Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo left off NBA all-defensive teams

The NBA announced its all defensive teams Wednesday and Milwaukee Bucks all-star Giannis Antetokounmpo did not receive enough votes to earn a spot on the first or second team.

A second-team selection in 2016-'17, Antetokounmpo received 15 first-team votes from the 100-member media panel that selects the league's awards. However, he was only on 28 ballots and slipped to sixth in the voting among forwards.

Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans, one of the finalists for Defensive Player of the Year, and Robert Covington of the Philadelphia 76ers earned the forward spots on the first team. Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors and Al Horford of the Boston Celtics took the second-team forward spots.

Each of those four players had at least 85 points out of a possible 200. Players were given two points for each first-team vote and one point for each second-team vote.

Antetokounmpo finished with 43 points, ranking as the third player outside of the second team behind Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul (74 points) and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (69).

During the 2017-'18 season, Antetokounmpo ranked ninth in the league in defensive rebounds (597), ninth in blocks per game (1.4) and 20th in defensive win shares (3.6).

Antetokounmpo's per-game defensive numbers were generally down from last year with his blocks and steals dropping slightly. His rebounding continued to improve while his presence as a perimeter defender as well as a rim-protector inside made him a nightmare for opposing defenses.

Antetokounmpo's candidacy may also have been hurt by Milwaukee's team defense. The Bucks ranked 19th in the league in defensive efficiency for the second successive season, but Milwaukee was worse this year, allowing 110.1 points per 100 possessions  vs. 109.3 in 2016-'17. With Antetokounmpo playing 70% of the team's minutes this regular season, Milwaukee's defensive woes could have reflected poorly on his candidacy.

The NBA's all-defensive first and second teams are below:

FIRST TEAM
Robert Covington, 76ers, F
Anthony Davis, Pelicans, F/C
Rudy Gobert, Jazz, C
Jrue Holiday, Pelicans, G
Victor Oladipo, Pacers

SECOND TEAM
Jimmy Butler, Timberwolves, G/F
Joel Embiid, 76ers, C
Draymond Green, Warriors, F
Al Horford, Celtics, F
Dejounte Murray, Spurs, G