Three former Wildcats make NBA All-Defensive Teams
[caption id="attachment_307833" align="aligncenter" width="1800"]
(RICHARD MACKSON / USA TODAY SPORTS)[/caption]
Just call Kentucky the "All-Defense" University.
For the fifth time in six years, at least one former Kentucky Wildcat was named to one of the NBA's All-Defensive Teams, with the trio of Anthony Davis (LAL), Bam Adebayo (MIA), and Eric Bledsoe (MIL) receiving the honors for the ongoing 2019-20 season. The Athletic's Shams Charania was the first to report the news.
Davis was named to the First Team, alongside Defensive Player of the Year Giannis Antetokunmpo, two time-DPOY Rudy Gobert, Marcus Smart, and Ben Simmons. Adebayo and Bledsoe both joined Patrick Beverley, Kawhi Leonard, and Brook Lopez on the Second Team.
https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1303463744387911680
https://twitter.com/UKCoachCalipari/status/1303465403151249410
Here's a breakdown of the voting.
https://twitter.com/Anthony_Chiang/status/1303465515155886080
Davis received the third-most votes to make the First Team with 87, trailing only Antetokounmpo (97 points) and Simmons (88 points), while hauling in the second-most points overall. Adebayo and Bledsoe both comfortably made the cut with 61 and 59 points, respectively. Kentucky has a recent history of appearing on the All-Defensive Teams, with Davis claiming his fourth and Bledsoe his second. Adebayo made the cut for the first time in his still-young career and will surely be a regular winner of this award.
But going back even further, John Wall made the Second Team during the 2014-15 season while Rajon Rondo made an All-Defensive Team four consecutive years spanning from 2008-2012. Before him, Tayshaun Prince also made four straight All-Defensive teams from 2004-2008. Since the 2004-05 NBA season, only three times did a former Wildcat not make one of the two All-Defensive teams. Not bad recruiting fuel for John Calipari, is it?
(RICHARD MACKSON / USA TODAY SPORTS)[/caption]
Just call Kentucky the "All-Defense" University.
For the fifth time in six years, at least one former Kentucky Wildcat was named to one of the NBA's All-Defensive Teams, with the trio of Anthony Davis (LAL), Bam Adebayo (MIA), and Eric Bledsoe (MIL) receiving the honors for the ongoing 2019-20 season. The Athletic's Shams Charania was the first to report the news.
Davis was named to the First Team, alongside Defensive Player of the Year Giannis Antetokunmpo, two time-DPOY Rudy Gobert, Marcus Smart, and Ben Simmons. Adebayo and Bledsoe both joined Patrick Beverley, Kawhi Leonard, and Brook Lopez on the Second Team.
https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1303463744387911680
https://twitter.com/UKCoachCalipari/status/1303465403151249410
Here's a breakdown of the voting.
https://twitter.com/Anthony_Chiang/status/1303465515155886080
Davis received the third-most votes to make the First Team with 87, trailing only Antetokounmpo (97 points) and Simmons (88 points), while hauling in the second-most points overall. Adebayo and Bledsoe both comfortably made the cut with 61 and 59 points, respectively. Kentucky has a recent history of appearing on the All-Defensive Teams, with Davis claiming his fourth and Bledsoe his second. Adebayo made the cut for the first time in his still-young career and will surely be a regular winner of this award.
But going back even further, John Wall made the Second Team during the 2014-15 season while Rajon Rondo made an All-Defensive Team four consecutive years spanning from 2008-2012. Before him, Tayshaun Prince also made four straight All-Defensive teams from 2004-2008. Since the 2004-05 NBA season, only three times did a former Wildcat not make one of the two All-Defensive teams. Not bad recruiting fuel for John Calipari, is it?
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