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2024-25 NBA All-Defensive Team Predictions

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Houston Rockets point-forward Amen Thompson talks to Golden State Warriors point-forward Draymond Green (NBA All-Defensive team candidates)

With the NBA in the final full week of the regular season, the Most Valuable Player race has been too close to call. The Rookie of the Year may be all but settled. Lately, there’s been discussion about the rightful contenders for Defensive Player of the Year. Pretty soon, there will be more focus placed upon those player awards, impassioned fans and media members making their cases and votes.

With that in mind, it’s a perfect time to make predictions about who’ll make the all-league teams (All-NBA, All-Rookie, All-Defensive) as well. The focus of this article will be on the latter.

2024-25 NBA All-Defensive Team Predictions

First Team

Dyson Daniels (ATL), Evan Mobley (CLE), Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM), Amen Thompson (HOU), Lu Dort (OKC)

Atlanta Hawks wing Dyson Daniels is likely to win the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year award. A master thief, his penchant for pickpocketing and picking off passes has made him one of the most popular players in the league. Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley, capable of guarding players anywhere on the floor, is another candidate for this season’s Defensive Player of the Year award. However, Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. is on the same plane as Mobley. He’s a bit less fluid, but even more disruptive.

Houston Rockets playmaker Amen Thompson is among the players who should get more consideration for the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year award. He’s not the only reason the Rockets have a top-five defense, but he’s arguably the team’s most important defender. A physical specimen with a prototypical NBA body, Thompson’s terrorized his opponents at that end throughout the season. It must run in the genes, as Detroit Pistons playmaker Ausar Thompson is a destructive defensive force as well. As his twin won’t make the cut for the 65-game minimum, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Lu Dort takes his place.

Stocky and physical, Dort suffocates opponents at the point-of-attack while taking on the team’s toughest matchups. Even when he’s not playing lockdown on-ball defense, he’s relentless as a help defender. The Thunder have a top-two defense and it’s largely because of him.

Second Team

Toumani Camara (POR), Jalen Williams (OKC), OG Anunoby (NYK), Draymond Green (GSW), Rudy Gobert (MIN)

Portland Trail Blazers wing Toumani Camara doesn’t get enough attention, largely because his team isn’t a playoff contender. Nevertheless, he’s a superb defensive event creator who isn’t afraid to put his body on the line to get stops. In terms of his positional versatility, he’s similar to Thunder swingman Jalen Williams. Just 6-foot-7, Williams has proven himself capable of guarding 1-5, even making starts at center during Chet Holmgren‘s absence. He’s been elite at getting stops on the perimeter and in the paint.

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New York Knicks swingman OG Anunoby, long regarded as one of the NBA’s best defenders, is another player in that mold. Like the Thunder, the Knicks don’t have to rely on Anunoby alone. However, he’s often guarding the opponent’s top scoring option, highlighting his importance.

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Defensive versatility is also the hallmark of Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green‘s game. While anchoring a top-10 defense, his switchability has only been second to his basketball IQ in terms of impact. He might not win Defensive Player of the Year despite hitting the campaign trail, but he should be on an All-Defensive team.

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Last but, perhaps, not least: Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert.

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There hasn’t been as much discussion about him this season, partially because of past criticisms about his perimeter defense and the emergence of San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. Another issue is that the Timberwolves aren’t as dominant as they were last season. However, Minnesota still boasts a top-six defense and they rely on Gobert as much as ever, if not more.

Notably, Gobert is holding opponents 35.1 percent shooting from 3 while still providing elite rim-protection.

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