This week saw the conclusion of the end-of-the-season awards, with OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning the MVP award. All the individual accolades have been accounted for, and the All-Defensive teams have been announced.
Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers was named the defensive player of the year. Dyson Daniels, Luguentz Dort, Draymond Green, and Amen Thompson join Mobley in the All-Defensive First Team.
The All Defensive First Team Players and the Colleges They Went To
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
Mobley played college basketball for the USC Trojans and was selected No. 3 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2021 NBA Draft. As a freshman, Mobley was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Freshman of the Year.
He became the second player from a major conference to win the trio of awards, joining Anthony Davis of the SEC in 2012.
Luguentz Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder
Luguentz Dort played college basketball for Arizona State. In his only season with Arizona State, he earned second-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors and was named to the all-defensive team in the Pac-12. He was also voted the conference’s freshman of the year. He went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
Draymond Green grew up in Michigan and played for Michigan State. Green spent four years in college and finished his collegiate career as one of three players in Michigan State history with over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Concluding his time in college, he graduated with a degree in communication studies at the end of his senior year.
Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks
Nicknamed “the Great Barrier Thief” for his defense and stealing ability, Daniels was drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2019 NBA Draft. Being an international player, Daniels turned down college programs and signed with the NBA G League Ignite instead.
KEEP READING: 2-Round 2025 NBA Mock Draft Features Groundbreaking Trade, Surprising Fall for Certain Blue Devil
Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets
Considered a five-star prospect by ESPN, Thompson had offers from Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, Arizona State, and Kansas, among other programs, but he ultimately decided not to play college basketball.
He bypassed his senior year of high school to sign with OTE, where he played for two seasons and helped his team win the league title while earning All-OTE First Team honors in 2023. He was selected in the 2023 draft at No. 4 overall.
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