Latest news with #NBADefensivePlayeroftheYear
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Timberwolves Big Man Rudy Gobert Narrowly Makes Another NBA All-Defensive Team
The Minnesota Timberwolves will play game two of the NBA Western Conference Finals on Thursday night, looking to even up their series vs the Oklahoma City Thunder, 1-1. But prior to tonight's NBA Playoff activities, the league has released their 2024-25 NBA All-Defensive Teams. If you'll remember, not only did Rudy Gobert make All-Defense 1st Team last season, but for the fourth time in his career, he was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Twelve months later, however, the 7-foot Frenchman seems to have fallen (nearly) out of favor amongst All-NBA voters. Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images Yes, Rudy did make his 8th career NBA All-Defensive team… but barely. Instead of landing back on the 1st team, for the seventh time in his Hall of Fame career, Gobert was relegated to the 2nd Team for the first time ever. Rudy Gobert makes NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team Not only that, but out of the ten defensive standouts to make out the 1st and 2nd teams, Rudy Gobert landed by far the least amount of 'points', at just 65 — (3) 1st place votes + (59) 2nd place votes. Advertisement Jaden McDaniels, who was named All-Defense 2nd Team in 2024-25, received votes again this year, but not nearly enough (10 points) to make either 1st or 2nd Team. Anthony Edwards also got a few 2nd place votes (3 points). All-Defense (1st Team) 1st place Votes 2nd Place Votes Total Points Evan Mobley (CLE) 99 1 199 Dyson Daniels (ATL) 91 9 191 Lu Dort (OKC) 81 18 180 Draymond Green (GSW) 81 17 179 Amen Thompson (HOU) 74 23 171 All-Defense (2nd Team) 1st place Votes 2nd Place Votes Total Points Ivica Zubac (LAC) 29 56 114 Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM) 21 65 107 Jalen Williams (OKC) 6 67 79 Toumani Camara (POR) 6 62 74 Rudy Gobert (MIN) 3 59 65 Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Star Anthony Edwards Fined Again Of course, crybaby Draymond Green climbed back into the All-Defensive 1st Team, after campaigning for himself all year long. Unfortunately for the 2016-17 DPOY, it does not appear as if he will have the backing to win 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year, as that seems destined to land with Cleveland's Evan Mobley.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gary Payton explains why guarding Kyrie Irving in the '90s would've been easy work: "We're hand-checking. We can control him"
Dallas Mavericks superstar guard Kyrie Irving is one of the best guards of his generation. Many say Irving has the deepest bag in the league and is, as such, one of the most difficult players to contain in the current NBA. However, 1996 NBA Defensive Player of the Year winner and nine-time NBA All-Defensive first-team member Gary Payton said that if Irving played during the '90s era, "Kai" would have been an easy assignment for "The Glove." Advertisement "I could've put my hands on him," explained Payton on the "Barnie and Rab Show." "See, we're hand-checking. We can control him. All that dribble, dribble, sh**? I get it. That sh**, if I put my motherfu*** hand on you, make you go anywhere I want to and rip you, and I rip you all the time, that's gonna be it. And I'm gonna pound-hound him." GP can control where he wants Kyrie to go Payton is one of the best defensive players of all time and is arguably right there at the top when it comes to the best guard defenders ever. Standing 6'4", he was known as "The Glove" because of his extremely quick hands and ability to knock the ball off the offensive player and get steals. He was also an excellent lockdown defender who maximized the use of the hand-check to guard offensive players. While it has been banned since 2004, the hand check was a tool that players in the 80s and 90s used to play defense. With the ability to hold the offensive player's back, waist, or hip, defensive players like Payton could push or hold their man, thus effectively controlling where her wants him to go. GP would certainly have the advantage if he used that trick against a much smaller Irving. Advertisement "I would have took his little a** on the block," boasted GP. "That ain't nothing but a chicken dinner. I'm a kill him, barbeque chicken. He gonna get it. I'm just gonna be honest. I'm gonna put him in the paint, and I'm gonna go to work. You're going to either double me, or I'm a kill you every day on the thing." Related: "She is the one…This is the golden goose" - Pat McAfee emphasizes that Caitlin is the player the WNBA has been looking for Strickland thinks differently Contrary to what Payton said, former Washington Wizards guard Rod Strickland — a guy whom GP played 35 times during his NBA career — said that Irving would be a problem if the Dallas Mavericks' All-Star guard played during the 1990s era. Advertisement "He would've been a problem," Strickland said. "I mean, just look at the game. He can shoot the ball, he finished with the bucket in, he can take contact, he has a midrange, he can pass the ball, get him out in an open he's physical...I think he would've been as special as he is now. I think he's one of those guys just because of his skill level and physicality." Payton didn't consider physicality when bragging about how he would've shut down Kyrie in the '90s. Irving does not play a physical style, but he's one who does not fear anyone and is not afraid of the challenge. Sure, hand checks might have affected Kai's game, but they weren't as foolproof as Payton described. If it were as easy as GP said, everyone would have been barbeque chicken for him. But that was not the case. Related: J.R. Smith reveals what makes Kyrie Irving his most gifted teammate ever: "The only player that I've ever seen that can score at every level with either hand"
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gary Payton admits he made mistakes when teaching his son how to play basketball: "I was thinking about myself, how I played, and I wanted him to play that way"
Like most fathers, Gary Payton wanted his son to be like him. But not only did he just want his namesake son to follow in his footsteps and become a professional basketball player, he wanted him to be the same player he was in the NBA. But living up to his father's name was like mission impossible for Gary II. His father was a nine-time NBA All-Star, nine-time All-NBA team selection, nine-time All-Defensive first team member, the 1996 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and a member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary team. Advertisement Trying to dictate GP2's early basketball career caused a rift between father and son that almost derailed the younger Payton's basketball career. Ultimately, Gary Sr. realized that for his son to realize his full potential, he had to let him be himself. "At the first time that I was thinking of myself, how I played, and I wanted him to play that way. Y'all gotta understand man, there is only one Gary Payton, and that's me. I just named my son after me, that's it," he said. "So I told my son 'Look here man, I know you mad at me.' We got into a situation where our relationship wasn't really cool because of that." Gary didn't think GP2 would go to Oregon State According to the elder Payton, he tried to discourage GP2 the way his father did him. Early on, it looked like the pressure of living up to his name caught up with Gary II. However, by his junior year in HS, "The Young Glove" decided that he wasn't going to listen to the noise and was going to play his own game. Advertisement After high school, GP2 wanted to enroll at St. Mary's College in Moraga, California. However, his dad took him to Oregon State, where he once starred. At first, Gary thought his son would not take the challenge. But he did, and that was when the old man realized that his kid was no longer intimidated by his reputation. "When he made that decision to go to Oregon State behind me, that was a big deal for me because I really didn't think that he was going to do that. So I tell him all the time, I said 'Look here, Don't never think that you gotta be like me. It ain't going to work that way.' I said 'If you want to be like, be anything with me, just get your picture up a side of me. And let us be two legends together." The best thing about GP2 isn't even related to basketball GP2's number isn't retired by OSU like his dad's is. Unlike his father, who was the No.2 pick in the 1990 NBA Draft, his son took a longer route to the NBA after being undrafted in 2016. But while he hasn't been as good as his dad in the NBA, he's played nine seasons in the association and is coming off the second-best scoring year of his career in Golden State. That's impressive but it's not what makes Gary Sr. the proudest. Advertisement "The best thing I like about my kid is that when people come up to me, they don't talk about basketball. They talk about how good of a person he is, and how sweet he is. That makes a dad feel better because I know I did what I had to do as a parent," he added. Like all NBA dads, Gary was away most of the time because of his basketball career. But hearing people say nice things about GP2 as a person—"The Glove" says that's the best feeling for any father—and it's not even basketball-related. Related: "That is the worst basketball ever" - GP shares why constant switching on defense is a big problem in today's NBA
Miami Herald
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Cavs' Evan Mobley leads NBA All-Defensive team
Cleveland Cavaliers forward-center Evan Mobley, the 2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, headlined the league's All-Defensive First Team, announced Thursday. He is joined by Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort, Golden State Warriors forward-center Draymond Green and guard-forward Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets. This was the second first-team selection for Mobley, the fifth for Green, and the first for Daniels, Dort and Thompson. Green also has been named to the second team four times. This season's All-Defensive Second Team is made up of Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara, Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, Memphis Grizzlies forward-center Jaren Jackson Jr., Thunder guard-forward Jalen Williams and Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac. This is the eighth All-Defensive Team selection for Gobert and the third for Jackson, with the other three making their first appearance on the list. Mobley was the leading vote-getter, being named to the first team on 99 of 100 ballots. Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
The Advertiser
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
First-timer to join Antetokoumpo in All-NBA's top team
Star Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will head up the All-NBA first team again, earning top honours for the seventh consecutive year. There were four repeat performers and one first-timer named in the 2024-25 All-NBA First Team on Friday. Antetokounmpo will be joined by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, along with first-time honoree guard Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Gilgeous-Alexander, named the NBA's Most Valuable Player earlier this week, earned his third consecutive first-team accolade, while Jokic captured his second in a row. Tatum was named for the fourth consecutive year, those four players named on all 100 ballots from a global media panel. Mitchell earned second-team honours in the 2022-23 season. New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley earned All-NBA Second Team honours. James extended his NBA record for most selections to 21, matching his number of seasons played dating back to 2004-05. Curry captured his 11th All-NBA Team accolade. Brunson and Edwards have now earned back-to-back second-team honours, while Mobley, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, makes his debut. Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, Knicks centre Karl-Anthony Towns and Thunder guard-forward Jalen Williams comprised the All-NBA Third Team. Harden now has eight selections in his career, but was picked for the first time since the 2019-20 season. Towns has earned third-team honours on three occasions, while Haliburton earned his second in a row. Cunningham and Williams are first-time recipients. The media voting panel made their selections without regard to position. Players earned five points for each vote to the First Team, three points for Second Team votes and one point for every Third Team vote. Star Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will head up the All-NBA first team again, earning top honours for the seventh consecutive year. There were four repeat performers and one first-timer named in the 2024-25 All-NBA First Team on Friday. Antetokounmpo will be joined by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, along with first-time honoree guard Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Gilgeous-Alexander, named the NBA's Most Valuable Player earlier this week, earned his third consecutive first-team accolade, while Jokic captured his second in a row. Tatum was named for the fourth consecutive year, those four players named on all 100 ballots from a global media panel. Mitchell earned second-team honours in the 2022-23 season. New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley earned All-NBA Second Team honours. James extended his NBA record for most selections to 21, matching his number of seasons played dating back to 2004-05. Curry captured his 11th All-NBA Team accolade. Brunson and Edwards have now earned back-to-back second-team honours, while Mobley, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, makes his debut. Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, Knicks centre Karl-Anthony Towns and Thunder guard-forward Jalen Williams comprised the All-NBA Third Team. Harden now has eight selections in his career, but was picked for the first time since the 2019-20 season. Towns has earned third-team honours on three occasions, while Haliburton earned his second in a row. Cunningham and Williams are first-time recipients. The media voting panel made their selections without regard to position. Players earned five points for each vote to the First Team, three points for Second Team votes and one point for every Third Team vote. Star Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will head up the All-NBA first team again, earning top honours for the seventh consecutive year. There were four repeat performers and one first-timer named in the 2024-25 All-NBA First Team on Friday. Antetokounmpo will be joined by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, along with first-time honoree guard Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Gilgeous-Alexander, named the NBA's Most Valuable Player earlier this week, earned his third consecutive first-team accolade, while Jokic captured his second in a row. Tatum was named for the fourth consecutive year, those four players named on all 100 ballots from a global media panel. Mitchell earned second-team honours in the 2022-23 season. New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley earned All-NBA Second Team honours. James extended his NBA record for most selections to 21, matching his number of seasons played dating back to 2004-05. Curry captured his 11th All-NBA Team accolade. Brunson and Edwards have now earned back-to-back second-team honours, while Mobley, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, makes his debut. Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, Knicks centre Karl-Anthony Towns and Thunder guard-forward Jalen Williams comprised the All-NBA Third Team. Harden now has eight selections in his career, but was picked for the first time since the 2019-20 season. Towns has earned third-team honours on three occasions, while Haliburton earned his second in a row. Cunningham and Williams are first-time recipients. The media voting panel made their selections without regard to position. Players earned five points for each vote to the First Team, three points for Second Team votes and one point for every Third Team vote. Star Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will head up the All-NBA first team again, earning top honours for the seventh consecutive year. There were four repeat performers and one first-timer named in the 2024-25 All-NBA First Team on Friday. Antetokounmpo will be joined by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, along with first-time honoree guard Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Gilgeous-Alexander, named the NBA's Most Valuable Player earlier this week, earned his third consecutive first-team accolade, while Jokic captured his second in a row. Tatum was named for the fourth consecutive year, those four players named on all 100 ballots from a global media panel. Mitchell earned second-team honours in the 2022-23 season. New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley earned All-NBA Second Team honours. James extended his NBA record for most selections to 21, matching his number of seasons played dating back to 2004-05. Curry captured his 11th All-NBA Team accolade. Brunson and Edwards have now earned back-to-back second-team honours, while Mobley, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, makes his debut. Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, Knicks centre Karl-Anthony Towns and Thunder guard-forward Jalen Williams comprised the All-NBA Third Team. Harden now has eight selections in his career, but was picked for the first time since the 2019-20 season. Towns has earned third-team honours on three occasions, while Haliburton earned his second in a row. Cunningham and Williams are first-time recipients. The media voting panel made their selections without regard to position. Players earned five points for each vote to the First Team, three points for Second Team votes and one point for every Third Team vote.
