When you play for Michigan State, there's one main requirement for you to even sniff the floor: you have to play defense. Tom Izzo has harped on defense throughout his career and that has been evident over the years as the Spartans are constantly near the top of the nation in major defensive categories.
Some of those elite defenders that have come through East Lansing have made a name for themselves on that end of the floor in the NBA.
And on Thursday, two of them were honored by the league's postseason awards.
According to Bleacher Report, the NBA All-Defensive Teams included a couple of Spartans.
On the first team was Golden State Warrior legend and former NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green. He helped lead the Warriors to another NBA Playoff series win but they ran out of steam against the Minnesota Timberwolves after an injury to Steph Curry in the Western Conference Semifinals. He averaged 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game this season.
Making the second team was Jaren Jackson Jr., the young star of the Memphis Grizzlies. He, too, helped lead his team to the NBA Playoffs but, unfortunately, the Thunder were too much and swept the Grizzlies, 4-0. Jackson Jr., another former NBA Defensive Player of the Year, finished the year averaging 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.0 steals to go along with 22.2 points.
These two had some battles throughout the season as well as they match up with each other from time to time despite the height advantage for Jackson Jr.
Michigan State was the only school to have two representatives on the NBA All-Defensive Teams.
Tom Izzo is smiling somewhere.