LeBron James Named to NBA All-Defensive First Team

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced today. James received 47 votes, the third-most overall, including 22 first-place votes. He was joined on the first team by 2009 Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets and Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics. 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. LeBron’s Chasedown Blocks, LeBron James – The Chaser.

James joins Larry Nance (1988-89) as the only players in franchise history to ever be voted to the first team and becomes the fifth Cavalier all-time to earn all-defensive honors. The 2008-09 Most Valuable Player averaged a career-best 1.15 blocks and 1.69 steals, eighth in the NBA, in addition to 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 37.7 minutes per game. With 137 steals and 93 blocks, James was one of just two players (Dwyane Wade) in the NBA this season to total at least 100 steals and 90 blocks. On 23 occasions, he held the opposing starting small forward to single-digit scoring, including a season-high five consecutive games from March 22-30, and in 34 games, he forced the opposing starting small forward to shoot at or less than .400 from the field. Source: cavs.com.

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