The Sixers’ Robert Covington earned an all-defensive first team selection and Joel Embiid was named to the second team, the NBA announced Wednesday.
Covington, who signed a four-year extension with the Sixers in November, received harsh criticism when his game dipped in the Sixers’ second-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics. Despite his postseason struggles, Covington helped lead the Sixers’ defensive charge throughout their 52-win season and was rewarded for his efforts with 27 first-team votes and 36 second-team votes.
Players receive two points for each first-team vote and one point for each second-team vote.
The small forward led the league in deflections (312), and among forwards who played at least 30 minutes per game had a league-best defensive rating of 99.