It wasn’t too long ago that Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo reigned supreme as the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year. This is exactly why it came as a big surprise that the eight-time All-Star was completely snubbed for this year’s NBA All-Defensive teams.
Well, technically, Antetokounmpo still got multiple votes for the squad, but it’s hard to deny that the number of which is an indication as to how Giannis’ elite defensive prowess has gone unnoticed this past season.
Milwaukee Bucks News: Giannis Antetokounmpo Snubbed for All-Defense Team
Newly-crowned Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert and Rookie of the Year winner Victor Wembanyama headline the 2023-24 NBA All-Defensive first team. Bam Adebayo, Anthony Davis, and newcomer Herb Jones join them on the elite list of the league’s top defenders.
While none of the five players listed above come as a surprise, the fact that Giannis got no more than 15 total votes has got to be an unforeseen turn of events — at least for those who appreciate what the former back-to-back MVP brings to the table on the defensive end.
The complete voting results for the 2023-24 Kia NBA All-Defensive Team: pic.twitter.com/k3FODNJ0YU
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 21, 2024
Not only did Giannis fail to make the All-Defense second team, but he ended up being voted as the 16th-best defender in the league this past season.
For what it’s worth, Brook Lopez got a total of eight votes, and in another surprising twist of fate, Bucks big man Bobby Portis got one second-place vote. Portis isn’t exactly known for his defense, so the fact that he’s been included in the list comes as a bit of a shocker.
Whatever the case might be, you can be sure that Giannis will be back with a vengeance next season. He will be on a mission to remind the basketball world that he is still one of the most dominant players in the NBA today — on both ends of the floor.
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