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

Position Player, Team Points 1st Votes
Forward Kevin Garnett, Minnesota 47 (22)
Forward Tim Duncan, San Antonio 44 (18)
Center Ben Wallace, Detroit 55 (27)
Guard Doug Christie, Sacramento 38 (14)
Guard Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 35 (15)

2002-03 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM

Position Player, Team Points 1st Votes
Forward Ron Artest, Indiana 27 (9)
Forward Bruce Bowen, San Antonio 24 (8)
Center Shaquille O'Neal. L.A. Lakers 12 (1)
Guard Jason Kidd, New Jersey 31 (10)
Guard Eric Snow, Philadelphia 16 (3)

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.

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