The NBA announced the 2025-26 All-Defensive First and Second Teams on Friday, recognizing the league's top ten defenders based on votes from a global panel of 100 media members.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama earned a first-team selection after becoming the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year in NBA history on April 20.
He led the league with 3.1 blocks per game.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren and Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson joined Wembanyama on the First Team.
Both finished as runners-up in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert secured his ninth career defensive honor.
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White also made the First Team, setting career highs with 98 blocks and 88 steals.
He was one of only two players with at least 80 blocks and 80 steals, alongside Scottie Barnes.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla praised White's defensive evolution. "The evolution of his defense has been great," Mazzulla said.
He noted White's shift from on-ball to off-ball defense, which allowed him to impact plays with steals, turnovers, and recovery blocks.
The Second Team includes Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace.
Oklahoma City was the only franchise with multiple selections across both teams. Wallace led the league with 150 total steals in 77 games.
Voting data showed Daniels claiming the final second-team spot with 50 points, narrowly ahead of San Antonio guard Stephon Castle and Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson, who each had 46 points.
According to si.
com, All-Defensive selections can be used as negotiating tools in contract talks but do not trigger supermax eligibility like All-NBA honors.
2025-26 NBA All-Defensive Teams
First Team: Victor Wembanyama (Spurs, 2nd selection), Ausar Thompson (Pistons, 1st), Chet Holmgren (Thunder, 1st), Rudy Gobert (Timberwolves, 9th), Derrick White (Celtics, 3rd).
Second Team: Scottie Barnes (Raptors, 1st), Cason Wallace (Thunder, 1st), Bam Adebayo (Heat, 6th), OG Anunoby (Knicks, 2nd), Dyson Daniels (Hawks, 2nd).
Wembanyama and Holmgren faced off on the court Friday as the Thunder played Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the Spurs.
