85, retired in 2010 as the NBA's all-time coaching wins leader with 1,335, just ahead of Lenny Wilkens' 1,332. Nelson kept that top spot for nearly 12 years before now-retired San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich passed him in March 2022. Nelson is one of only two coaches in NBA history to have at least 250 wins with three different franchises. He got to that mark with Milwaukee, Dallas and Golden State, and also coached New York briefly in his career. Nelson and Daly were close friends. They went head-to-head 41 times as coaches: Nelson's teams went 21-20 in those games. 'Chuck was an absolute genius in all facets of the game and life,' Nelson said. 'I'm glad I had the opportunity to coach against him, learn from him, and benefit from his knowledge. To say that I'm deeply touched to receive an award that bears his name would be an understatement. This is special.' Nelson took teams to the playoffs 18 times as a coach and won five championships as a player with the Boston Celtics. He started coaching in 1976 and what became known as 'Nellie Ball' soon created a buzz with him being generally credited for introducing what is now known as the point forward. His up-tempo offensive ways were probably best on display with Golden State in the 'Run TMC' era featuring Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin. The award is in Daly's memory and celebrates his 'integrity, competitive excellence, and tireless promotion of NBA basketball.' Prior recipients are Rudy Tomjanovich (2024), Rick Adelman (2023), Mike Fratello (2022), Larry Brown (2021), Del Harris (2020), Frank Layden (2019), Doug Moe (2018), Al Attles and Hubie Brown (2017), K.C. Jones and Jerry Sloan (2016), Dick Motta (2015), Bernie Bickerstaff (2014), Bill Fitch (2013), Pat Riley (2012), Lenny Wilkens (2011), Jack Ramsay and Tex Winter (2010) and Tommy Heinsohn (2009). ___ AP NBA:

Big clubs hover as forward Jonathan David adds to his Canadian record goals total
Big clubs hover as forward Jonathan David adds to his Canadian record goals total

National Post

timean hour ago

  • National Post

Big clubs hover as forward Jonathan David adds to his Canadian record goals total

Good strikers know where to go, to find a crease in the opposition defence, to create an opportunity. And then the great ones finish. Article content Witness Jonathan David's second goal in Canada's 4-2 win over Ukraine on Saturday at the Canadian Shield Tournament. Article content Article content The play started in the Canadian end after a Ukraine miscue. One pass later and the ball found its way to Tajon Buchanan, who beat one would-be tackler, and raced towards the Ukraine goal. Article content David, to his left, matched him stride for stride. Article content As Buchanan neared the penalty box, David altered his run and, on an angle, headed to the goalpost nearest Buchanan. The change of direction took him away from goal, but it also gave him position on the Ukraine defender waiting to handle the expected cross. Article content Instead David nipped in front and when the ball arrived, dipped his head and flicked it backwards, looping the ball into the far corner past the rooted Ukrainian goalkeeper. Article content 'He's a special player,' said Canada midfielder Stephen Eustaquio. 'Probably one of the best players Canada's ever produced. We all are waiting for his next move. I think he has the ability to play in a top-five team, to be honest. So let's see. I'm very happy for him and I hope everything turns out.' Article content Goals No. 33 and 34, adding to his Canadian men's record total, likely did not go unnoticed. Out of contract at France's Lille, David is in demand from big clubs. Article content Comfortable in his own skin, David is a cool customer. Former coach John Herdman dubbed him the Iceman. Article content The 25-year-old from Ottawa lives up to that handle when it comes to the question mark over his football future. Article content 'No list of preferred destinations,' he said after Saturday's win. 'It's always to look at the sporting project, where I can keep getting better.' Article content 'It's exciting, of course, but I'm very calm about it,' he added. 'Just waiting for the moment.' Article content With captain Alphonso Davies recovering from knee surgery and vice-captain Eustaquio headed to the FIFA Club World Cup, David will lead the team at the Gold Cup later this month. Article content The two-time Canada Soccer Player of the Year can score goals and make them, with 16 assists in his 62 appearances. He has played in all 16 of Canada coach Jesse Marsch's games in charge, with eight goals and three assists. Article content 'He's the smartest player I've ever coached,' said Marsch, whose resume includes stops in MLS, England, Austria and Germany. 'And so his understanding of what's happening in the game and how to move around to find the game in the right way, to help the team, I think is at a really high level.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store