The NBA All-time Defensive Team

Although Russell looks helpless to stop Wilt in the attached photo, it seems that Russell is the greatest post and off the ball defender in history. Russell's defense could change the outcome of a game and in fact set the table for a dynasty. I offer these remarks to describe the 10 best NBA defenders of the past 60 years.

First Team

Guard - K.C. Jones, San Francisco, Boston Celtics. Longtime partner of Russell from college and the pros. He "invented" defense.

Guard - Walt Frazier, Southern Illinois, New York Knicks. Proof that defense could be cool. He was Clyde in his stride.

Center - Bill Russell, San Francisco, Boston Celtics. Greatest player in history of NBA, as well as being the best defensive player.

Forward - Tom "Satch" Sanders, NYU, Boston Celtics. Beginning to get a feeling why the Celtics of the 60s ruled the world?

Forward - Dave DeBusschere, Detroit U., Detroit Pistons & NY Knicks. Brilliant defender from an intellectual standpoint. He was head coach and star player for the Pistons at age 24. Yes, 24. At the same time he was a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. Later he became ABA League Commissioner. As rugged a player and defender as ever stepped on the court.

Second Team

Forward - Luke Jackson, Pan American, Philadelphia 76ers. Massive, menacing, and fearsome. Rarely scored, rarely scored upon.

Forward - Tim Duncan, Wake Forest, San Antonio Spurs. A slight edge to Duncan over Garnett. Little bit better on the drive but, it's close.

Center - Wilt Chamberlain, Kansas, Harlem Globetrotters, Philadelphia (Warriors and 76ers) , San Francisco, Los Angeles. There is nothing else to be said or known. If it weren't for Russell, he would be considered the greatest player of all time, defense and offense.                 

Guard - Michael Jordan, UNC, Chicago, Washington. While he didn't play intense defense for 48 minutes in 82 games, he knew how to turn it on when it counted. A slight edge over fellow Bulls Jerry Sloan and Norm Van Lier.

Guard - Theodore Roosevelt Dunn (Agent T.R. Dunn), Alabama, Denver. Now here is someone you didn't want to meet on the court or in a dark alley. This man would take your name out of existence by the PA announcer when he was assigned to guard you. AKA "The Cobra".

Special Honorable Mention

Guards - Al Attles and Dennis Johnson

Forwards - Kevin Garnett, Maurice Lucas

Center - Dikembe Mutombo