<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Detroit Pistons’ center Ben Wallace, the two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, led the voting for the 2002-03 NBA All-Defensive Teams, which were announced by the NBA today. Wallace, who made his second career appearance on the All-Defensive First Team, is joined on the First Team by the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs, who was named All-Defensive First Team for the fifth consecutive season; Minnesota Timberwolves’ forward Kevin Garnett, who was named All-Defensive First Team for the fourth consecutive season; Los Angeles Lakers’ guard Kobe Bryant, who made the First Team for the second straight season and Sacramento Kings’ guard Doug Christie, who earned his first career All-Defensive First Team selection. Wallace led the NBA in rebounds (15.4 rpg) and finished second in blocks (3.14 bpg). He grabbed 20 or more rebounds in five consecutive games (March 12 -- 20), becoming the first player to accomplish that feat since former Piston Dennis Rodman (1995). His 15.4 rebounds per game average is the highest regular season average since Rodman’s 16.1 rpg in 1996-97. Duncan, the first player since Michael Jordan in 1991 and 1992 to earn MVP, All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team in consecutive seasons, ranked third in blocks (2.93 bpg) and rebounds (12.9 rpg). Garnett was second in the league in rebounds (13.4 rpg) and 17th in blocks (1.57 bpg). Bryant finished third in the NBA with a career-high 181 steals and ranked sixth in steals per game (2.21). He was second on his team in defensive rebounds (458) and blocks (67). Christie recorded a team-high 180 steals and finished fourth in the league in steals per game (2.25 spg). The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest, San Antonio Spurs forward Bruce Bowen, New Jersey Nets guard Jason Kidd, Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal and Philadelphia 76ers guard Eric Snow. Artest and Snow earned their first selections to the NBA’s All-Defensive team while Kidd collected his fifth All-Defensive Team selection. Bowen and O’Neal each earned their third All-Defensive Team selection . The voting panel consisted of the NBA’s 29 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. Points were awarded on a 2-1 basis. Below are the results of the balloting for the 2002-03 NBA All-Defensive Teams, with First Team votes in parentheses: 2002-03 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM Forward Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Forward Tim Duncan, San Antonio Center Ben Wallace, Detroit Guard Doug Christie, Sacramento Guard Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 2002-03 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM Forward Ron Artest, Indiana Forward Bruce Bowen, San Antonio Center Shaquille O'Neal. L.A. Lakers Guard Jason Kidd, New Jersey Guard Eric Snow, Philadelphia Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in parentheses): Gary Payton, Milwaukee, 15 (4); P.J. Brown, New Orleans, 11 (1); Allen Iverson, Philadelphia, 10 (3); Scottie Pippen, Portland, 8 (2); Theo Ratliff, Atlanta, 8 (1); Andrei Kirilenko, Utah, 6 (1); Brian Grant, Miami, 6 (1); Clifford Robinson, Detroit, 6; Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana, 5; Kenyon Martin, New Jersey, 5 (1); Shawn Marion, Phoenix, 4 (1); Kurt Thomas, New York, 3 (1); Michael Jordan, Washington, 3 (1); Matt Harpring, Utah, 2 (1); Tracy McGrady, Orlando, 2; Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix, 1; Bobby Jackson, Sacramento, 1; Chauncey Billups, Detroit, 1; Chris Webber, Sacramento, 1; Dale Davis, Portland, 1; David Robinson, San Antonio, 1; Desmond Mason, Milwaukee, 1; Jamaal Magloire, New Orleans, 1; Keon Clark, Sacramento, 1; Nene Hilario, Denver, 1; Rasheed Wallace, Portland, 1; Yao Ming, Houston, 1. </div>
Ron Artest should of been all first team defence...as much as i hate him don't know why kobe is there instead of him:crazy
I agree Allnet. Artest might be a prick but he can sure play defense. Kobe doesnt deserve to be on the All Defensive First Team this year. Im nto surprised at all with Ben Wallace. He has no offensive skills what-so-ever but he can sure play some defense.
Yup.. Artest should have been on 1st cut Kobe[sorry Laker fans] and Move him to 2nd. and I agreee with dexter, artest may be a lil naughty at some times, but he can damn well defend when its time for it.
id say GP over kobe, and vinsanity why would there be any raptors, lol, who has had a good defensive season for them?
Need more proof that everyone in the league is just BONKERS for Kobe??? first of all he beats out Shaq AND T-Mac and MVP voting and now he beats out Artest for a spot on the all defensive team. Absolutley disgraceful. There are a good 15 players. 6 guards who belong there over kobe
have shaq on his team, that's what he did. that's the only reason he got all defensive 1st team. damn the media needs to stop talking about only kobe, damn he's very good and shit, but there are better players. artest defenetely deserves to be on the 1st team.
the league is too inconsistent with it's positional selections in all NBA teams - the reason artest didn't make it is cos the league has him as a forward on the ballot which means he has to beat out garnett and duncan (tho he probably still should have). the only problem is, ben wallace is considered a centre, despite the fact he's a power forward and cliff robinson and okur play centre, and paul pierce was listed a forward in the all NBA 3rd team even tho eric williams plays forward and pierce plays the majority of minutes at 2 guard. shows how much a players attitude can bear on awards. props to christie tho, finally getting recognition as the great defender he is
Ben Wallace is possibly one of the hardest workers, he tries so hard, he runs all the damn time, Larry Brown shouldn't have made him offensive, it'll be the end of the Pistons....
