Focus on defense has long been a San Antonio Spurs mantra. From Tim Duncan and David Robinson to Kawhi Leonard, the attention to that side of the ball set a foundation for five championships in 15 years. It's also translated to vast recognition when you include the likes of Bruce Bowen and Alvin Robertson. Victor Wembanyama's latest honor is the 23rd time in the Spurs proud history that the franchise has placed a player on the top ceremonial squad. In becoming the first rookie ever and the youngest player ever to make the NBA All-Defensive First Team, the Rookie of the Year is the seventh Spur to achieve the honor.
Spurs First Team All-Defensive Players
To no one's surprise, Tim Duncan holds the Silver and Black's record for most NBA All-Defensive First Team nods. What might surprise is who's second behind “The Big Fundamental's” eight in that category. It's Bruce Bowen with five. David Robinson follows with four while Kawhi Leonard made the first squad three times. Alvin Robertson and Dennis Rodman each made the Defensive First Team once during their days in San Antonio.
Not coincidentally, Duncan's first First Team appearance on the All-Defensive Team came the same year the Spurs won their first championship. By the time he'd reached five straight appearances on the Defensive First Team, the future Hall-of-Famer had also won back-to-back NBA Most Valuable Players in 2002 and 2003. T.D. achieved Defensive First Team honors again in 2005, '07 and '08.
A main cog of Duncan's title runs in '03, '05 and '07, Bowen's five Defensive First Team selections started in 2004 and went consecutively through 2008.
Robinson, who won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year in 1992 when he led the league in blocks, reached First Team recognition in '91, '95 and '96 as well.
The only player in Spurs history to win two Defensive Player of the Year trophies, Leonard, also earned Defensive First Team honors in 2017 to go along with his award winning years in '15 and '16.
Himself a Defensive Player of the Year in 1986, Robertson's lone Defensive First Team appearance as a Spur came in '87, in the the midst of four straight All-Defensive nods. Rodman's short two-year stint in the Alamo City produced back to back All-Defensive appearances, including a spot on the First Team in 1995.
Spurs Second Team All-Defensive Players
Except for Wemby (because he's only had one year in the NBA), every Spur who made the Defensive First Team has also landed on its Second Team. Duncan made that squad seven times, Robinson four, Bowen and Robertson three times apiece, while Leonard and Rodman made one each.
Additionally, three other Spurs have made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Interestingly enough, each made it just once.
In leading the NBA in blocks in 1980-1981, power forward George Johnson earned a spot that season. Long known as an effective ‘three-and-D' player, Danny Green made the Defensive Second Team in 2016-17. Dejounte Murray, the lone player in this small group to make an All-Star Game, was named to the Defensive Second Team four years before his 2022 All-Star selection.
Twelve times the Spurs have placed two players on the two All-Defensive Teams, including four times in which the franchise had two players make the First Team.
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