Bryant, Garnett match NBA All-Defensive record
NEW YORK—Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston forward Kevin Garnett each matched an NBA record on Monday when they were named to the NBA All-Defensive Team for a record-tying ninth time.
Joining them on the honor squad were Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, winner of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award three years in a row, plus Miami Heat forward LeBron James and Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo.
Bryant and Garnett matched the mark for selection to the most career All-Defensive Teams shared by retired NBA icon Michael Jordan and former star guard Gary Payton.
Voting was conducted by the NBA’s 30 coaches, each voting for a first and second team but none allowed to vote for a player on his own squad. Each first team nod was worth two points overall.
Howard set the pace with 56 points, including 27 first-place votes, followed by Rondo with 39 points, James on 38 and Garnett and Bryant, a star guard on the past two NBA title teams for the Lakers, each with 33 points.
The NBA All-Defensive second team included guards Tony Allen of Memphis and Chris Paul of New Orleans, Dallas center Tyson Chandler and forwards Andre Iguodala of Philadelphia and Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls.
Noah, the son of French tennis legend Yannick Noah, edged NBA Most Valuable Player teammate Derrick Rose by a single point for the last spot, 15 to 14.
