NEW YORK, April 30 (UPI) -- Seattle SuperSonics point guard Gary Payton joined Michael Jordan as the only players to be named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team nine times when the league announced its selections on Tuesday.
Nicknamed "The Glove" because of his defensive prowess, Payton ranks ninth on the all-time list for steals with 2,014.
Although he averaged just 1.6 steals per game last season, Payton is still regarded as the league's premier defensive guard.
Joining Payton on the All-Defensive First Team are fellow guard Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets, center Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons -- the winner of the Defensive Player of the Year Award -- and forwards Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs and Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The All-Defensive Second Team consists of forwards Bruce Bowen of the Spurs and Cliff Robinson of the Pistons, center Dikembe Mutombo of the Philadelphia 76ers and guards Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Doug Christie of the Sacramento Kings.
The voting is conducted by NBA coaches with two points for first team selections and one point for second team. Wallace led all players with 51 votes, four more than Payton.
