It took longer than Celtics fans probably would've liked, but Marcus Smart has finally earned recognition from the rest of the NBA for his defensive prowess, being named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the first time in his five-year career.
Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, guard Eric Bledsoe, Thunder forward Paul George and Jazz center Rudy Gobert joined Smart in receiving 2018-19 first-team honors. Antetokounmpo, Gobert and George are the three finalists for NBA Defensive Player of the Year, which will be announced on June 24.
The teams are selected by 100 writers and broadcasters, in which players receive two points for a first team vote and one for a second team vote. Smart led all guards 145 points and 63 first-team votes. Bledsoe finished with 36 first team votes and 100 points.
Smart's current and former teammates took to Twitter soon after the NBA's announcement to celebrated Smart's major accomplishment:
Smart!!!!!! ☘️-- Well Deserved! https://t.co/MkBQHMkdzu
— Al Horford (@Al_Horford) May 22, 2019My dawg!!! https://t.co/47ffVh9BTz
— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) May 22, 2019So happy for my guy Smart!! He deserves that. Shoulda had a couple of those on his resume already
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) May 22, 2019ALL-DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM ----Congratulations @smart_MS3, you deserve it! pic.twitter.com/y0p3zXCHmc
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 22, 2019Smart is also the first Celtic to be named NBA All-Defensive First Team since Avery Bradley did so in 2015-16.
