Serge Ibaka Makes All-Defensive First Team

Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka continues his ascension in the NBA hierarchy with his selection to the All-Defensive first team on Wednesday.

Ibaka was joined by a who's who of the league's best defenders on the first team: Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Tony Allen and Chris Paul. Interestingly enough, Tyson Chandler, the 2012 Defensive Player of the Year, was on the second-team.

While the media vote for the season-ending awards like DPOY, NBA coaches vote on the defensive teams.

Along with Kendrick Perkins, Ibaka has been a defensive anchor for the Thunder all season long, and his 3.7 block a game average lead the NBA in the regular season.

At 6'10 235 with a 7'4 wingspan, Ibaka is the complete package defensively, with the ability to hold position on the low block, defend smaller big men on the perimeter as well as protect the rim. His ability to swing between the 5 and the 4 positions defensively allows Oklahoma City to go small, which could be a huge story-line in their Western Conference Finals match-up with the San Antonio Spurs.

For all the latest on Ibaka and the Thunder, check out Welcome To Loud City.