AP Photo/Winslow Townson
Rajon Rondo joined teammate Kevin Garnett on the NBA All-Defensive first team.Celtics guard Rajon Rondo and forward Kevin Garnett both earned spots on the NBA's All-Defensive first team, the league announced Monday.
Rondo finished second in the overall voting of the NBA's 30 head coaches, earning 16 first-team votes and seven second-team votes for a total of 39 points (coaches were not allowed to vote for their own player). Only Orlando's Dwight Howard (56 points, 27 first-place votes) earned more points. Miami's LeBron James (38 points), Los Angeles' Kobe Bryant (33) and Garnett (33) rounded out the first team.
Garnett and Bryant make their record-tying ninth appearance on the first team, tying Michael Jordan and Gary Payton for the most in NBA history.
Old friend Tony Allen, now with the Memphis Grizzlies, earned top billing on the second team with 23 points. He joined New Orleans' Chris Paul (18), Dallas' Tyson Chandler (17), Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala (15), and Chicago's Joakim Noah (15).
No other Celtics received a vote in the process.
The voting panel consisted of the NBA’s 30 head coaches, who were asked to select NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams by position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players from their own team. Two points were awarded for a first team vote and one point was awarded for a second team vote.
All-Defensive First Team
Position, Player, Team, 1st, 2nd -- Total Points
Center, Dwight Howard, Orlando, 27, 2 -- 56
Guard, Rajon Rondo, Boston, 16, 7 -- 39
Forward, LeBron James, Miami, 17, 4 -- 38
Guard, Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers, 13, 7 -- 33
Forward, Kevin Garnett, Boston, 15, 3 -- 33
All-Defensive Second Team
Position, Player, Team, 1st, 2nd -- Total Points
Guard, Tony Allen, Memphis, 7, 9 -- 23
Guard, Chris Paul, New Orleans, 6, 6 -- 18
Center, Tyson Chandler, Dallas, 3, 11 -- 17
Forward, Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia, 5, 5 -- 15
Forward/Center, Joakim Noah, Chicago, 3, 9 -- 15
Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first team votes in parentheses): Derrick Rose, Chicago, 14 (4); Dwyane Wade, Miami, 13 (3); Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 13 (4); Gerald Wallace, Portland, 11 (1); Grant Hill, Phoenix 11 (4); Luol Deng, Chicago 11 (4); Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 11 (3); Chuck Hayes, Houston, 10 (2); Al Horford, Atlanta 7 (3); Josh Smith, Atlanta, 7 (1); Ron Artest, Los Angeles Lakers, 7 (1); Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City, 6 (1); Shane Battier, Memphis 5 (2); Thabo Sefolosha, Oklahoma City, 5; Wesley Matthews, Portland 4 (2), Kendrick Perkins, Oklahoma City, 3; Nicolas Batum, Portland, 3; (1); Joe Johnson, Atlanta; 2 (1); Keith Bogans, Chicago 2 (1); Kyle Lowry, Houston, 2; Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Lakers, 2; Luc Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee, 2; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 2 (1); Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee, 1; Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers 1; Arron Afflalo, Denver, 1; Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 1; Kirk Hinrich, Atlanta 1; Nene, Denver, 1; Ronnie Brewer, Chicago, 1; Shawn Marion, Dallas, 1; Tayshaun Prince, Detroit, 1.