Draymond Green, Evan Mobley Headline 2024-25 NBA All-Defensive Team
After making life hellish for opposing players throughout the 2024-25 season, NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley and Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green were among those rewarded for their efforts on Thursday.
The NBA unveiled the 2024-25 All-Defensive teams, with Mobley and Green leading the way on the first team. They were joined by Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, Houston Rockets wing Amen Thompson and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort.
The All-Defensive second team included Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr., Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, Portland Trail Blazers wing Toumani Camara and Thunder star Jalen Williams.
The teams were decided by a panel of 100 voters, and the full voting results were released:
Mobley enjoyed a breakout year for the Cleveland Cavaliers with career highs of 18.5 points and 3.2 assists per game while adding 9.3 rebounds. He was tied for fourth in the league with 1.6 blocks, and he held opponents to 44.5 percent shooting as the nearest defender. He was named Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month in December and February, and he earned his first career All-Star selection. This marks his second All-Defensive first-team selection.
Mobley's emergence helped the Cavaliers finish first in the East with a 64-18 record, the second-best record in franchise history. Cleveland's season ended with a loss to the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals.
Green, who is now a nine-time All-Defensive Team member with five first-team selections, was back to his defensive best as he helped the Warriors go 48-34 and reach the Western Conference semifinals before losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves. His average of 1.5 steals was his highest since the 2020-21 season, and he helped Golden State rank eighth in the NBA with 110.5 points allowed per game.
Daniels and Thompson were among the biggest breakout stars of the 2024-25 season. Their commitment to the defensive side showed their potential to become the first non-frontcourt players to earn a Defensive Player of the Year award since Marcus Smart in 2022.
The NBA may be in the midst of an offensive explosion, but these players showcased that defensive specialists are still thriving in the league.
