For the first time in 21 years, the Portland Trail Blazers have a player on the NBA’s All-Defensive team.
Blazers second-year forward Toumani Camara was named to the second team, the NBA announced Thursday.
He became the first Blazers player to do so since center Theo Ratliff following the 2003-04 season. Camara is the first Blazers forward named to the second team since Scottie Pippen following the 1999-2000 season.
The last Blazers player selected to the first team was forward Buck Williams during the 1989-90 and 1990-91 seasons.
Williams, Bill Walton, Maurice Lucas and Lionel Hollins are the only Blazers to be named to the first team.
Camara could join them soon.
The 6-foot-7 Camara used his disruptive style on defense to earn his way into the Blazers’ starting lineup as a rookie.
This season, the former second-round pick took his game to a new level, garnering respect from many of the league’s top offensive players. They praised his basketball smarts, aggressiveness, length and dedication to his craft.
“I think he’s right up there at the top,” Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard said in February after losing to his former team at the Moda Center. “His competitiveness, he has the size and the length and the energy to do it. He takes pride in it and he’s constantly going. It’s not like he’s gonna go away. He’s there the whole time … I think he’s one of the top two most valuable players on this team.”
Golden State Warriors v Portland Trail Blazers
Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles against Toumani Camara #33 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second quarter of the game at the Moda Center on April 11, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)Getty Images
In March, the Blazers launched a campaign promoting Camara for defensive player of the year.
Camara, acquired from the Phoenix Suns prior to the 2023-24 season in the series of deals that sent Lillard to the Bucks, finished ninth, which was a good sign that he could land on the All-Defensive second team.
Camara led the NBA with 31 charges drawn and tied for ninth in loose balls recovered (60), while ranking ninth with 1.5 steals per game.
His offense also improved over his rookie season. Camara shot 45.8% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range, making him a premier 3-and-D player.
Here is the list of Blazers to be named to the All-Defensive team:
2024-2025: Tourmani Camara, second-team.
2003-2004: Theo Ratliff, second-team.
1999-2000: Scottie Pippen, second-team.
1991-92: Buck Williams, second-team.
1990-91: Buck Williams, first-team.
1989-90: Buck Williams, first-team.
1980-81: Kermit Washington, second-team.
1979-80: Kermit Washington, second-team.
1978-79: Maurice Lucas and Lionel Hollins, second-team.
1977-78: Bill Walton, Maurice Lucas and Lionel Hollins, first-team. Bobby Gross, second-team.
1976-77: Bill Walton, first-team.
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)