Trio of former Pac-12 stars land NBA All-Defensive First Team honors
A trio of former Pac-12 stars were named to the First-Team NBA All-Defensive team Tuesday afternoon. The Pac-12 has long been known for its defense, and there was no exception in 2022-23.
Brook Lopez (Stanford), Evan Mobley (USC) and Jrue Holiday (UCLA) cracked to 5-person list alongside former Michigan State center Jaren Jackson and former Texas A&M guard Alex Caruso.
Dillon Brooks (Oregon) and Derrick White (Colorado) were named to the 2nd team.
The 2022-23 Kia NBA All-Defensive First Team!
▪️ Alex Caruso (@chicagobulls)
▪️ Jrue Holiday (@Bucks)
▪️ Jaren Jackson Jr. (@memgrizz)
▪️ Brook Lopez (@Bucks)
▪️ Evan Mobley (@cavs)@Kia | #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/eqAxbqxCtV— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2023
None of the 5 members of the first-team are still in the running for a NBA Championship. Mobley and the Cavaliers were knocked out by the New York Knicks in Round 1, as were the Bucks and Grizzlies, who lost to 8-seed Miami and 7-seed Los Angeles, respectively.
Derrick White’s Celtics are currently tied 2-2 with the Philadelphia 76ers in Round 2.