Los Angeles - Two weeks ago, Orlando Magic centre Dwight Howard was voted the NBA's Secretary of Defence. On Wednesday his ministers were named.

Howard, winner of the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year Award, and guard Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers headline the NBA All-Defensive First Team, the league announced.

Howard received 55 points overall, including 27 first team votes, to edge Bryant (53 points overall and 24 first team votes) as the leading vote-getter.

The panel consisted of the NBA's 30 head coaches, who were asked to select players by position, but were not permitted to vote for players from their own team.

Rounding out the NBA's All-Defensive First Team are forward and newly-crowned league MVP LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers (47 points), New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul (36 points) and Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett (35 points).

Howard averaged a league-best 13.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocked shots per game to become only the fifth player in NBA history to finish tops in both categories in the same season.

The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of centre Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs, guards Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat and Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics, along with forwards Shane Battier and Houston Rockets' teammate Ron Artest.