2013 NBA Awards: Tim Duncan Earns All-Defensive Second Team Honors
By Michael Rehome
May 10, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (21) blocks the shot by Golden State Warriors center Festus Ezeli (31) during the first quarter of game three of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The NBA has just released the All-Defensive teams for this season. San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan picks up his 14th consecutive award. This marks him two ahead of Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett who both earned their 12th.
This season Duncan has averaged 2.65 blocks per game, which marks his highest since the 2003-2004 season when he averaged 2.68. He has also averaged 8.1 defensive rebounds per game which puts him fifth in the league.
Here is the Official Presser from Spurs.Com.
SAN ANTONIO (May 13, 2013) – The NBA today announced that San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan was named to the 2012-13 NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Duncan leads all players in NBA history with 14 All-Defensive Team selections over the span of his 16-year career with the Spurs.
Duncan’s 14th All-Defensive Team selection ranks him two of ahead Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett who have each been selected to 12 NBA All-Defensive Teams. Also trailing Duncan on the list are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (11) and Scottie Pippen (10). The NBA introduced the All-Defensive Team in 1968-69.
In 2012-13, Duncan averaged 17.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.65 blocks (third in the NBA) in 30.1 minutes. His 8.1 defensive rebounds per game ranked fifth in the NBA.
Duncan’s 2.65 blocks per game is his highest average since the 2003-04 season when he averaged 2.68 blocks. It is also the highest average of any NBA player 36-years-or-older since the NBA started keeping track of blocked shots in 1973.
Duncan anchored the Spurs defense that ranked eighth in both opponent field goal percentage (44.2 percent) and opponent points in the paint (40.0 points). The Silver and Black finished the regular season with a 58-24 record and clinched a playoff berth for the 16th consecutive year, the longest active streak in the NBA.
Duncan has been named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team eight times in his career (1999-2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008) and to the Second Team on six occasions (1998, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2013).
Comprising this year’s First Team are guards Tony Allen of the Memphis Grizzlies and Chris Paul of the L.A. Clippers and forwards LeBron James of the Miami Heat and Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Rounding out the First Team are centers Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks and Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls.
Joining Duncan on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team are guards Avery Bradley of the Boston Celtics and Mike Conley of the Grizzlies, forward Paul George of the Indiana Pacers and center Marc Gasol of the Grizzlies.
The voting panel consisted of the NBA’s 30 head coaches, who were asked to select NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams by position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players from their own team. Two points were awarded for a First Team vote and one point was awarded for a Second Team vote.
Here is the full list of the the first and second teams:
2012-13 All-Defensive Team
First team
F – LeBron James, Miami (25 first-place votes, 52 points)F – Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City (17, 46)C – Tyson Chandler, New York (9, 24); Joakim Noah, Chicago (8, 24)G – Tony Allen, Memphis (25, 53)G – Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers (15, 37)
Second team
F – Tim Duncan, Spurs (3, 20)F – Paul George, Indiana (7, 27)C – Marc Gasol, Memphis (5, 12)G – Avery Bradley, Boston (10, 25)G – Mike Conley, Memphis (4, 19)