Former Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball star Marcus Smart was named to the NBA’s all-defensive first-team for the first time in his young career Wednesday.
The Boston Celtics guard received the fourth most votes among the final selections with 63 first-team votes and 145 points. Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (196 points, 97 votes), Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (195 points, 96 votes) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (193 points, 94 votes) were the top three vote-getters and are the finalists for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe (100 points, 36 votes) rounded out the top five.
According to Celtics.com, Smart led the league in steal percentage (3.1 percent) and was third in total steals (143), finishing only behind George (170) and Houston’s James Harden (158). Smart also was third in the league in 3-pointers contested (340) and fourth in total deflections (228).