If you’ll remember, not only did Rudy Gobert make All-Defense 1st Team last season, but for the fourth time in his career, he was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Twelve months later, however, the 7-foot Frenchman seems to have fallen (nearly) out of favor amongst All-NBA voters.

Yes, Rudy did make his 8th career NBA All-Defensive team… but barely. Instead of landing back on the 1st team, for the seventh time in his Hall of Fame career, Gobert was relegated to the 2nd Team for the first time ever.

Rudy Gobert makes NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team

Not only that, but out of the ten defensive standouts to make out the 1st and 2nd teams, Rudy Gobert landed by far the least amount of “points”, at just 65 — (3) 1st place votes + (59) 2nd place votes.

Jaden McDaniels, who was named All-Defense 2nd Team in 2024-25, received votes again this year, but not nearly enough (10 points) to make either 1st or 2nd Team. Anthony Edwards also got a few 2nd place votes (3 points).

The 2024-25 Kia NBA All-Defensive Second Team!

Toumani Camara
Rudy Gobert
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jalen Williams
Ivica Zubac#NBAAwards | @Kia https://t.co/N9detG3Otz

— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2025

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Star Anthony Edwards Fined Again

Of course, crybaby Draymond Green climbed back into the All-Defensive 1st Team, after campaigning for himself all year long. Unfortunately for the 2016-17 DPOY, it does not appear as if he will have the backing to win 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year, as that seems destined to land with Cleveland’s Evan Mobley.

The 2023-24 Kia All-NBA Second Team!

Jalen Brunson
Anthony Davis
Kevin Durant
Anthony Edwards
Kawhi Leonard@Kia | #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/X2eBX1NKwN

— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2024

PUTTING THE LEAGUE ON NOTICE. pic.twitter.com/WmJisKr45i

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 23, 2024

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards makes All-NBA 2nd Team

Edwards, who will compete for Team USA this summer in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, has captured the attention of fans and NBA voices across the world and he may be the sole hope that the league has left, at this point, to save their TV ratings.

Seriously, without Boston vs Minnesota (Ant) in the NBA Finals, the NBA’s ratings could fall so low that owners might start getting nervous (probably not).

Related: Denzel and Magic Almost Helped Save the Timberwolves, Then Glen Taylor Stepped In

That’s because Ant isn’t just an elite talent, he’s a box office personality. And there may be no hotter draw in the league right now than “Ant Man”, and we aren’t talking Marvel movies. Maybe superheroes, though.

• On the season Anthony Edwards averaged 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game (79 games)
  • In the 2024 NBA Playoffs, those numbers have only gone up (28.9 PTS, 6.2 REB, 5.9 AST).

Anthony Edwards… ELECTRICITY. ⚡️

Don't miss him tonight in Game 1 of the WCF at 8:30pm/et on TNT! pic.twitter.com/J5IWgu3FCO

— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2024

He’s also taken visible steps forward in his leadership capabilities throughout the season and that progress has shined through two rounds of the NBA Playoffs.

No other Minnesota Timberwolves players were named All-NBA, but Rudy Gobert (1st Team) and Jaden Daniels (2nd Team) were both named NBA All-Defense. Rody also took home Defensive Player of the Year and Naz Reid won NBA Sixth Man of the Year.

Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels named to NBA All-Defensive Teams

Now Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels will match up against the Dallas Mavericks as recently crowned NBA All-Defensive honorees, after Gobert was named 1st Team and McDaniels was named 2nd Team on Tuesday.

The 2023-24 Kia NBA All-Defensive First Team!

Bam Adebayo
Anthony Davis
Rudy Gobert
Herbert Jones
Victor Wembanyama@Kia | #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/6P2mEdG4te

— NBA (@NBA) May 21, 2024

When the Minnesota Timberwolves sent a massive package to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Rudy Gobert, people got nervous. Then, when last season went off the rails, there was reason to wonder if Tim Connelly made a move that set the franchise back.

But another year removed, the Wolves are in the West Finals, Anthony Edwards is the next face of the NBA. KAT is saving the team in Game 7… and now, both Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels are getting their flowers.

Related: Former Timberwolves Turned Media Members Gush Over Anthony Edwards’ ‘It Factor’

Of course being named as an All-Defensive First Team player was going to happen for Gobert after being named the best defender in the NBA. What was less guaranteed is where Jaden McDaniels would finish. Grabbing second team honors, the Timberwolves’ rangy stretch forward got his due as well.

The moment Jaden found out he made 2nd Team All-Defense — informed by player development coach Moses Ehambe. pic.twitter.com/0whq02lAVc

— Alan Horton (@WolvesRadio) May 21, 2024

Rudy Gobert’s latest Defensive Player of the Year was the fourth of his career. He joined Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace as the only players to accomplish that feat during their career. Another DPOY next season would put him in a league of his own.

Rudy’s defensive acumen has been on full display during the playoffs and the Minnesota Timberwolves got everything they hoped for when shipping out Walker Kessler and a bunch of other parts.

A late first-round pick by the Los Angeles Lakers, McDaniels was dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Dennis Schroder before he was sent to Minnesota for something named Aleksej Pokuševski.

You can bet that both the Lakers and Thunder would much prefer to have his services at this point, and Chris Finch will be relying on him massively during the Western Conference Finals, as the primary defender against Luka Doncic.

Related: Ant Said it, but Karl-Anthony Towns Forced Charles Barkley to Bring His Ass to Minnesota

Gobert played a massive role in knocking out the Denver Nuggets working as a rover and rim defender behind Karl Anthony Towns. He kept Nikola Jokic from getting the easy baskets inside, while forcing Jamal Murray from being able to drive the line.

McDaniels found himself working against both Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon at times, and came up with a couple of key offensive performances that brought Minnesota through the round. As great as Anthony Edwards has been for the Timberwolves this season on offense, it has been their defense that was a calling card all year long.

Both Gobert and McDaniels were in the middle of that reality, and seeing each of them be honored for their efforts is an outcome Chris Finch and Micah Nori have to be proud of. But no doubt, it was Rudy who brought the Wolves current tenacity and aggressive defensive style

The talented defensive duo will look for another eight games of strong work the rest of the way, and they can then add a ring along with team honors to their individual accomplishment.

As we sit in the midst of some organizational tension, Thursday’s Timberwolves related reports were a refreshing change of pace.

For the second time in franchise history, Minnesota had a pair of players receive All-NBA Team honors:

An All NBA tag team:
Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler make All-NBA third team https://t.co/3Vm4cLeilX

— Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) May 24, 2018

The dual recipients, Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns helped lead the Wolves to their first playoff appearance since the 2003-04 season. In funny how that works fashion, that’s the only other year Minnesota had a 1-2 punch that were both among the Association’s top 15 players.

Jimmy Butler’s first season with the Timberwolves has resulted in his second All-NBA honor. In 2017, the then Chicago Bull was also selected third team.

On top of those accolades, the 28 year-old was named to the league’s All-Defense Second Team. That’s the fourth time the top-notch, two-way player, has received that recognition.

His 22.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 4.9 APG season provided plenty of noteworthy performances:

For Karl-Anthony Towns, just like earning that inaugural All-Star appearance, the first one is the hardest. He’ll now be a regular on both fronts for the next decade.

In his third NBA season, the 22 year-old lead the league in double-doubles(68) and finished the 2017-18 campaign with an average of 21.3 PPG (20th in NBA) and 12.3 RPG (4th in NBA) (youngest player named to the any of the three teams).

As a result of Thursday’s news, KAT might be seeing dollar signs:

Karl-Anthony Towns is now eligible for a $188 million extension with Timberwolves. #Wolveshttps://t.co/Mi9SUldDkT

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 24, 2018

The Big Meow is now eligible for an extension worth “up to 30% of the salary cap in 2019-20.”

While that aspect slightly stings, by simply looking at the company he keeps, it’s evident Towns is more than worth it:

All-NBA First Team:

• Anthony Davis: Pelicans (Center)
• Kevin Durant: Warriors (Forward)
• LeBron James: Cavaliers (Forward)
• James Harden: Rockets (Guard)
• Damian Lillard: Trailblazers (Guard)

All-NBA Second Team:

• Joel Embiid: 76ers (Center)
• LaMarcus Aldridge: Spurs (Forward)
• Giannis Antetokounmpo: Bucks (Forward)
• DeMar DeRozan: Raptors (Guard)
• Russell Westbrook: Thunder (Guard)

All-NBA Third Team:

• Karl-Anthony Towns: Timberwolves (Center)
• Paul George: Thunder (Forward)
• Jimmy Butler: Timberwolves (Guard/Forward)
• Victor Oladipo: Pacers (Guard)
• Stephen Curry: Warriors (Guard)

When breaking down the three different squads, the most difficult thing to wrap my brain around, is the ridiculous amount of talent. The NBA’s recent trend of rising ratings appear to be far from finished.

Unlike a certain other commissioner, Adam Silver ain’t worried about nothing:

Other than that, I’d like to formally submit my two complaints:

First and not foremost, the fact that Damian Lillard made the first team over Russell Westbrook seems like a mistake. With all due respect to Big Game Dame that spot should have gone to Mr. Triple Double.

• Lillard: 26.9 PPG, 6.6 APG, 4.5 RPG, 51.9 eFG% (73 games)
• Westbrook: 25.4 PPG, 10.3 APG, 10.1 RPG, 47.7 eFG% (80 games)

While I’m far from alone in that opinion, this guy is on somewhat of a different level:

@Dame_Lillard cried his way to an All-Star and an All-NBA season. Can you weep past the second round of the playoffs? https://t.co/pVpisNwQ0m

— The M.O.S.T. (@Morvember) May 24, 2018

The 27 year-old PG offered up a poetic response:

Lol damn I just cried my way into a whole life https://t.co/hRFMSaGE5v

— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) May 24, 2018

My second complaint relates to second team selection of a Mr. DeMar Darnell DeRozan. To me, that spot should have been given to Butler.

DeMar DeRozan: 2017-18 Stats

Jimmy Butler: 2017-18 Stats

While those numbers are very similar, that’s not the case when comparing DeRozan and Butler’s ability on the defensive end of the court.

If you want to make the argument that Jimmy’s games played (59) in comparison with the Raptors Guard (80) is what held the Timberwolf back, that’s understandable.

Assuming that’s your adage, then Towns and his 82 games played should leap over Joel Embiid, right? The artist known as The Process only played in 63 contests.

Joel Embiid: 2017-18 Stats

Karl-Anthony Towns: 2017-18 Stats

Just like it was with DeRozan and Butler, those numbers are very similar. However, Embiid is much better on defense. You can’t have your cake and eat it, t

Whatever. Screw it. They can have their cake and eat it, too. There are much bigger fish to fry.

Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN)

MinnesotaSportsFan.com