SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert has been named to the NBA’s All-Defensive first team.

The NBA announced its All-Defensive teams on Friday ahead of Game 2 between the Golden State Warriors and the Dallas Mavericks.

The announcement marks the sixth consecutive time Gobert has been named to the All-Defensive first team.

The 2021-22 Kia NBA All-Defensive First Team:

🏀 Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee)
🏀 Mikal Bridges (Phoenix)
🏀 Rudy Gobert (Utah)
🏀 Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis)
🏀 Marcus Smart (Boston) pic.twitter.com/YQgyjt9qSP

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 21, 2022

Gobert earned the honors after missing out on his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award, finishing third behind winning Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, and second place Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges.

The Jazz center led the NBA in ESPN’s Defensive Real Plus-Minus and FiveThirtyEight’s Defensive Raptor rankings.

Gobert averaged 14.7 rebounds which led the NBA for the first time in his career and finished third in blocks at 2.1 per game.

Just a kid from Saint-Quentin 🇫🇷

#1 in the league in rebounds per game (14.7)
#2 in defensive rating (103.3)
#3 in blocks per game (2.1)#TakeNote | @rudygobert27 pic.twitter.com/EtbBKv3Nne

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) May 21, 2022

Now in his ninth season, Gobert helped lead the Jazz to the 10th best defensive rating in the NBA this season.

The defensive stalwart was also named to his third consecutive All-Star game and is a contender to be named to his fifth All-NBA team.

Joining Gobert on the All-Defensive first team are Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., the Celtics’ Smart, and the Suns’ Bridges.

The 2021-22 Kia NBA All-Defensive Second Team:

🏀 Bam Adebayo (Miami)
🏀 Draymond Green (Golden State)
🏀 Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee)
🏀 Matisse Thybulle (Philadelphia)
🏀 Robert Williams III (Boston) pic.twitter.com/UJiVcGMyUw

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 21, 2022

The All-Defensive second team was made up of Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers wing Matisse Thybulle, and Celtics center Robert Williams III.

Gobert received 76 votes for the All-Defensive first team, sitting behind Smart who received 99 out of 100, and Bridges who received 95 first-place votes.

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