Last Updated on July 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The NBA All-Defensive First Team recognizes the five best defensive players in the league each season. Introduced in the 1968–69 season, the honor is awarded to players who consistently demonstrate elite defense through perimeter pressure, rim protection, versatility, rebounding, communication, and overall defensive impact.
Many of the greatest defenders in NBA history—including Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Tim Duncan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Ben Wallace, Gary Payton, and Rudy Gobert—built their legacies through repeated First Team selections.
What Is the NBA All-Defensive First Team?
At the end of each NBA regular season, media members vote for the league’s top defensive players.
Since the 2023–24 season, All-Defensive Teams have been selected without positional requirements, allowing the five highest vote-getters to earn First Team honors.
From 1968–69 through 2022–23, each First Team consisted of:
- Two guards
- Two forwards
- One center
Selections are based solely on regular-season defensive performance.
NBA All-Defensive First Team Players by Season
| Season | First Team Players |
|---|---|
| 1968–69 | Jerry West, Walt Frazier, Bill Russell, Gus Johnson, Willis Reed |
| 1969–70 | Jerry West, Walt Frazier, Bill Russell, Dave DeBusschere, John Havlicek |
| 1970–71 | Jerry West, Walt Frazier, John Havlicek, Dave DeBusschere, Nate Thurmond |
| 1971–72 | Jerry Sloan, Walt Frazier, John Havlicek, Dave DeBusschere, Nate Thurmond |
| 1972–73 | Jerry Sloan, Walt Frazier, John Havlicek, Paul Silas, Nate Thurmond |
| 1973–74 | Jerry Sloan, Norm Van Lier, John Havlicek, Paul Silas, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1974–75 | Jerry Sloan, Norm Van Lier, John Havlicek, Bob Love, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1975–76 | Don Buse, Norm Van Lier, Bobby Jones, Dave Cowens, John Havlicek |
| 1976–77 | Don Buse, Norm Van Lier, Bobby Jones, E.C. Coleman, Bill Walton |
| 1977–78 | Don Buse, Lionel Hollins, Bobby Jones, Marvin Webster, Bill Walton |
| 1978–79 | Don Buse, Dennis Johnson, Bobby Jones, Marvin Webster, Bill Walton |
| 1979–80 | Dennis Johnson, Sidney Moncrief, Bobby Jones, Dan Roundfield, Bill Walton |
| 1980–81 | Dennis Johnson, Sidney Moncrief, Bobby Jones, Dan Roundfield, Bobby Jones |
| 1981–82 | Sidney Moncrief, Dennis Johnson, Bobby Jones, Dan Roundfield, Moses Malone |
| 1982–83 | Sidney Moncrief, Dennis Johnson, Bobby Jones, Larry Bird, Sidney Moncrief* |
| 1983–84 | Sidney Moncrief, Dennis Johnson, Bobby Jones, Mark Eaton, Michael Cooper |
| 1984–85 | Sidney Moncrief, Michael Cooper, Mark Eaton, Kevin McHale, Bobby Jones |
| 1985–86 | Alvin Robertson, Michael Cooper, Mark Eaton, Kevin McHale, Maurice Lucas |
| 1986–87 | Alvin Robertson, Michael Cooper, Dennis Rodman, Mark Eaton, Michael Cage |
| 1987–88 | Alvin Robertson, Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Larry Nance, Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 1988–89 | Michael Jordan, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 1989–90 | Michael Jordan, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson |
| 1990–91 | Michael Jordan, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson |
| 1991–92 | Michael Jordan, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson |
| 1992–93 | Michael Jordan, Mookie Blaylock, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 1993–94 | Gary Payton, Mookie Blaylock, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 1994–95 | Gary Payton, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Dikembe Mutombo, Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 1995–96 | Gary Payton, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, David Robinson |
| 1996–97 | Gary Payton, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, Dikembe Mutombo |
| 1997–98 | Gary Payton, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Tim Duncan, Dikembe Mutombo |
| 1998–99 | Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, Scottie Pippen, Tim Duncan, Alonzo Mourning |
| 1999–00 | Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Alonzo Mourning |
| 2000–01 | Jason Kidd, Doug Christie, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Dikembe Mutombo |
| 2001–02 | Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Theo Ratliff |
| 2002–03 | Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, Kevin Garnett, Bruce Bowen, Ben Wallace |
| 2003–04 | Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Kevin Garnett, Bruce Bowen, Ben Wallace |
| 2004–05 | Bruce Bowen, Larry Hughes, Kevin Garnett, Ben Wallace, Tim Duncan |
| 2005–06 | Bruce Bowen, Kobe Bryant, Ben Wallace, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan |
| 2006–07 | Bruce Bowen, Kobe Bryant, Marcus Camby, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier |
| 2007–08 | Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Marcus Camby, Shane Battier, Chris Paul |
| 2008–09 | Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett |
| 2009–10 | Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Josh Smith, Rajon Rondo |
| 2010–11 | Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, LeBron James |
| 2011–12 | Tyson Chandler, Chris Paul, Serge Ibaka, LeBron James, Tony Allen |
| 2012–13 | Marc Gasol, Chris Paul, Tony Allen, LeBron James, Serge Ibaka |
| 2013–14 | Joakim Noah, Chris Paul, Joakim Noah, Serge Ibaka, Andre Iguodala |
| 2014–15 | Kawhi Leonard, Tony Allen, DeAndre Jordan, Draymond Green, Andrew Bogut |
| 2015–16 | Kawhi Leonard, Chris Paul, Draymond Green, DeAndre Jordan, Avery Bradley |
| 2016–17 | Rudy Gobert, Draymond Green, Kawhi Leonard, Chris Paul, Patrick Beverley |
| 2017–18 | Rudy Gobert, Anthony Davis, Victor Oladipo, Robert Covington, Jrue Holiday |
| 2018–19 | Rudy Gobert, Paul George, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Marcus Smart, Eric Bledsoe |
| 2019–20 | Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Rudy Gobert, Marcus Smart, Ben Simmons |
| 2020–21 | Rudy Gobert, Draymond Green, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ben Simmons, Jrue Holiday |
| 2021–22 | Marcus Smart, Mikal Bridges, Rudy Gobert, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaren Jackson Jr. |
| 2022–23 | Jaren Jackson Jr., Brook Lopez, Evan Mobley, Jrue Holiday, Alex Caruso |
| 2023–24 | Bam Adebayo, Anthony Davis, Rudy Gobert, Herb Jones, Victor Wembanyama |
| 2024–25 | Dyson Daniels, Lu Dort, Evan Mobley, Amen Thompson, Draymond Green |
Players with the Most All-Defensive First Team Selections
Several legends dominated All-Defensive voting for years:
- Tim Duncan
- Michael Jordan
- Kobe Bryant
- Kevin Garnett
- Scottie Pippen
- Gary Payton
- Bobby Jones
- Dennis Rodman
- Hakeem Olajuwon
- Rudy Gobert
These players consistently ranked among the NBA’s most impactful defenders over extended periods.
Defensive Player of the Year Winners
Many NBA Defensive Player of the Year winners also earned All-Defensive First Team honors during the same season, including:
- Michael Jordan
- Hakeem Olajuwon
- David Robinson
- Dikembe Mutombo
- Ben Wallace
- Dwight Howard
- Kawhi Leonard
- Draymond Green
- Rudy Gobert
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Marcus Smart
- Jaren Jackson Jr.
Winning both awards in the same season is widely regarded as the highest recognition of defensive excellence.
Hall of Fame First Team Defenders
The All-Defensive First Team includes many of basketball’s greatest defensive players, such as:
- Bill Russell
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Jerry West
- John Havlicek
- Dennis Rodman
- Scottie Pippen
- Michael Jordan
- Hakeem Olajuwon
- David Robinson
- Dikembe Mutombo
- Tim Duncan
- Kevin Garnett
- Kobe Bryant
- Gary Payton
Why the Award Matters
The NBA All-Defensive First Team is one of the league’s premier individual honors. It recognizes players who consistently change games through elite defense rather than scoring alone.
From dominant shot blockers to lockdown perimeter defenders, First Team selections represent the highest standard of defensive excellence in the NBA and often define the careers of the league’s greatest defensive specialists.
Related Player Lists
- NBA All-Defensive Second Team Players
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year Winners
- NBA All-NBA First Team Players
- NBA All-NBA Second Team Players
- NBA All-NBA Third Team Players
- NBA Hall of Fame Players
- NBA Champions (Players)
- NBA All-Star Players