Antetokounmpo selected as top defensive player
Giannis Antetokounmpo was the Defensive Player of the Year, so it should be no surprise that he also was the leading vote-getter for the league’s All-defensive team.
The Milwaukee forward appeared on 97 of the first-team ballots out of 100 cast by a global panel of sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league.
Also on the first team: Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, Philadelphia guard Ben Simmons, Utah center Rudy Gobert and Boston guard Marcus Smart.
The second team selections were Los Angeles Clippers teammates Kawhi Leonard at forward and Patrick Beverley at guard, Bucks teammates Brook Lopez at center and Eric Bledsoe at guard, and Miami forward Bam Adebayo.
Five members of last year’s All-defensive team — first-teamer Paul George and secondteamers Jrue Holiday, Klay Thompson, Joel Embiid and Draymond Green — did not make this year’s squad.
■ Clippers: The team received final approval from Inglewood’s city government to begin construction on its new arena next summer. The Clippers announced the approval from the city council Tuesday, along with a joint deal to buy the publicly owned property on the arena site for $66.25 million. The team intends to open the new arena in 2024, immediately following the expiration of its team’s lease at Staples Center. The Clippers plan to break ground on the estimated $1.2 billion project in 2021.
■ Celtics: Boston and its charitable arm, the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, are committing $25 million over the next 10 years for initiatives to address racial injustice and social inequities in the greater Boston area.
■ Bubble: NBA coaches or other team staffers could have guests in the bubble on Sept. 21, about a week before the NBA Finals. Team staffs would be limited to a total of 10 guests.
■ Thunder: Billy Donovan will not return to coach the team next season as both sides decided not to pursue a contract extension. Donovan was 243-157 with Oklahoma City. Before joining the Thunder, he led the University of Florida to two national championships and four Final Four appearances in 19 seasons.