Ranking the NBA's 99 Best Defenders of All Time
The NBA's best defenders haven't just adapted to the offensive trends of their respective eras—they've disrupted them.
From the intimidating rim protectors who turned the paint into a no-fly zone to the modern chesspieces who can lock down all five positions, they've always been necessary to dictating the terms of engagement.
And they turn doing so into an art form.
To determine the best to ever do it, Bleacher Report's NBA writers and editors convened for a staff vote. Voters were instructed to consider advanced metrics, traditional production, All-Defensive and Defensive Player of the Year accolades, peak dominance, longevity and the good, old-fashioned eye test.
The result is our ranking of the 99 greatest defenders in NBA history.
Disagree with our list? Sound off in the app comments.
Welcome to NBA GOAT week, where the B/R staff names the 50 Best Dunkers, 99 Best Defenders, 99 Best Shooters and 50 Best Trash-Talkers in league history, as well as the best player from every decade. Check back every day this week for each installment.
Player summaries by Andy Bailey.
99. Don Buse, PG
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Years: 1972-1985 | Teams: IND, PHX, POR, KCK
Career Stats: 2.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 3.3 STL%, 0.3 BLK%, 31.0 DWS, 2.1 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 0 | All-Defensive: 6 First Team, 0 Second Team
There may have been a hint of skepticism about some players coming from the ABA to the NBA when the leagues merged in 1976. Don Buse quickly put any directed at him to rest.
In his final ABA campaign, he averaged 8.2 assists and an eye-popping 4.1 steals. The very next season, his first in the NBA, he went to 8.5 assists and 3.5 steals.
The instincts and aggression that helped the 6'4" guard adapt right away also helped him earn First Team All-Defense nods in each of his first four years in the NBA. And to this day, he's still 13th all time in career steal percentage.
High Vote: 51
98. Larry Nance, PF
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Years: 1981-1994 | Teams: PHX, CLE
Career Stats: 0.9 SPG, 2.2 BPG, 1.4 STL%, 3.8 BLK%, 44.6 DWS, 1.4 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 1 | All-Defensive: 1 First Team, 2 Second Team
Larry Nance (the elder) is maybe best known to today's fans for a freeze frame from a dunk contest, but the athleticism that made that picture iconic also made Nance one of the best defenders the NBA has ever seen.
At 6'10", Nance was more mobile than most players of his height, part of what helped him post a respectable steal rate. But what really set him apart was his rim protection.
Nance blocked at least two shots per game in nine of his 13 seasons and even got to 3.0 in 1991-92.
High Vote: 73
97. Eddie Jones, SG
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Years: 1994-2008 | Teams: LAL, CHA, MIA, MEM, DAL
Career Stats: 1.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 2.6 STL%, 1.3 BLK%, 43.5 DWS, 1.5 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 2 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 3 Second Team
Eddie Jones was one of the NBA's better offensive shooting guards for much of his career. In his first 10 seasons, he averaged 16.8 points, 3.3 assists and 1.7 threes, while shooting 38.0 percent from deep.
But those aren't necessarily the kind of numbers that scream multi-time All-Star. What really drove him to that level was elite perimeter defense and instincts that led to huge steal numbers.
Jones averaged at least two steals per game in five different seasons and led the NBA in that category in 1999-00 (at 2.7).
High Vote: 37
96. Karl Malone, PF
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Years: 1985-2004 | Teams: UTA, LAL
Career Stats: 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 1.9 STL%, 1.5 BLK%, 92.4 DWS, 0.9 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 1 | All-Defensive: 3 First Team, 1 Second Team
Karl Malone is obviously known a lot more for what he did on the offensive end of the floor, but he actually received four All-Defense nods in his career, including three straight First Team nods.
That was largely driven by stout post defense, but Malone was also one of the game's best at ending possessions, too.
From the start of his first All-Star campaign with the Utah Jazz through the end of his last one (1987-88 through 2001-02), Malone grabbed 9,464 defensive rebounds, a number that was about as far clear of second place as second was of seventh.
High Vote: 59
95. Elvin Hayes, PF
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Years: 1968-1984 | Teams: SDR/HOU, BAL/WAS
Career Stats: 1.0 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 1.2 STL%, 2.9 BLK%, 83.7 DWS, 0.4 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 0 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 2 Second Team
Speaking of dominant rebounders, the Capital Bullets (who were the Baltimore Bullets the year before and the Washington Bullets the year after) had one in the first year the league officially separated offensive and defensive rebounds by the name of Elvin Hayes.
One of the most highly touted prospects of his era, Hayes led the league in both total rebounds (18.1) and defensive rebounds (13.7) per game that season. Over the rest of his career, he collected over 22 percent of the available defensive boards.
But that wasn't all he provided on the defensive end. The 6'9" Hayes was also a dynamic shot-blocker. Though he never led the league in that category, he averaged 2.4 over the first eight years they were counted in the NBA.
High Vote: 68
94. Ben Simmons, PG
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Years: 2016-present | Teams: PHI, BKN, LAC
Career Stats: 1.5 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 2.3 STL%, 1.8 BLK%, 18.6 DWS, 2.1 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 2 | All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 0 Second Team
Ben Simmons' career is one of the most fascinating (and potentially depressing) we've seen in recent memory, and it ended way too soon (though he's talked about attempting a comeback for 2026-27).
He was the first overall pick in the draft, won Rookie of the Year and looked like one of the best and most dynamic transition playmakers in the league. He was also an absolute menace on the defensive end, particularly against guards tasked with getting around his 6'10" frame.
By the end of his age-24 campaign, Simmons had already made three All-Star teams and had two top-four finishes in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
But a seemingly psychosomatic aversion to shooting and chronic back problems derailed what might otherwise have been a DPOY-winning career.
High Vote: 55
93. DeAndre Jordan, C
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Years: 2008-present | Teams: LAC, DAL, NYK, BKN, LAL, PHI, DEN, NOP
Career Stats: 0.5 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 1.0 STL%, 4.6 BLK%, 45.4 DWS, 0.7 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 3 | All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 0 Second Team
At the height of their powers, the Lob City Clippers were one of the most exciting teams in the NBA. And DeAndre Jordan's above-the-rim finishing was a big part of it.
His most important contribution to wins and losses, though, came on the other end of the floor. Jordan was the Clippers' defensive anchor and absolutely dominated the era as a rebounder and shot-blocker.
During the four seasons in which Jordan collected all his career accolades, he averaged 10.0 defensive rebounds and 2.2 blocks.
And in the same stretch, L.A. was plus-9.7 points per 100 possessions with Jordan on the floor and minus-2.7 when he was off.
High Vote: 63
92. Don Chaney, SG
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Years: 1968-1980 | Teams: BOS, SSL (ABA), LAL
Career Stats: 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 2.3 STL%, 1.1 BLK%, 24.9 DWS, 1.1 DBPM
All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 5 Second Team
Note: DPOY not awarded in his era
Despite a career scoring average of 8.4 points, Don Chaney made it 12 years in the NBA (well, 11 plus one ABA season).
The reason was simple: Chaney was one of the best and most persistent perimeter defenders of his era.
And during the mid-'70s, he made five All-Defense teams and was a key contributor for a Boston Celtics team that won a title.
High Vote: 42
91. Joel Embiid, C
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Years: 2016-present | Teams: PHI
Career Stats: 0.9 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 1.4 STL%, 4.4 BLK%, 27.1 DWS, 1.5 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 4 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 3 Second Team
Younger fans may only know Joel Embiid as the lumbering, near-300-pound giant who jogged up and down the floor and dominated one end as little more than a jump shooter.
But before repeated injuries sapped him of much of the athleticism he had early in his career, Embiid was a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate and a near-perennial All-Defense contender.
With his size and pre-injury explosiveness, Embiid was a dynamic rim protector and a near-immovable presence on the low block.
High Vote: 48
90. Willis Reed, C
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Years: 1964-1974 | Teams: NYK
Career Stats: 0.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 1.1 STL%, 2.3 BLK%, 32.4 DWS, 0.7 DBPM
All-Defensive: 1 First Team, 0 Second Team
Note: DPOY not awarded in his era
By today's standards, Willis Reed had a short NBA career. Like Embiid, Reed's was severely impacted by injuries.
But when he was healthy, he was one of the best and most consistent interior defenders in the NBA.
Reed played most of his career before blocks were counted, but he had the reputation of a good paint protector. And at his peak, he dominated on the glass, won an MVP and made an All-Defensive team.
High Vote: 35
89. Derrick White, SG
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Years: 2017-present | Teams: SAS, BOS
Career Stats: 0.9 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 1.5 STL%, 2.9 BLK%, 19.5 DWS, 0.9 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 3 | All-Defensive: 1 First Team, 2 Second Team
Derrick White is one of the best perimeter defenders of his era, which is a huge part of why he's been so positively impactful, despite a career three-point percentage that's just average.
White can make life difficult for both guards and forwards, is good on and off the ball and is a much better shot blocker than his size suggests he should be.
Over the last three seasons, the 6'4" White has averaged 1.2 blocks per game.
High Vote: 52
88. Wes Unseld, C
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Years: 1968-1981 | Teams: BAL/WAS
Career Stats: 1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 1.4 STL%, 0.9 BLK%, 64.1 DWS, 1.8 DBPM
All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 0 Second Team
Note: DPOY not awarded in his era
Another big man who spent a significant portion of his career playing before steals and blocks were counted, Wes Unseld didn't post huge numbers in either of those categories.
He also finished his career without any defensive accolades (such as an All-Defensive nod).
But what he did do was absolutely dominate the glass in both the regular season and playoffs.
Unseld is sixth all time in career rebounding average. And in the 1977-78 postseason, which ended with a Finals MVP for Unseld, he grabbed 12.0 boards per game.
High Vote: 54
87. Theo Ratliff, C
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Years: 1995-2011 | Teams: DET, PHI, ATL, POR, BOS, MIN, SAS, CHA, LAL
Career Stats: 0.5 SPG, 2.4 BPG, 1.0 STL%, 7.2 BLK%, 30.3 DWS, 1.9 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 4 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 2 Second Team
Theo Ratliff didn't score a ton (and didn't score efficiently). He was a solid but unspectacular rebounder. And his assist rate was almost nonexistent.
But none of that mattered much. Ratliff lasted 16 years in the NBA because he was one of the very best shot blockers it's ever seen.
He led the NBA in blocks per game three times and averaged at least 3.0 six times. And he still ranks second all time in career block percentage.
High Vote: 52
86. OG Anunoby, SF
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Years: 2017-present | Teams: TOR, NYK
Career Stats: 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 2.1 STL%, 1.9 BLK%, 20.9 DWS, 0.7 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 2 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 2 Second Team
We just had a great view of how important OG Anunoby's multipositional defense was during the New York Knicks' run to their first title in 53 years.
Anunoby is strong enough to stand up 4s and even guard some 5s, but he's also mobile enough to stay with most wings.
He's one of the best all-around defenders of his era, so it's a little surprising that he only has two All-Defensive nods. After playing such an integral role in the championship, voters may be a little more attuned to his impact on that end.
High Vote: 51
85. Paul Pressey, SF
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Years: 1982-1992 | Teams: MIL, SAS, GSW
Career Stats: 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 2.5 STL%, 1.3 BLK%, 28.0 DWS, 1.6 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 3 | All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 1 Second Team
Paul Pressey played for Don Nelson, one of the most successful and innovative coaches in NBA history. And that's among the reasons he was one of the league's pioneers for the "point forward" position.
But his versatility wasn't confined to offense. Nelson could also trust Pressey to defend multiple positions on the other end.
And though his solid contributions on that end didn't often translate to big steal, block or defensive rebounding numbers, voters understood how difficult he was to get around. By the end of his sixth season, he had three All-Defensive nods and three top-eight finishes in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
High Vote: 58
84. Chet Holmgren, PF
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Years: 2023-present | Teams: OKC
Career Stats: 0.7 SPG, 2.1 BPG, 1.1 STL%, 7.1 BLK%, 11.1 DWS, 1.7 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 1 | All-Defensive: 1 First Team, 0 Second Team
Even with his 7'1", 208-pound frame that looks like it could be folded by most NBA wings, Chet Holmgren has been one of the league's best rim protectors from the moment he entered it.
Despite averaging fewer than 30 minutes per game, Holmgren has blocked 2.1 shots per game in his career.
And in his last two campaigns with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he's ranked in the 97th and 99th percentile, respectively, in defensive rating (the team's points allowed per 100 possessions when a given player is on the floor).
High Vote: 30
83. Paul Silas, PF
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Years: 1964-1980 | Teams: STL/ATL, PHX, BOS, DEN, SEA
Career Stats: 0.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 1.0 STL%, 0.5 BLK%, 51.7 DWS, -0.1 DBPM
All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 3 Second Team
Note: DPOY not awarded in his era
Paul Silas was a burly, old-school power forward whose impact was largely confined to the defensive side.
He was a wildly inefficient scorer. And outside a couple of seasons at his peak, he didn't do much as a distributor either.
But coaches kept him on the floor because he was a genuinely dominant defender and rebounder. He excelled at blocking out. And his physicality was an important ingredient on three different championship teams.
High Vote: 65
82. Andrew Bogut, C
18 of 99.jpg?w=3840 "Bogut")
Years: 2005-2019 | Teams: MIL, GSW, DAL, CLE, LAL
Career Stats: 0.6 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 1.1 STL%, 4.3 BLK%, 31.4 DWS, 1.7 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 4 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 1 Second Team
Andrew Bogut somehow only made one All-Defensive team (perhaps because of career-long struggles with injuries), but he was top 10 in Defensive Player of the Year voting four times and was one of the best defensive anchors of his era.
Draymond Green understandably gets the bulk of the credit for establishing the defensive identity that helped the Golden State Warriors win four titles between 2015 and 2022, but Bogut was crucial too.
His size, rim protection and rebounding made it much easier to deploy Green as a roamer. And when he was on the floor, the Warriors were a nightmare to play against.
High Vote: 47
81. Dave Cowens, C
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Years: 1970-1983 | Teams: BOS, MIL
Career Stats: 1.1 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 1.4 STL%, 1.3 BLK%, 55.8 DWS, 1.2 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 0 | All-Defensive: 1 First Team, 2 Second Team
Another key cog in the 1970s Boston Celtics teams that won multiple titles, Dave Cowens is likely known more for his offense and an early-career MVP than he is for defense.
But he clearly played with at least as much effort on the less glamorous end of the floor, which made him one of the best defensive big men of his era.
The 6'9" Cowens made up for a lack of size in some matchups with awareness, intensity and good positioning. And like so many of the early-era bigs voted onto this list, he had a huge impact on games with his rebounding.
Over the first eight years of his career, Cowens grabbed 15.2 boards per game.
High Vote: 28
80. Bill Laimbeer, C
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Years: 1980-1994 | Teams: CLE, DET
Career Stats: 0.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 1.0 STL%, 1.7 BLK%, 49.3 DWS, 0.8 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 0 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 0 Second Team
Isiah Thomas got most of the accolades and credit for the "Bad Boys" Detroit Pistons of the late 1980s. Even Joe Dumars might've gotten more credit than the bigs.
But without the nasty, relentless and ultimately effective defense of the front line, those Pistons teams never would've accomplished all they did.
Bill Laimbeer was an important member of that crew, helped the team dominate the glass, took up plenty of space inside and was notorious for making opponents literally feel the fact that they'd played the Pistons long after the game was over.
High Vote: 36
79. Nate McMillan, SG
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Years: 1986-1998 | Teams: SEA
Career Stats: 1.9 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 3.7 STL%, 1.2 BLK%, 31.1 DWS, 2.9 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 3 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 2 Second Team
Career-long Seattle SuperSonic Nate McMillan was a defensive specialist through and through.
He had a handful of seasons when he shot the three well. Early on, he had some big assist numbers. But what really set him apart, throughout his 12 NBA seasons, was consistent and aggressive perimeter defense.
McMillan averaged 1.9 steals in just 25.7 minutes per game. And in 1993-94, he led the league in that category at 3.0.
High Vote: 47
78. Evan Mobley, PF
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Years: 2021-present | Teams: CLE
Career Stats: 0.8 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 1.2 STL%, 4.5 BLK%, 17.9 DWS, 1.5 DBPM
DPOYs: 1 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 2 | All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 0 Second Team
The 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year, Evan Mobley, is only 25 years old. He probably has a decade and change to add to his legacy. And if this voting body were to reconvene in 2036, Mobley would likely be higher up the list.
But even on nothing more than what he's done in his first five seasons, Mobley is a worthy inclusion on this list.
He doesn't put up gaudy shot-blocking numbers, but he's undoubtedly a deterrent inside. And in today's game, an ability to survive when switched onto smaller perimeter players is crucial. Mobley does exactly that.
High Vote: 29
77. Artis Gilmore, C
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Years: 1971-1988 | Teams: KEN (ABA), CHI, SAS, BOS
Career Stats: 0.6 SPG, 2.4 BPG, 0.8 STL%, 3.7 BLK%, 75.5 DWS, 0.8 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 0 | All-Defensive: 4 First Team, 1 Second Team
Artis Gilmore spent the first five years of his career as one of the best players in the ABA. And he was among those who instantly found success when his league merged with the NBA.
For a decade from 1976-77 through 1985-86, Gilmore averaged 11.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks, made six All-Star teams, received MVP votes in four different campaigns and picked up one All-Defensive nod.
The accomplishments were a product of Gilmore's massive frame (he was listed at 7'2"), good athleticism and a game like an early version of Dwight Howard or DeAndre Jordan.
High Vote: 62
76. Brook Lopez, C
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Years: 2008-present | Teams: NJN/BKN, LAL, MIL, LAC
Career Stats: 0.6 SPG, 1.8 BPG, 1.0 STL%, 5.1 BLK%, 40.0 DWS, 0.2 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 2 | All-Defensive: 1 First Team, 1 Second Team
Brook Lopez may be best known for his adaptation to the modern game, particularly his addition of a three-point shot to his repertoire well into his career.
But the more important ingredient in his staying power may well have been his defense.
At 7'1" and nearly 300 pounds, Lopez has always been good at knowing exactly where he needs to be to clog up an opposing offense. And his timing and instincts as a rim protector have made him one of the best shot-blockers of his era.
The 38-year-old big man is 14th in NBA history in career blocks.
High Vote: 40
75. Alex Caruso, SG
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Years: 2017-present | Teams: LAL, CHI, OKC
Career Stats: 1.3 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 3.0 STL%, 2.1 BLK%, 16.0 DWS, 2.6 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 1 | All-Defensive: 1 First Team, 1 Second Team
Injuries have been an unfortunate common thread from season to season for Alex Caruso. But when he's available, there are few players across NBA history who attack on the defensive end with his kind of bulldog-like ferocity.
Caruso is one of the game's best examples of the "refs can't call everything" mentality. From the moment he enters the game to the last time he leaves it, his hands are all over the opponent. He pushes, grabs, pulls, bodies and otherwise pushes the envelope as far as he can.
And the approach absolutely works for him. Officials, as it turns out, can't call everything. And Caruso's overly physical defense rattles opponents and has been a crucial element of two different championship teams.
High Vote: 41
74. Doug Christie, SG
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Years: 1992-2007 | Teams: LAL, NYK, TOR, SAC, ORL, DAL, LAC
Career Stats: 1.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 3.1 STL%, 1.1 BLK%, 29.1 DWS, 1.3 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 2 | All-Defensive: 1 First Team, 3 Second Team
During Doug Christie's career, the term three-and-D hadn't quite been popularized to the degree it is now, but he definitely fits the mold.
From 1996-97 through 2003-04, he averaged 2.1 steals and 1.2 threes per game, while shooting 35.8 percent from deep.
And he was one of those crucial low-usage defensive specialists in a lineup filled with stars who were hungrier for shot attempts when he played for the Sacramento Kings.
High Vote: 57
73. Rasheed Wallace, PF
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Years: 1995-2013 | Teams: WAS, POR, ATL, DET, BOS, NYK
Career Stats: 1.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 1.6 STL%, 3.0 BLK%, 57.1 DWS, 1.2 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 0 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 0 Second Team
Rasheed Wallace is probably known to younger fans for the brashness seen in YouTube clips and a gaudy technical foul count, but he backed it all up with truly elite defense.
At 6'11", he had the size and instincts to be a good anchor and shot-blocker. But he also had plenty of perimeter skill, and that wasn't confined to the offensive side of the floor. Wallace could defend in space better than a lot of positional peers.
And though he never made an All-Defensive team, he did receive Defensive Player of the Year votes in three different campaigns and was instrumental on the defense-first Detroit Pistons team that won it all in 2004.
High Vote: 27
72. Paul George, SF
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Years: 2010-present | Teams: IND, OKC, LAC, PHI
Career Stats: 1.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 2.5 STL%, 1.1 BLK%, 49.0 DWS, 1.1 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 4 | All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 2 Second Team
Paul George rose to superstar status for much of his career, thanks in large part to his offense. But his versatility on the defensive end made him unique among the other volume-scoring wings of his era.
George is 6'8", but at his peak, he moved like a guard. That combination of size and lateral explosiveness helped him cover tons of ground on the defensive end.
And unlike a lot of other first or second scoring options across history, he had no problem being assigned to guard the opposition's best player.
High Vote: 32
71. Shaquille O'Neal, C
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Years: 1992-2011 | Teams: ORL, LAL, MIA, PHX, CLE, BOS
Career Stats: 0.6 SPG, 2.3 BPG, 0.9 STL%, 4.6 BLK%, 66.4 DWS, 0.7 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 4 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 3 Second Team
Another player whose defensive prowess is probably overshadowed by what he did on the other end, Shaquille O'Neal was a mountain of a rim protector, particularly for the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat.
Through the end of his first season with the Heat, Shaq averaged 8.0 defensive rebounds and 2.6 blocks. He was nearly immovable in or around the paint. And he prevented plenty of transition opportunities for opponents by snagging offensive rebounds too.
In the playoffs, his intensity level on that end almost always turned up even more. And he was the back line of the defense for four different championship teams.
High Vote: 50
70. Larry Bird, SF
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Years: 1979-1992 | Teams: BOS
Career Stats: 1.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 2.2 STL%, 1.2 BLK%, 59.0 DWS, 1.8 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 1 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 3 Second Team
"The Hick from French Lick" may not have looked like your typical defensive specialist. And he's certainly known more for what he did on the offensive end than he is for his defense.
But he was absolutely an all-time great, multipositional defender who consistently outwitted and outhustled opponents throughout his career.
Over the course of his 13 seasons, Bird was fourth in the entire NBA in total defensive rebounds and seventh in total steals.
High Vote: 56
69. Buck Williams, PF
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Years: 1981-1998 | Teams: NJN, POR, NYK
Career Stats: 0.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 1.2 STL%, 1.6 BLK%, 61.8 DWS, 0.0 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 3 | All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 2 Second Team
Buck Williams was one of the 1980s and '90s' best examples of a classic, old-school power forward.
He played good physical defense, could dominate the boards and checked those boxes without demanding a ton of rewards on the other end.
Over the course of his first seven seasons, Williams averaged 8.1 defensive rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.2 steals. And over the course of his entire career, he earned four All-Defensive nods.
High Vote: 58
68. Jerry West, PG
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Years: 1960-1974 | Teams: LAL
Career Stats: 2.6 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 3.6 STL%, 1.1 BLK%, 37.9 DWS, 1.4 DBPM
All-Defensive: 4 First Team, 1 Second Team
Note: DPOY not awarded in his era
Jerry West is widely regarded as one of the best players of all time mostly because of his scoring, playmaking and relentless competitiveness.
But that last trait was far from confined to the offensive end of the floor.
West was truly a "win at all costs" competitor, and that helped him stay in front of most of his matchups and jump countless passing lanes or pounce on loose dribbles (because steals literally weren't counted till his last NBA season, when he averaged 2.6).
High Vote: 53
67. Dwyane Wade, SG
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Years: 2003-2019 | Teams: MIA, CHI, CLE
Career Stats: 1.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 2.4 STL%, 2.0 BLK%, 47.4 DWS, 0.8 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 2 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 3 Second Team
At some point in his rookie campaign, it became clear that Dwyane Wade had the physical tools to be a high-end perimeter defender. By the end of his second season, he'd already earned his first of three All-Defensive nods.
Wade, despite being the No. 1 scoring option during those early Heat years, was also willing and able to take on tough defensive assignments.
And for an eight-year stretch from 2004-05 through 2011-12, when he averaged 1.1 blocks, he may have been the best shot-blocking guard in the NBA.
High Vote: 34
66. Mookie Blaylock, PG
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Years: 1989-2002 | Teams: NJN, ATL, GSW
Career Stats: 2.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 3.5 STL%, 0.6 BLK%, 38.5 DWS, 1.3 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 3 | All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 4 Second Team
Despite way-below-average career scoring efficiency, Mookie Blaylock is an analytics darling because of good assist numbers and massive steal numbers.
Blaylock averaged at least two steals per game in 11 of his 13 seasons, led the league in the category twice and ranks fourth all time in career steals per game.
And his numbers were far from empty. Blaylock was one of the league's best point-of-attack defenders in the 1990s and made six All-Defensive teams because of it.
High Vote: 54
65. Charles Oakley, PF
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Years: 1985-2004 | Teams: CHI, NYK, TOR, WAS, HOU
Career Stats: 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 1.7 STL%, 0.6 BLK%, 63.3 DWS, 0.7 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 2 | All-Defensive: 1 First Team, 1 Second Team
Charles Oakley was the quintessential power forward of the 1980s and '90s.
He was a bruiser, focused on defense and rebounding and didn't fuss over a small(ish) offensive role.
After leading the league in defensive rebounds per game twice with the Chicago Bulls, Oakley found his way to the New York Knicks, where he was in many ways the bellwether of one of the toughest teams of the '90s.
High Vote: 24
64. Serge Ibaka, PF
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Years: 2009-2022 | Teams: OKC, ORL, TOR, LAC, MIL
Career Stats: 0.4 SPG, 1.9 BPG, 0.7 STL%, 5.5 BLK%, 37.3 DWS, 0.4 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 3 | All-Defensive: 3 First Team, 0 Second Team
In the early part of Serge Ibaka's NBA career, he was one of the most prolific shot-blockers we've ever seen. In his first six seasons, he averaged 2.6 blocks per game, but that doesn't really tell the whole story.
In 2011-12, he averaged 3.7...in just 27.2 minutes. There are only five players in league history who had seasons with more blocks per 75 possessions than the 5.2 Ibaka averaged that year.
His numbers tailed off a bit as he aged and became a bit more judicious about which shots he chased, but Ibaka was one of the NBA's best rim protectors for a decade.
High Vote: 43
63. Horace Grant, PF
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Years: 1987-2004 | Teams: CHI, ORL, SEA, LAL
Career Stats: 1.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 1.5 STL%, 2.0 BLK%, 49.3 DWS, 0.4 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 3 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 4 Second Team
Horace Grant won three titles in the 1990s with the Chicago Bulls and another one in the 2000s with the Los Angeles Lakers. And he started every game in all four of those campaigns because of how well he fit alongside ball-dominant stars.
In Chicago, it was Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen he supported. In Los Angeles, it was Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.
In both cases, Grant was willing to do all the little things that made life easier for his high-profile teammates: defend, fly around for loose balls, rebound and do it all without demanding a bunch of shots.
High Vote: 48
62. Rajon Rondo, PG
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Years: 2006-2022 | Teams: BOS, DAL, SAC, CHI, NOP, LAL, ATL, CLE
Career Stats: 1.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 2.7 STL%, 0.4 BLK%, 41.9 DWS, 1.0 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 3 | All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 2 Second Team
Another player who made his way through a long NBA career supporting stars, Rajon Rondo did it with passing and excellent perimeter defense.
During his nine years with the Celtics, in particular, he was one of the best in the league at defending the opposition's point of attack. And he made four All-Defensive teams because of it.
He was also a dynamic and opportunistic pilferer who led the league in steals per game in 2009-10 and cleared two per game on two other occasions.
High Vote: 51
61. Manute Bol, C
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Years: 1985-1995 | Teams: WAS, GSW, PHI, MIA
Career Stats: 0.2 SPG, 3.3 BPG, 0.5 STL%, 10.2 BLK%, 19.1 DWS, 3.8 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 4 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 1 Second Team
Manute Bol stood a staggering 7'7" tall and weighed just 200 pounds. He was a human anomaly who somehow stood out in a league full of them.
And though that frame wasn't enough on its own to turn Bol into an elite rebounder or offensive weapon, it did help him become perhaps the best shot-blocker ever.
Bol averaged 5.0 blocks in his rookie season and at least three in five of his 10 campaigns. And his career average of 6.4 blocks per 75 possessions is 1.8 clear of second place (or the same as the distance between second place and 31st).
High Vote: 16
60. Kevin McHale, PF
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Years: 1980-1993 | Teams: BOS
Career Stats: 0.4 SPG, 1.7 BPG, 0.6 STL%, 3.2 BLK%, 37.1 DWS, 0.1 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 1 | All-Defensive: 3 First Team, 3 Second Team
Kevin McHale is mostly known for his footwork and scoring arsenal from the low post, a couple Sixth Man of the Year wins in the 1980s and the multiple championships he won with Larry Bird.
But the 6'10" McHale earned his accolades and wins with more than offensive acumen.
He was also a solid rebounder, including on the defensive side of the floor, and an underrated rim protector. From 1981-82 through 1990-91, McHale averaged 1.9 blocks per game.
High Vote: 43
59. Jaren Jackson Jr., PF
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Years: 2018-present | Teams: MEM
Career Stats: 1.0 SPG, 1.9 BPG, 1.7 STL%, 5.9 BLK%, 19.2 DWS, 0.8 DBPM
DPOYs: 1 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 3 | All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 1 Second Team
Jaren Jackson Jr. has long been nitpicked over his lack of rebounding, and the criticism is certainly fair. A career average of 4.3 defensive rebounds per game for a 6'10" starter is certainly eyebrow-raising.
But JJJ is still a worthy inclusion in this top 60 because he's that good of a rim protector.
He's made three All-Defensive teams before his 27th birthday, has a Defensive Player of the Year win and two seasons in which he led the league in blocks per game (including one in 2022-23, when he averaged 3.0).
Jackson is also solid when switched onto the perimeter, but his calling card is (and probably always will be) shot-blocking, especially when he can attack from the weak side in lineups with a burlier, rebounding center.
High Vote: 40
58. Shane Battier, SF
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Years: 2001-2014 | Teams: MEM, HOU, MIA
Career Stats: 1.0 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 1.7 STL%, 2.3 BLK%, 35.3 DWS, 1.3 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 4 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 2 Second Team
One of the earliest beneficiaries of the NBA's analytics movement, Shane Battier averaged 8.6 points and 1.8 assists for his career, but his impact went far beyond those basic numbers. And stats like box plus/minus and net rating swing helped show that.
For his career, Battier had a 1.3 defensive box plus/minus and a 38.4 three-point percentage. He's one of just six players in league history to exceed both of those marks (minimum 2,000 three-point attempts).
And his combination of outside shooting and heady, multipositional defense had a real, measurable effect on team success, too. Over the course of his career, Battier's teams were plus-4.2 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor and minus-1.1 when he was off.
Scoring is still the first number that most fans gravitate toward, but Battier is an example that it's far from the only one worth monitoring.
High Vote: 39
57. John Stockton, PG
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Years: 1984-2003 | Teams: UTA
Career Stats: 2.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 3.5 STL%, 0.5 BLK%, 64.9 DWS, 1.9 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 2 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 5 Second Team
John Stockton is one of the six names on the list cited on Battier's slide, and it's not hard to see why.
Most fans immediately think of the assist record when it comes to Stockton, but his steals mark might be every bit as bonkers. He's first all time in total steals, and the distance between his 3,265 and Chris Paul's 2,728 is about the same as the distance between second-place CP3 and ninth place.
The swipes were a product of Stockton's relentless ball pressure and anticipation in passing lanes. And though he was undersized, his intensity more than made up for that shortcoming.
High Vote: 40
56. Bill Walton, C
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Years: 1974-1987 | Teams: POR, SDC/LAC, BOS
Career Stats: 0.8 SPG, 2.2 BPG, 1.3 STL%, 4.2 BLK%, 24.6 DWS, 2.5 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 0 | All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 0 Second Team
Injuries completely altered the course of Bill Walton's career (and possibly NBA history). In his first four seasons, he won an MVP and a Finals MVP, was First Team All-Defensive twice and averaged 10.9 defensive rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 1.0 steals.
He was on track to be one of the absolute greatest players (and defenders) the league had ever seen, but severe back, foot and ankle injuries limited him to just 14 games over the next four years. And he moved much differently over the rest of his career.
Walton bounced back to the point he was able to win Sixth Man of the Year for the championship-winning Boston Celtics in 1985-86, but it's hard not to think about the what-if.
He started his career with injury concerns (that dated back to his time at UCLA), but he was still a monster of a rebounder and rim protector. And even with all the games missed, he's an easy call for the top 60.
High Vote: 9
55. Dave DeBusschere, PF
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Years: 1962-1974 | Teams: DET, NYK
Career Stats: 0.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 1.2 STL%, 0.8 BLK%, 47.7 DWS, 0.7 DBPM
All-Defensive: 6 First Team, 0 Second Team
Note: DPOY not awarded in his era
A lot of younger NBA fans may have heard Dave DeBusschere's name for the first time this summer when the New York Knicks won their first championship in 53 years.
DeBusschere was on the last Knicks team to win it all (actually, the last two), and he was among its best defenders.
Willis Reed and Walt Frazier were the more famous stoppers, but DeBusschere could handle a variety of matchups in between those two and was a dominant rebounder at the same time.
All six of his All-Defensive nods were first-teamers and all came after he moved to the Knicks during the 1968-69 campaign.
High Vote: 46
54. Marcus Smart, PG
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Years: 2014-present | Teams: BOS, MEM, WAS, LAL
Career Stats: 1.6 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 2.6 STL%, 1.1 BLK%, 26.4 DWS, 1.1 DBPM
DPOYs: 1 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 3 | All-Defensive: 3 First Team, 0 Second Team
For most of its existence, the Defensive Player of the Year award has been a big man's honor. The guards and wings who've broken through and won one typically have to be the best of the best.
And in 2021-22, Marcus Smart joined that small fraternity by winning the award over players like Rudy Gobert, Bam Adebayo, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Giannis Antetokounmpo. All four are in this top 99.
Smart topped them, perhaps in part due to a career full of stout perimeter defense, but also because he was one of the best point-of-attack defenders in the league. He relentlessly pressured opposing playmakers, cut off driving lanes and was a key cog in an elite team defense.
For most of the early portion of his career, he checked all those boxes year after year.
High Vote: 28
53. Norm Van Lier, PG
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Years: 1969-1979 | Teams: CIN, CHI, MIL
Career Stats: 1.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 2.5 STL%, 0.3 BLK%, 34.1 DWS, 0.8 DBPM
All-Defensive: 3 First Team, 5 Second Team
Note: DPOY not awarded in his era
From one great perimeter defender to another, Norm Van Lier played the first four years of his career (and made his first three All-Defensive teams) before the league counted steals. But once they did, he quickly reaffirmed his place as one of the best ball-hawks in the NBA.
From 1973-74 through 1977-78, Van Lier averaged 1.9 steals per game, earned three First Team All-Defensive nods and two Second Team nods.
He also garnered some MVP votes while averaging 11.8 points and 6.8 assists, which was surely a testament to his team and perimeter defense.
High Vote: 41
52. Tayshaun Prince, SF
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Years: 2002-2016 | Teams: DET, MEM, BOS, MIN
Career Stats: 0.6 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 1.0 STL%, 1.2 BLK%, 28.0 DWS, -0.2 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 2 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 4 Second Team
On a team full of some of the best defenders of all time, Tayshaun Prince was likely the most important perimeter defender on the 2000s and early 2010s Detroit Pistons.
His length and lateral quickness made him a nightmare for opposing guards and wings. And though he didn't pile up a ton of blocks or steals, everyone could see his impact on that end.
The most fundamental aspect of defense is being able to stay in front of your matchup, and few players from his era did that as well as Prince.
High Vote: 28
51. Maurice Cheeks, PG
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Years: 1978-1993 | Teams: PHI, SAS, NYK, ATL, NJN
Career Stats: 2.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 3.2 STL%, 0.5 BLK%, 42.6 DWS, 1.6 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 5 | All-Defensive: 4 First Team, 1 Second Team
Maurice Cheeks was one of the best creators and distributors of his era, but he also did a ton to disrupt the same for the opposition.
On another team packed with legends like Julius Erving, Moses Malone and Charles Barkley, Cheeks often had the responsibility of covering the opposition's best guards. And he was elite at keeping them in front of him and out of the paint.
And while counting stats are far from the be-all, end-all when it comes to evaluating defense, Cheeks did average at least two steals per game in each of his first 10 NBA seasons.
High Vote: 36
50. Jerry Sloan, SG
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Years: 1965-1976 | Teams: BAL, CHI
Career Stats: 2.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 3.0 STL%, 0.3 BLK%, 37.3 DWS, 1.7 DBPM
All-Defensive: 4 First Team, 2 Second Team
Note: DPOY not awarded in his era
Those who watched Jerry Sloan coach at least got a taste of how he defended.
There was almost a meanness to the way Sloan approached the game, particularly as a player. He looked like he took his defensive assignment personally. And he consistently frustrated some of the best offensive players of his era.
Like many others on this list, much of his career predated steals and blocks, but his impact was easily observed by those who covered the game and voted him onto six All-Defensive teams.
High Vote: 28
49. Shawn Marion, SF
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Years: 1999-2015 | Teams: PHX, MIA, TOR, DAL, CLE
Career Stats: 1.5 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 2.3 STL%, 2.2 BLK%, 61.3 DWS, 1.0 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 4 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 0 Second Team
In hindsight, it looks kind of absurd that Shawn Marion never made an All-Defensive team.
He received Defensive Player of the Year votes in seven different campaigns. He was the most important perimeter defender on multiple championship contenders (including the title-winning 2011 Dallas Mavericks). And the wide range of his defensive contributions is nearly unprecedented.
Marion finished his career with a 20.5 defensive rebounding percentage, a 2.3 steal percentage and a 2.2 block percentage. Among players with at least 15,000 career minutes, Ben Wallace, Hakeem Olajuwon, Gar Heard and Andre Drummond are the only ones to match or exceed all three marks.
High Vote: 26
48. Marc Gasol, C
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Years: 2008-2020 | Teams: MEM, TOR, LAL
Career Stats: 0.9 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 1.4 STL%, 3.7 BLK%, 42.4 DWS, 1.8 DBPM
DPOYs: 1 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 2 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 1 Second Team
Marc Gasol was the anchor of some of the best defenses of the modern era when he played for the Grit-n-Grind Memphis Grizzlies of the mid-2010s.
He never put up huge rebounding or block numbers, but he was so fundamentally sound in boxing out opponents and cutting off driving lanes that he won a Defensive Player of the Year anyway.
Gasol had a keen sense of how big he was and how and when to simply take up space. And his awareness on that end made him the perfect sort of middle linebacker for units with aggressive wings like Tayshaun Prince and Tony Allen.
Later in his career, those same traits and increased know-how helped him lead a Toronto Raptors defense that won the title in 2019.
High Vote: 26
47. Jimmy Butler, SF
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Years: 2011-present | Teams: CHI, MIN, PHI, MIA, GSW
Career Stats: 1.6 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 2.4 STL%, 1.1 BLK%, 38.6 DWS, 1.3 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 2 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 5 Second Team
Like Sloan, Jimmy Butler is another player who almost seemed to take his defensive matchups personally. At his peak, every possession represented an opportunity for Butler to prove himself.
And his intensity translated to some of the most consistent and productive perimeter defense of his era.
From 2013-14 through 2022-23, Butler made five All-Defensive teams, averaged 1.8 steals and led the league in steals per game in 2020-21 at 2.1.
High Vote: 31
46. Patrick Ewing, C
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Years: 1985-2002 | Teams: NYK, SEA, ORL
Career Stats: 1.0 SPG, 2.4 BPG, 1.4 STL%, 4.8 BLK%, 81.4 DWS, 1.6 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 5 | All-Defensive: 0 First Team, 3 Second Team
In the late 1980s and for most of the 1990s, Patrick Ewing was one of the most productive and menacing defensive anchors in the NBA.
Few centers were as dominant around the basket or shut down the paint as consistently as the New York Knicks superstar.
He averaged at least 2.0 blocks per game in each of his first 14 seasons in the NBA. And over that same time frame, he averaged 7.9 defensive boards and 2.7 blocks. For a five-year stretch from 1987-88 through 1991-92, he blocked a whopping 3.3 shots per game.
High Vote: 35
45. Dennis Johnson, SG
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Years: 1976-1990 | Teams: SEA, PHX, BOS
Career Stats: 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 1.9 STL%, 1.0 BLK%, 42.7 DWS, 0.4 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 3 | All-Defensive: 6 First Team, 3 Second Team
Dennis Johnson was one of the best and most consistent perimeter defenders of the 1970s and 1980s. And his abilities on that end were crucial ingredients for some of the best teams ever.
In the 1979 postseason, despite standing 6'4", Johnson averaged 1.5 blocks (plus 1.6 steals) on the way to a Finals MVP and a title for the Seattle SuperSonics. Then, over a three-year stretch with the Boston Celtics, he averaged 1.6 steals in the playoffs and won two more championships.
Johnson did plenty on the offensive end, but on teams with Jack Sikma and Gus Williams in Seattle and Larry Bird and Kevin McHale in Boston, it was his willingness to take on tough defensive assignments that made him so valuable.
High Vote: 30
44. Joe Dumars, SG
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Years: 1985-1999 | Teams: DET
Career Stats: 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 1.3 STL%, 0.2 BLK%, 23.1 DWS, -0.7 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 4 | All-Defensive: 4 First Team, 1 Second Team
We've already mentioned the Bad Boys Pistons and the contributions of the big men on those teams, but Joe Dumars' aggression and consistency on the defensive end were also crucial.
Dumars played in the era when Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler, Alex English and other elite wings were at or near their peaks, and he was tasked with checking all of them.
He did it to great effect, particularly in the two years that ended with Detroit championships (and one Finals MVP for Dumars).
High Vote: 27
43. Tyson Chandler, C
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Years: 2001-2020 | Teams: CHI, NOH, CHA, DAL, NYK, PHX, LAL, HOU
Career Stats: 0.5 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 1.0 STL%, 3.3 BLK%, 45.8 DWS, 0.5 DBPM
DPOYs: 1 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 3 | All-Defensive: 1 First Team, 2 Second Team
You don't often hear or see the term "pioneer" used to describe Tyson Chandler, but he was one of the earliest examples of a center archetype that became far more common after Chandler established it.
For much of the league's history, centers were delivered the ball on the block and expected to launch into a series of post moves that would end with a low- to decent-efficiency shot. On the other end, they had to defend those post-ups.
Chandler and his coaches streamlined his role. He became, almost exclusively, a rim-runner on one end and a rim-protector on the other. And the simplification of his duties opened the door for several followers (like Rudy Gobert, DeAndre Jordan and others).
On the defensive end, Chandler's length and athleticism made him a nightmare to attack around the rim. And his consistency in that role was a crucial factor in the Dallas Mavericks winning the championship in 2011.
High Vote: 35
42. Kobe Bryant, SG
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Years: 1996-2016 | Teams: LAL
Career Stats: 1.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 2.1 STL%, 1.0 BLK%, 50.7 DWS, -0.1 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 6 | All-Defensive: 9 First Team, 3 Second Team
Perhaps more than any individual number or team accomplishment, Kobe Bryant's NBA career may be best represented by his intensity.
Regardless of where you have him on your all-time ladder, you have to acknowledge he's in the conversation for tops all time in pure competitiveness.
And few things showed off that competitiveness quite like his perimeter defense. Kobe relished the opportunity to take on the opposition's best perimeter scorer. And he finished his career with a whopping 12 All-Defensive nods.
Tim Duncan (15) is the only player in league history with more.
High Vote: 18
41. Joakim Noah, C
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Years: 2007-2020 | Teams: CHI, NYK, MEM, LAC
Career Stats: 0.8 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 1.5 STL%, 3.6 BLK%, 34.2 DWS, 2.1 DBPM
DPOYs: 1 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 2 | All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 1 Second Team
League history can, in some ways, be broken down by its most memorable teams. And several of its defensive juggernauts (like the Bad Boys Pistons and Grit-n-Grind Grizzlies) have already come up. The most important players from those teams are on this list.
And here, we have another. Joakim Noah was the anchor of the 2010s Chicago Bulls teams that sometimes gave LeBron James' Cavaliers and Miami Heat a run for their money. And he thrived in that role on multiple fronts.
Noah was a great rim protector and a reliable rebounder. He was also better than most other centers of the era at switching onto perimeter players and not only surviving, but often stymieing opponents' possessions.
His peak was a little shorter than others, but for his efforts, Noah still secured a Defensive Player of the Year win and three All-Defensive nods.
High Vote: 26
40. Walt Frazier, PG
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Years: 1967-1980 | Teams: NYK, CLE
Career Stats: 1.9 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 2.3 STL%, 0.2 BLK%, 44.5 DWS, 0.7 DBPM
All-Defensive: 7 First Team, 0 Second Team
Note: DPOY not awarded in his era
This summer, there's been a lot of discussion about whether Jalen Brunson or Patrick Ewing is the greatest New York Knick of all time (thank you, Rick Brunson), but it may be leaving out the real answer to that question.
Walt Frazier was not only the offensive engine of the two Knicks teams that won championships in 1970 and 1973, but he was also one of the very best perimeter defenders of his era.
Being the leader of an elite team on both ends is something very few players across history have done, and Frazier was absolutely one of them.
His tenacity on the defensive end is all the more impressive when you consider the amount of energy he had to expend to run his team's offense.
High Vote: 13
39. Andrei Kirilenko, SF
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Years: 2001-2015 | Teams: UTA, MIN, BKN
Career Stats: 1.4 SPG, 1.8 BPG, 2.4 STL%, 5.0 BLK%, 34.7 DWS, 2.3 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 3 | All-Defensive: 1 First Team, 2 Second Team
One of the most obvious answers to the "what if he'd come along a few years later?" question, Andrei Kirilenko might've been one of the best and most dynamic small-ball 5s of the mid-2010s.
Instead, he peaked in the early and mid-2000s, when he was still a statistical monster but even more of an anomaly.
The 6'9" Kirilenko could defend guards, wings and even bigs for the Utah Jazz. And he was one of the most explosive weakside shot-blockers of any era.
Over the first six years of his career, AK47 averaged 2.5 blocks and 1.5 steals while mostly playing forward.
High Vote: 19
38. Bam Adebayo, C
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Years: 2017-present | Teams: MIA
Career Stats: 1.1 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 1.7 STL%, 2.6 BLK%, 31.7 DWS, 1.4 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 6 | All-Defensive: 1 First Team, 5 Second Team
Bam Adebayo has been in the NBA for nine years, and he's been a full-time starter for seven. In each of those seven seasons (which are also the last seven), he's received Defensive Player of the Year votes.
He hasn't broken through with a win yet, but Adebayo has still established himself as one of the best and most versatile defenders in the NBA.
As a center, though he's a little undersized, he can shut down the opposition's forays into the paint and protect the rim, but that may not be his biggest strength. It's Adebayo's ability to move his feet on the perimeter and stick with guards and wings that's particularly impressive for a 6'9", 255-pound big man.
High Vote: 21
37. Alvin Robertson, SG
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Years: 1984-1996 | Teams: SAS, MIL, DET, TOR
Career Stats: 2.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 4.1 STL%, 0.8 BLK%, 30.9 DWS, 2.0 DBPM
DPOYs: 1 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 5 | All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 4 Second Team
We're unlikely to ever see a player pile up steals quite like Alvin Robertson did.
By his second season, one that ended with a Defensive Player of the Year nod, he averaged a staggering 3.7 per game. And from the start of that campaign through the end of his seventh, he averaged 3.1 steals.
That stretch made up a big portion of his career and is why he's the all-time leader in that category to this day.
But Robertson's defense and his rise into the top 40 of this list are about more than just that one number. He was one of the best all-around guard defenders of the 1980s and early 1990s. And he was rewarded with six All-Defensive nods because of it.
High Vote: 21
36. Victor Wembanyama, C
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Years: 2023-present | Teams: SAS
Career Stats: 1.1 SPG, 3.5 BPG, 1.8 STL%, 9.9 BLK%, 12.2 DWS, 3.5 DBPM
DPOYs: 1 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 2 | All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 0 Second Team
Victor Wembanyama has only been in the NBA for three seasons, but he's already more than established himself as this era's best defensive player and one of the most dominant rim protectors of all time.
This past season alone, he became the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year winner and averaged 9.5 defensive rebounds and 3.1 blocks in just 29.2 minutes per game.
And while those numbers are impressive, they only tell a fraction of the story with Wemby's defense. His absurd height and wingspan make him a terrifying deterrent. Opponents often see him—or even just think he's lurking—and make an abrupt U-turn away from the basket. And while you can certainly find some lowlights of smaller players burning him on the perimeter, no one's better equipped to make up for those moments.
If anything, this ranking might actually be a little conservative, and it could certainly look that way in a few years.
High Vote: 1
35. Jrue Holiday, PG
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Years: 2009-present | Teams: PHI, NOP, MIL, BOS, POR
Career Stats: 1.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 2.1 STL%, 1.3 BLK%, 37.2 DWS, 0.2 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 5 | All-Defensive: 3 First Team, 3 Second Team
Much has been made of the fact that the NBA hasn't had a repeat champion since 2018. It's the era of parity. And to this point, no superstar has been able to stop it.
But there is a small handful of players who've won multiple titles since 2019, and you may notice some commonalities among them. They're Danny Green, OG Anunoby (though he was injured for the 2019 postseason), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso and Jrue Holiday.
(Dillon Jones is on the list too, but he played a total of 10 Finals minutes in 2025 and 2026).
Defense travels, as it turns out, from franchise to franchise. And Holiday's consistent, sound and when necessary, aggressive perimeter defense was absolutely crucial for the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks and 2024 Boston Celtics.
Holiday, well into his 30s, has long relished the opportunity to take on the opposition's best guard. He's strong enough to spend some time on wings too. And that versatility and commitment have made him one of the absolute best defenders of his era.
High Vote: 28
34. Andre Iguodala, SG/SF
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Years: 2004-2023 | Teams: PHI, DEN, GSW, MIA
Career Stats: 1.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 2.3 STL%, 1.3 BLK%, 49.5 DWS, 1.4 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 4 | All-Defensive: 1 First Team, 1 Second Team
Andre Iguodala spent the first half of his career hovering on the fringe of offensive stardom. From 2005-06 through 2012-13, he averaged 15.9 points, 5.2 assists and 1.0 threes.
And while the playmaking never really went away, he focused more on being a defensive specialist after he went to the Golden State Warriors, and multiple championships followed.
Iguodala's length, athleticism and defensive awareness made him a critical component of the Warriors' dynasty, particularly when he was tasked with slowing LeBron James (an assignment that helped him earn the 2015 Finals MVP).
High Vote: 25
33. Marcus Camby, C
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Years: 1996-2013 | Teams: TOR, NYK, DEN, LAC, POR, HOU
Career Stats: 1.0 SPG, 2.4 BPG, 1.8 STL%, 6.1 BLK%, 54.9 DWS, 2.3 DBPM
DPOYs: 1 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 5 | All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 2 Second Team
In the late 1990s and all of the 2000s, Marcus Camby was one of the most effective defensive anchors and rim protectors in the NBA.
From 1997-98 through 2007-08, he led the league in blocks per game four times and averaged at least 3.3 blocks in each of those campaigns.
And as he aged into his prime, he also became one of the game's most consistent defensive rebounders. In the same stretch, he averaged 7.3 defensive boards per game.
High Vote: 25
32. Jason Kidd, PG
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Years: 1994-2013 | Teams: DAL, PHX, NJN, NYK
Career Stats: 1.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 2.8 STL%, 0.7 BLK%, 75.1 DWS, 1.5 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 1 | All-Defensive: 4 First Team, 5 Second Team
At his peak, Jason Kidd was one of the most athletic point guards the NBA has ever seen.
He didn't punctuate possessions with monster dunks like Russell Westbrook or Derrick Rose, but Kidd's end-to-end speed, strength and quickness set him apart in the 1990s and 2000s.
And that athleticism was the key ingredient in him often dominating opposing 1s as a defender.
Over the first nine years of his career, Kidd averaged 4.8 defensive rebounds and 2.1 steals.
And once the athleticism waned, Kidd remained one of the game's top defensive guards because of awareness, instincts and experience.
High Vote: 22
31. John Havlicek, SF
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Years: 1962-1978 | Teams: BOS
Career Stats: 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 1.5 STL%, 0.4 BLK%, 74.1 DWS, 0.1 DBPM
All-Defensive: 5 First Team, 3 Second Team
Note: DPOY not awarded in his era
"Havlicek stole the ball!" is one of the most iconic calls in the history of sports commentary, but the moment that inspired it may not have been a surprise to Celtics fans of the time.
They'd already seen Havlicek's defense for a few years at that point. And the instincts that led to that specific steal were present throughout his career.
At 6'5", Havlicek was an early example of a versatile, multipositional defender who could stymie guards or wings.
And that defense was crucial on eight different championship rosters.
High Vote: 21
30. Nate Thurmond, C
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Years: 1963-1977 | Teams: SFW/GSW, CHI, CLE
Career Stats: 0.5 SPG, 2.1 BPG, 0.8 STL%, 3.9 BLK%, 62.2 DWS, 1.7 DBPM
All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 3 Second Team
Note: DPOY not awarded in his era
Had blocks been counted for the first 10 years of Nate Thurmond's career, he likely would've been more widely considered one of the greatest rim protectors of all time.
But even without them for all but his last four seasons, it was obvious to Thurmond's contemporaries that he was a dominant force on the interior.
And in an era that included Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, he was also one of the best rebounders in the league. From 1964-65 through 1972-73, Thurmond averaged an eye-popping 17.9 boards.
High Vote: 20
29. Chris Paul, PG
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Years: 2005-2026 | Teams: NOH, LAC, HOU, OKC, PHX, GSW, SAS
Career Stats: 2.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 3.1 STL%, 0.4 BLK%, 60.0 DWS, 2.0 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 2 | All-Defensive: 7 First Team, 2 Second Team
One of the quickest and craftiest defenders of all time, 6'0" Chris Paul made up for his lack of size and dominated that end of the floor with less conventional means.
He used foot speed to stay in front of bigger players and strength to stand up smaller ones. And when an opponent was remotely careless with the ball, CP3 was often able to take advantage.
He averaged 2.0 steals for his career and led the league in that category in six of his first nine seasons.
High Vote: 21
28. Michael Cooper, SG
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Years: 1978-1990 | Teams: LAL
Career Stats: 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 2.1 STL%, 1.2 BLK%, 24.7 DWS, 1.1 DBPM
DPOYs: 1 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 5 | All-Defensive: 5 First Team, 3 Second Team
Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar understandably get the bulk of the credit for the Los Angeles Lakers' five titles in the 1980s, but Michael Cooper's all-around defense deserves some love too.
Cooper was on all five of those teams. And with the exception of the 1979-80 run, he was an All-Defensive selection in each of those campaigns.
At 6'7" and with good lateral mobility, Cooper was able to defend a variety of players and positions. And that helped him win one Defensive Player of the Year and receive votes for that award in four other seasons.
High Vote: 8
27. Sidney Moncrief, SG
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Years: 1979-1991 | Teams: MIL, ATL
Career Stats: 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 1.9 STL%, 0.6 BLK%, 28.9 DWS, 0.5 DBPM
DPOYs: 2 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 4 | All-Defensive: 4 First Team, 1 Second Team
Sidney Moncrief didn't put up huge steal or block rates, but he was still known as one of the best defensive players of his era because he was so technically precise.
Moncrief was seemingly never out of position or caught out of his defensive stance. He was remarkably consistent in staying in front of some of the best offensive players of his era. And he was often rewarded for his consistency on that end.
Moncrief won each of the first two Defensive Player of the Year awards and finished his career with five All-Defensive nods.
High Vote: 18
26. Mark Eaton, C
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Years: 1982-1993 | Teams: UTA
Career Stats: 0.4 SPG, 3.5 BPG, 0.7 STL%, 6.9 BLK%, 48.0 DWS, 2.9 DBPM
DPOYs: 2 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 6 | All-Defensive: 3 First Team, 2 Second Team
Mark Eaton was a literal giant who didn't come to the NBA till his mid-20s. And even without the typical experience and trajectory that most players follow into the league, he was immediately one of its best defensive players.
In his first seven seasons, Eaton averaged 4.2 blocks, led the league in that category four times and won two Defensive Player of the Year awards.
He also set the single-season blocks-per-game record at 5.6 in 1984-85 and holds the all-time career mark to this day at 3.5.
High Vote: 14
25. Bobby Jones, SF
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Years: 1974-1986 | Teams: DEN, PHI
Career Stats: 1.5 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 2.4 STL%, 2.7 BLK%, 43.2 DWS, 2.3 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 2 | All-Defensive: 10 First Team, 1 Second Team
Bobby Jones' nickname was the "Secretary of Defense," an apt characterization of a player who averaged 2.3 steals and 2.0 blocks in his first NBA season and made All-Defensive teams in each of his first nine.
At 6'9", Jones was a little undersized to be a rim protector, but he made up for it with unparalleled defensive instincts.
He also boasted serious versatility that allowed him to defend up and down the opposition's lineup.
High Vote: 9
24. Bruce Bowen, SF
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Years: 1996-2009 | Teams: MIA, BOS, PHI, SAS
Career Stats: 0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 1.6 STL%, 1.0 BLK%, 33.5 DWS, 1.5 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 7 | All-Defensive: 5 First Team, 3 Second Team
Another early example of the three-and-D archetype, Bruce Bowen was one of those almost over-the-top physical defenders.
He was handsy enough that it felt like a foul could be called on just about every possession, but he also knew that it wouldn't be.
Bowen almost dared officials to blow their whistles. When they didn't, he had a huge advantage over his opposition.
The aggression and hands-on nature of his defense made him about as good an option as anyone could be against the likes of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and other offensive superstars of the era.
High Vote: 19
23. Tony Allen, SG
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Years: 2004-2018 | Teams: BOS, MEM, NOP
Career Stats: 1.4 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 3.4 STL%, 1.5 BLK%, 29.6 DWS, 1.9 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 5 | All-Defensive: 3 First Team, 3 Second Team
"The Grindfather" Tony Allen was the emotional leader of those Grit-n-Grind Grizzlies teams of the 2010s and kept himself in the league with almost no offensive game to speak of.
He was a three-and-D player, without the threes ever really going in. But it still worked, because he was so special on the other side of that equation.
Allen's perimeter defense was ferocious. It almost seemed too on the nose that he broke out for the Grizzlies, because in a lot of ways, he defended like one. For that, and in spite of being a 6'4" wing, he earned Defensive Player of the Year votes in five different seasons.
High Vote: 18
22. LeBron James, SF
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Years: 2003-present | Teams: CLE, MIA, LAL
Career Stats: 1.5 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 2.0 STL%, 1.6 BLK%, 85.7 DWS, 1.6 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 7 | All-Defensive: 5 First Team, 1 Second Team
Younger NBA fans may remember LeBron James' defense from his Los Angeles Lakers era above any other, and that's a shame.
In the early portion of his career, through his time with the Miami Heat, LeBron was capable of absurd heights on the defensive end.
We've still never really seen another combination of size and athleticism like LeBron's, and when he leveraged it for great individual defense, the results were obvious.
LeBron could all but eliminate guards or wings from possessions when he really wanted to. And those possessions often turned into the transition opportunities that are such a big part of his legend.
High Vote: 16
21. Metta Sandiford-Artest, SF
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Years: 1999-2017 | Teams: CHI, IND, SAC, HOU, LAL, NYK
Career Stats: 1.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 2.9 STL%, 1.2 BLK%, 41.3 DWS, 1.2 DBPM
DPOYs: 1 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 6 | All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 2 Second Team
In a season in which the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons both had historically dominant defenses, Metta Sandiford-Artest was a rightful Defensive Player of the Year because of his tenacity and versatility.
Artest was 6'7" and built like a 1990s power forward. But his feet were quick enough to keep him in front of guards and other much smaller players. And his instincts helped him stack up counting stats too.
From 2000-01 through 2007-08, Artest averaged 2.2 steals per game while generally being tasked with guarding the opposition's best perimeter player.
High Vote: 20
20. Alonzo Mourning, C
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Years: 1992-2008 | Teams: CHA, MIA, NJN
Career Stats: 0.5 SPG, 2.8 BPG, 0.8 STL%, 6.6 BLK%, 48.0 DWS, 1.4 DBPM
DPOYs: 2 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 4 | All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 0 Second Team
Two-time Defensive Player of the Year Alonzo Mourning was among the most fearsome rim protectors the NBA has ever seen.
From 1992-93 through 2001-02, he averaged at least 2.9 blocks on six different occasions. He led the league in that category twice. And all the while, he was a solid rebounder too.
Beyond that, Mourning's awareness and intensity on defense were crucial in establishing an identity for the Miami Heat that has persisted to this day.
High Vote: 16
19. Anthony Davis, PF
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Years: 2012-present | Teams: NOP, LAL, DAL, WAS
Career Stats: 1.3 SPG, 2.3 BPG, 1.9 STL%, 5.6 BLK%, 46.4 DWS, 1.5 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 6 | All-Defensive: 3 First Team, 2 Second Team
Anthony Davis entered the NBA as one of the most hyped prospects of all time because of his defensive upside. And few players across history lived up to the hype quite as well as he did.
On the defensive end, AD has been one of the best players in the league for well over a decade. He's a dominant rim protector and solid perimeter defender for a player his size.
And though he never really panned out as a No. 1 option on offense, he's proven more than capable of carrying a championship defense.
In the 2020 playoffs that ended with a Los Angeles Lakers title, AD averaged 7.1 defensive rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals per game.
High Vote: 17
18. Wilt Chamberlain, C
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Years: 1959-1973 | Teams: PHW, SFW, PHI, LAL
Career Stats: 93.9 DWS
All-Defensive: 2 First Team, 0 Second Team
Note: Steals, blocks, DBPM not tracked, and DPOY not awarded in his era
Decades before Giannis Antetokounmpo or LeBron James came along, Wilt Chamberlain was the freak-of-nature athlete against which most others were compared.
Wilt was 7'1" and almost 300 pounds, but he was as bouncy as anyone else in his era. And though it's his offensive exploits that are mostly remembered today, that absurd athleticism also made him a menace on defense.
For his career, Wilt averaged a staggering (and all-time record) 22.9 rebounds per game.
And thanks to some recent analysis from Basketball Reference, we know he averaged over five blocks per game in his final season in 1972-73. If he put up that number at 36, just imagine what he was doing in his prime.
High Vote: 11
17. Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF
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Years: 2013-present | Teams: MIL
Career Stats: 1.1 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 1.7 STL%, 3.2 BLK%, 45.9 DWS, 2.2 DBPM
DPOYs: 1 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 7 | All-Defensive: 4 First Team, 1 Second Team
Speaking of athletic marvels, Giannis "The Greek Freak" Antetokounmpo entered the NBA as a 6'9", way-too-skinny, mostly undeveloped small forward.
By his fourth season, he'd already grown, put on plenty of muscle and started making All-Defensive teams. By his sixth year, he was MVP. And by his seventh, he joined Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players in league history to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.
Over the last few campaigns, time and injuries have sapped him of a bit of his defensive effectiveness, but at his peak, Giannis could dominate opponents at both the rim and on the perimeter. Few across history have combined wing and big defensive skills to the same degree he did.
High Vote: 14
16. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, C
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Years: 1969-1989 | Teams: MIL, LAL
Career Stats: 0.9 SPG, 2.6 BPG, 1.2 STL%, 3.8 BLK%, 94.5 DWS, 1.6 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 0 | All-Defensive: 5 First Team, 6 Second Team
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was, in a lot of ways, Giannis before Giannis. He didn't create as much offense for others and teams weren't as open to deploying bigs to defend the perimeter, but Kareem's combination of size and athleticism would've allowed him to do both.
But because he came up in the era he did, Abdul-Jabbar was more confined to traditional big-man exploits. And he absolutely thrived in doing them.
The NBA didn't count blocks in his first four years, but from his age-26 campaign through his age-32 one, Kareem put up an eye-popping 10.6 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 1.2 steals.
By the time he was done, Abdul-Jabbar had 11 All-Defensive nods, a total that trails only Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett.
High Vote: 9
15. Michael Jordan, SG
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Years: 1984-2003 | Teams: CHI, WAS
Career Stats: 2.3 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 3.1 STL%, 1.4 BLK%, 64.1 DWS, 2.0 DBPM
DPOYs: 1 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 10 | All-Defensive: 9 First Team, 0 Second Team
Michael Jordan is still widely considered the GOAT by many, and his defense is a huge part of the calculation.
For most of his career, he was the best offensive player in the league while also being its best perimeter defender. That's a combination we aren't likely to see again.
Shooting and scoring as much as Jordan did took a ton of effort and energy. For most players, it wouldn't have left much for the defensive end.
But in Jordan's case, he was somehow every bit as intense on defense as he was on offense.
And for his first nine years (leading up to his first retirement), he averaged 2.7 steals and 1.0 blocks per game as a shooting guard.
High Vote: 4
14. Gary Payton, PG
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Years: 1990-2007 | Teams: SEA, MIL, LAL, BOS, MIA
Career Stats: 1.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 2.7 STL%, 0.4 BLK%, 48.9 DWS, 0.5 DBPM
DPOYs: 1 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 7 | All-Defensive: 9 First Team, 0 Second Team
Spoiler alert: This is the last guard left on this list. In other words, at least according to this panel of voters, Gary Payton is the best defensive guard in NBA history.
And it's not all that difficult to make the case for putting him there.
Payton was known as "The Glove" because of his nearly unparalleled ability to "stick" to his opponents. He was relentless in staying in front of his matchup, frustrating him and often causing turnovers. He was a master of jumping passing lanes.
And over the first 11 years of his career, Payton averaged 2.1 steals, made nine All-Defensive teams and won Defensive Player of the Year in 1995-96.
High Vote: 9
13. Dwight Howard, C
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Years: 2004-2022 | Teams: ORL, LAL, HOU, ATL, CHA, WAS, PHI
Career Stats: 0.9 SPG, 1.8 BPG, 1.4 STL%, 4.4 BLK%, 76.2 DWS, 1.0 DBPM
DPOYs: 3 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 6 | All-Defensive: 4 First Team, 1 Second Team
Dwight Howard entered the NBA as a raw prospect, particularly on the offensive end, but he was huge and ridiculously athletic.
And at some point during that first season, it became clear that he'd be a dynamic rim protector for the foreseeable future.
Somehow, he exceeded expectations as a first overall pick and won three Defensive Player of the Year trophies, a total topped only by Rudy Gobert, Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo.
At his peak, Howard was a human eraser at the rim and one of the most dominant defensive rebounders we've ever seen.
And from the start of his first season that ended with an All-Defensive nod through the end of his fifth, he averaged 10.2 defensive rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.1 steals.
High Vote: 7
12. Kawhi Leonard, SF
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Years: 2011-present | Teams: SAS, TOR, LAC
Career Stats: 1.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 2.7 STL%, 1.6 BLK%, 43.5 DWS, 1.8 DBPM
DPOYs: 2 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 5 | All-Defensive: 3 First Team, 4 Second Team
Kawhi Leonard has a handful of nicknames on his Basketball Reference page, and none fit his defensive ability and impact quite like "The Terminator."
For years, Leonard was the scariest perimeter defender in the league. Teams would openly avoid giving the ball to whoever he was guarding, for fear of him "terminating" the possession shortly thereafter.
He was capable of devouring an opponent's live dribble, seemingly every time it was put in front of him.
And on two different occasions, his defense was a crucial factor in winning Finals MVP.
High Vote: 8
11. David Robinson, C
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Years: 1989-2003 | Teams: SAS
Career Stats: 1.4 SPG, 3.0 BPG, 2.1 STL%, 5.7 BLK%, 80.1 DWS, 3.1 DBPM
DPOYs: 1 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 9 | All-Defensive: 4 First Team, 4 Second Team
If you're just looking at defensive numbers, it's tough to top the resume of David Robinson.
He's second in NBA history in career defensive box plus/minus. And over the course of his first seven seasons, Robinson averaged 8.3 defensive rebounds, 3.6 blocks and 1.7 steals.
The defensive production naturally led to accolades, and by the end of his career, Robinson had a DPOY and eight All-Defensive nods.
Beyond that, even in an exercise that includes as many big-name defenders and athletes as this one, Robinson's combination of size and athleticism is unique. Seeing him get back on defense or chase down a block opportunity as a help defender was awe-inspiring.
He also deserves some credit for dialing back his offensive game a bit and focusing even more on being a defense-first supporter after Tim Duncan arrived.
When looking at his entire resume, it's actually pretty hard to believe he didn't make the top 10.
High Vote: 5
10. Draymond Green, PF
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Years: 2012-present | Teams: GSW
Career Stats: 1.3 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 2.2 STL%, 2.8 BLK%, 46.0 DWS, 2.8 DBPM
DPOYs: 1 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 9 | All-Defensive: 5 First Team, 4 Second Team
Perhaps the single most versatile defender in NBA history, Draymond Green could successfully defend anyone from the 2 through the 5. Occasionally, he could even slow down a point guard.
And despite standing only 6'6", Draymond was good enough at standing up centers that he almost singlehandedly brought us the short-lived small-ball era.
For years after Draymond won his first championship in 2015 anchoring Golden State's "Death Lineup," other teams around the league were looking for Draymond clones.
But no one really found one. His combination of defensive IQ, instincts, quickness, strength and competitiveness is all his own. And it was probably the second most important part of the league's most recent dynasty.
High Vote: 3
9. Rudy Gobert, C
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Years: 2013-present | Teams: UTA, MIN
Career Stats: 0.7 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 1.1 STL%, 5.6 BLK%, 55.3 DWS, 1.9 DBPM
DPOYs: 4 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 10 | All-Defensive: 8 First Team, 1 Second Team
Much like the peak versions of Stephen Curry or James Harden were almost offenses unto themselves, Rudy Gobert is a one-man wrecking machine around the rim (and on the perimeter) who nearly guarantees a good defense.
For the five seasons prior to his becoming the full-time starting 5 for the Utah Jazz, they were 25th in the league in points allowed per possession. During his seven years in that role for Utah, it was first in that category. The flip was similar for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who were 25th over the five years pre-Gobert and third since trading for him.
The reason for the change is simple. Few players across NBA history were better at nearly eliminating the paint from the opposing offense's options. Gobert is massive, possesses defensive instincts few bigs ever have and rarely chases blocks that would leave the rest of his defense compromised.
It's no wonder he's tied for the all-time lead in career Defensive Player of the Year wins.
High Vote: 1
8. Scottie Pippen, SF
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Years: 1987-2004 | Teams: CHI, HOU, POR
Career Stats: 2.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 2.9 STL%, 1.6 BLK%, 67.3 DWS, 1.8 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 9 | All-Defensive: 8 First Team, 2 Second Team
Michael Jordan is the GOAT and obviously the primary reason for the Chicago Bulls dynasty in the 1990s, but Scottie Pippen is right to insist on his own appreciation.
There isn't a championship team in NBA history that would have won without a good No. 2, and Jordan may have had the best ever.
His scoring and playmaking were big parts of that, but it was Pippen's defense that truly made him special.
The 6'8" Pippen was the most versatile defender of his era, could stay in front of seemingly anyone and stacked up big numbers along the way.
For 10 years from 1989-90 through 1998-99, Pippen averaged 5.1 defensive rebounds, 2.2 steals and 0.9 blocks as a small forward and did a good job defending anyone Phil Jackson put in front of him.
High Vote: 3
7. Dennis Rodman, PF
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Years: 1986-2000 | Teams: DET, SAS, CHI, LAL, DAL
Career Stats: 0.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 1.1 STL%, 1.2 BLK%, 54.5 DWS, 0.5 DBPM
DPOYs: 2 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 10 | All-Defensive: 7 First Team, 1 Second Team
But somehow, Pippen might not have even been the best defender of that era for the Bulls. That honor could very well go to (and at least here, does go to) Dennis Rodman.
By the time he joined Chicago in 1995, Rodman had already led the league in defensive rebounds per game in four straight seasons. Before that, he won two Defensive Player of the Year awards for the Detroit Pistons.
He proved himself as capable as anyone in the league at defending 3s, 4s and 5s. And by the end of his threepeat with the Bulls, he'd also established himself as the greatest rebounder ever.
To this day, he trails only Andre Drummond in career rebounding percentage, and he stands four inches shorter.
High Vote: 2
6. Dikembe Mutombo, C
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Years: 1991-2009 | Teams: DEN, ATL, PHI, NJN, NYK, HOU
Career Stats: 0.4 SPG, 2.8 BPG, 0.7 STL%, 6.3 BLK%, 68.5 DWS, 1.8 DBPM
DPOYs: 4 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 9 | All-Defensive: 3 First Team, 3 Second Team
Another four-time Defensive Player of the Year winner, Dikembe Mutombo combined shot-blocking with a swagger that made him truly unique.
In the 1990s, his signature finger wag after denying an opponent's attempt was as well-known as any other player's nickname, catchphrase or celebration.
And what really made it special was the fact that Mutombo backed up the bravado with undeniably great rim protection.
In the first 10 years of his career, Mutombo averaged 8.7 defensive rebounds and 3.5 blocks, won his four DPOYs, led the league in defensive rebounding twice and led it in blocks three times.
High Vote: 2
5. Ben Wallace, C
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Years: 1996-2012 | Teams: DET, WAS, ORL, CHI, CLE
Career Stats: 1.3 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 2.3 STL%, 5.0 BLK%, 70.6 DWS, 2.6 DBPM
DPOYs: 4 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 7 | All-Defensive: 5 First Team, 1 Second Team
Throughout the 2000s, and particularly during his first go-round with the Detroit Pistons, Ben Wallace was a human fortress around the paint.
Despite standing 6'9" and exclusively playing a position where his peers were mostly bigger, Wallace was an incredible deterrent around the rim. His timing and athleticism were second to none.
And though his era didn't require bigs to defend outside as much as today's does, he had the athleticism to be effective there too.
High Vote: 4
4. Hakeem Olajuwon, C
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Years: 1984-2002 | Teams: HOU, TOR
Career Stats: 1.7 SPG, 3.1 BPG, 2.4 STL%, 5.4 BLK%, 94.5 DWS, 2.5 DBPM
DPOYs: 2 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 10 | All-Defensive: 5 First Team, 4 Second Team
The last of our three players to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same campaign, Hakeem Olajuwon pulled off that feat in 1993-94, when he averaged 9.1 defensive rebounds and 3.7 blocks.
And then, during that postseason, he put up 8.7 defensive rebounds, 4.0 blocks and 1.7 steals on the way to his first of two Finals MVPs.
Hakeem was truly a force around the rim on defense, whether defending post players one-on-one or coming over as a help defender to wipe out a shot attempt.
And he did all of that with remarkable consistency. Over the first 13 years of his career, the Houston Rockets were third in the league in points allowed per 100 possessions and Olajuwon averaged 3.4 blocks and 1.9 steals per game.
High Vote: 2
3. Kevin Garnett, PF
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Years: 1995-2016 | Teams: MIN, BOS, BKN
Career Stats: 1.3 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 1.9 STL%, 3.0 BLK%, 91.5 DWS, 2.1 DBPM
DPOYs: 1 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 11 | All-Defensive: 9 First Team, 3 Second Team
Dirk Nowitzki gets most of the credit for expanding offensive responsibilities and versatility for big men in the NBA. Draymond might be the answer for who did the same thing on the defensive end.
But Kevin Garnett is at least part of the answer on both ends.
Despite being the most important offensive player to his Minnesota Timberwolves team and having to carry that load as both a scorer and playmaker, KG was one of his era's very best rebounders, rim protectors and all-around defenders. His athleticism helped him menace much smaller players after switches, too.
And while his raw numbers tailed off a bit when he was traded to the Boston Celtics, Garnett's experience, intensity and leadership helped establish the culture of one of the greatest defenses of all time.
When Boston won the title in 2008, its regular-season defensive rating was 8.6 points better than the league average.
High Vote: 2
2. Tim Duncan, PF
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Years: 1997-2016 | Teams: SAS
Career Stats: 0.7 SPG, 2.2 BPG, 1.1 STL%, 4.6 BLK%, 106.3 DWS, 2.3 DBPM
DPOYs: 0 | Top-10 DPOY Finishes: 11 | All-Defensive: 8 First Team, 7 Second Team
Tim Duncan never winning a Defensive Player of the Year feels like maybe the biggest miss in the history of individual NBA awards.
Defensive box plus/minus is admittedly flawed (because box scores have always struggled to fully capture defensive impact), but Duncan is the all-time leader in seasons with a 2.0-plus defensive box plus/minus at 14 (Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson and Ben Wallace being next on that list is actually a decent endorsement of the stat).
Duncan's also third in total seasons with at least two blocks per game and first in total seasons with at least seven defensive rebounds per game.
TD being so good for so long, above all else, is why the San Antonio Spurs had the dynasty they did in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. Gregg Popovich, David Robinson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard all played their parts, but Duncan was the foundation for nearly two decades.
And because of his nearly flawless combination of defensive awareness, instincts, length and leadership, San Antonio's defensive rating during his 19 seasons was more than a full two points better than the next best.
High Vote: 1
1. Bill Russell, C
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Years: 1956-1969 | Teams: BOS
Career Stats: 133.6 DWS
All-Defensive: 1 First Team, 0 Second Team
Note: Steals, blocks, DBPM not tracked, and DPOY not awarded in his era
This one may have been as obvious as Stephen Curry being the greatest shooter in NBA history.
Despite playing his entire career before the league started counting blocks and steals, before it ever handed out a Defensive Player of the Year, and just about before All-Defensive teams came along (the first one of those was for Russell's final campaign), he's the easy choice for this honor.
In each of Russell's 13 seasons, Boston's defensive rating was dramatically better than the league average. In 1963-64 alone, it was an eye-popping 10.8 points better than average. And that elite defense anchored by Russell led to 11 championships in 13 years.
In many ways, he's the perfect answer to this question, because defense is about so much more than numbers. They can never truly measure communication, rotations and all the things an offense can't do because of it.
Even if they'd existed, the greatest defender of all time would've transcended the numbers and accolades anyway.
High Vote: 1
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