Those who follow the Boston Celtics closely have known for a long time how good Avery Bradley is on the defensive end of the court. Now it appears the rest of the NBA is taking notice.
The Celtics guard was named to the NBA All-Defensive first team Wednesday, receiving 62 first-team votes and 25 second-team votes for a total of 149 points. Bradley had the fourth-most votes among the first-teamers and 27 points more than the highest-finishing second-team guard, Memphis’ Tony Allen.
#KiaDPOY @kawhileonard joined by @Money23Green @deandrejordan6 @CP3 & Avery Bradley on All-Defensive First Team! pic.twitter.com/m2giSzTvpr
— NBA (@NBA) May 25, 2016
Bradley was a big reason for the Celtics’ continued improvement this season. He appeared in 76 games, averaging 33.4 minutes per night and finishing 11th in the NBA in steal-to-turnover ratio. The 25-year-old routinely drew the most important defensive assignment, most notably helping to slow Stephen Curry as Boston split its season series with the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors.
This is the first time Bradley has won first-team honors, though he was a All-Defensive second-team selection in 2013.
Two of Bradley’s Celtics teammates, Jae Crowder and Marcus Smart, also received votes. Crowder’s 47 points nearly put him on the All-Defensive second team (Indiana Pacers guard Paul George had 48), while Smart totaled seven points.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
