The NBA's 2025-26 All-Defensive Teams were unveiled on Friday during NBA on NBC's Showtime pre-game broadcast, with the Western Conference Finals serving as the backdrop for the on-stage reveals.
The First Team features San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama, Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren, Minnesota's Rudy Gobert, Detroit's Ausar Thompson and Boston's Derrick White. The Second Team adds Toronto's Scottie Barnes, Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams, Miami's Bam Adebayo, New York's OG Anunoby and Atlanta's Dyson Daniels.
Wembanyama, this season's unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, becomes the first player ever to make First Team All-Defense twice before turning 23. He also led the NBA in blocks for a third straight season.
"This is his award. This is going to be his award," Carmelo Anthony said on NBA Showtime. "He's going to be part of this team for the years to come. I would say the next 10 to 20 to 30 years, Wemby will be on the All-Defensive First Team."
Chet Holmgren, who finished second in DPOY voting and second in the NBA in blocks per game, paired with Wembanyama as the second seven-footer on the First Team. "The way he leads the league in blocks, second in blocks, the way he covers the rim defensively, the way his agility on the back side, on the help side, Chet deserved this," Anthony said.
Ausar Thompson's debut on the First Team came after he led the league in steals at two per game. Vince Carter highlighted the respect Thompson has earned across the league. "Every time your best player is bringing the ball up the court, he's either getting off of it or calling for a screen," Carter said. "That says a lot about you. That's a lot of respect, and Ausar Thompson has earned that, and he will earn that for years to come."
Rudy Gobert's selection extends one of the most decorated defensive resumes in league history. The Minnesota centre is now a nine-time All-Defensive honouree and a four-time Defensive Player of the Year. "Big shout-out to Rudy, man. Rudy had an unbelievable series this postseason against the Denver Nuggets," Anthony said. "This is, he should be on this team every single year as long as Rudy is in the league."
Derrick White's First Team selection capped a season in which he was a key piece of Boston's title defence. Carter praised White's willingness to absorb the toughest assignment without complaint. "This guy here has been fantastic," Carter said. "Here's a guy who is willing to take on any challenge in the game. Doesn't matter who he is, he steps up and he brings it. He takes a lot of pressure off of their stars because he'll go out there and guard the best player."
On the Second Team, Anthony singled out Toronto's Scottie Barnes, who was an early DPOY favourite. "Scottie Barnes I'm excited for, because all year we talked about him possibly winning Defensive Player of the Year throughout the year and of course Wemby things started to happen, but Scottie Barnes all year has been fantastic," Anthony said. "He's taken the challenge of guarding all five positions. Only Wemby and Ausar average more blocks per game than Scottie Barnes."
The reveal came hours before Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, with Wembanyama and Holmgren set to face off again that evening in San Antonio.
