Over three decades leading Michigan State, coach Tom Izzo has placed an emphasis on defense and that translates to the next level.
Former Spartan standouts Draymond Green and Jaren Jackson Jr. were both named to the NBA All-Defensive teams on Thursday. Green, who recently completed his 13th season with the Warriors, was selected to the first team for the ninth time in his career. Jackson, in seven season with the Grizzlies, was named to the second team while earning All-Defensive honors for the third time.
Both Green (2016-17) and Jackson (2022-23) are former winners of the Defensive Player of the Year award. Michigan State is the only school with two former players named to the All-Defensive teams this season.
Green, a Saginaw native and former National Player of the Year for the Spartans, is a four-time NBA champion with Golden State. He averaged 9.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks this season and is the 13th player in NBA history to be named to the All-Defensive teams at least nine times.
Jackson spent just one season with the Spartans before being selected by Memphis fourth overall in the 2018 NBA draft. The two-time All-Star averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals per game this season.