Dwight Howard Named to All-Defensive First Team

NBA head coaches have named Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, the reigning two-time Defensive Player of the Year, to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. He received 28 first-team votes and 1 second-team vote to lead the overall balloting with 57 points. It's the second straight All-Defensive First Team appearance for Howard, who also made the All-Defensive Second Team for the 2007/08 season.

From the NBA's official release:

Howard became the first player to lead the league in rebounding and blocks (1973-74 was the first season blocks were kept as an official statistic) in consecutive seasons, averaging 13.2 rebounds and 2.78 blocks. He also became only the fifth player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounding for at least three consecutive seasons. With Howard anchoring the defense, the Magic allowed 95.3 ppg, which ranked fourth in the NBA, and held the opposition to a league-low .438 shooting from the field, including 24 games where opponents shot under .400. Orlando held the opposition to less than 100 points 57 times and to less than 90 points 24 times.

Howard was the only Magic player named on any ballot.

In descending order of points received, Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics, LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kobe Bryant of the L.A. Lakers, and Gerald Wallace of the Charlotte Bobcats round out the first team.