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Rudy Gobert, Ben Simmons headline NBA All-Defensive first team

The Utah center and Philadelphia guard received a first-team vote on every ballot.

Utah Jazz v Philadelphia 76ers
 Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz on March 3, 2021 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons headline the 2020-21 NBA All-Defensive teams, receiving first-team votes on all 100 ballots. Golden State forward Draymond Green and Milwaukee Bucks tandem Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday round out the first team.

Miami Heat duo Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo top the second team, with Simmons’ teammates Joel Embiid and Matisse Thybulle also on the list. Los Angeles Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard rounds out the second team.

Gobert won Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in his career after a dominant season in Utah. Simmons surprised many by becoming a defensive force, making his second consecutive all-defensive first team honors. Antetokounmpo makes the first team after winning Defensive Player of the Year a season ago.

Unsurprisingly, the 76ers and Jazz ranked second and third respectively in defensive rating this season. Every team featuring a player on either all-defensive team ranked in the top 10 in defensive efficiency.