Top NBA defenders of all time

[72-10]

Top defenders

1. Bill Russell
2. Hakeem Olajuwon
3. Dennis Rodman
4. Scottie Pippen
5. Dwight Howard
6. Gary Payton
7. Ben Wallace
8. Michael Jordan
9. Alonzo Mourning
10. Bobby Jones
11. Kevin Garnett
12. Dikembe Mutombo
13. David Robinson
14. Kobe Bryant
15. Jerry West
16. Walt Frazier
17. Michael Cooper
18. Sidney Moncrief
19. Wilt Chamberlain
20. Tim Duncan
21. Joe Dumars
22. Chris Paul
23. Dave DeBusschere
24. Ron Artest (Metta World Peace)
25. Mark Eaton
26. Patrick Ewing
27. Kahwi Leonard
28. Bruce Bowen

[highwhey]

I'm taking LeBron over anyone in that list. He was his own defensive anchor and #1 option at the same time. All in one package.

He also made the chasedown block famous.

[SouBeachTalents]

Kobe & West over Duncan :oldlol:

[HylianNightmare]

Glass Dwight's getting some well deserved credit but that's a ways up there for him

[TheCorporation]

I'm taking LeBron over anyone in that list. He was his own defensive anchor and #1 option at the same time. All in one package.

He also made the chasedown block famous.

Cosigned.

High-IQ-whey

[72-10]

Anyone think Charles Oakley deserves the list?

[Smoke117]

lol That's a terrible list.

[Akeem34TheDream]

OP can you make top 600 nba defenders? Does Ledell Eackles make it in?

[Gileraracer]

I'm taking LeBron over anyone in that list. He was his own defensive anchor and #1 option at the same time. All in one package.

He also made the chasedown block famous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZlvjFqb5kE

[insidehoops]

Very hard picking an exact order here, but which players do you think are MUCH too high or low?

[fsvr54]

It's not a good defensive list if Tony Allen isn't on it.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

My goat starting 5 defensive lineup:

Point guard: Jason Kidd
Shooting guard: Kawhi
Small Forward: Scottie Pip
Power Forward: Tim Duncan
Center: Wilt

[Smoke117]

Very hard picking an exact order here, but which players do you think are MUCH too high or low?

Right off the bat...Rodman at 3, Pippen at 4,Jordan at 8 and Payton, in particular at 6, is just hilarious. It’s legitimately impossible to take someone seriously if they believe Gary Payton was a more impactful ( or even half realistically) defensive player than a Robinson, Wallace, Garnett, or Duncan. (And really a whole boat load of big men in general). It’s also amusing as Jason Kidd was a far more impactful defensive pg anyway. To have Payton at 6th while Duncan is at 20 is pathetic. Dwight Howard at 5 is pretty amusing as far as big men go. Howard was very good, but him at top 5 all time over the big men I just named (and others) is laughable. The whole list is hilariously bonkers. I’m a Chris Paul fan as you all know and him above Patrick Ewing on a defensive players list is about as cringe worthy as it gets.

[KD7]

PG - Chris Paul
SG - Tony Allen
SF - Pippen
PF - KG
C - Wallace

[ELITEpower23]

I'm taking LeBron over anyone in that list. He was his own defensive anchor and #1 option at the same time. All in one package.

He also made the chasedown block famous.

High IQ Whey

[1987_Lakers]

Threads like these are why I feel David Robinson gets overlooked.
http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?481943-Why-doesn-t-David-Robinson-get-more-consideration-for-Defensive-GOAT

To be honest, the top 5 would have to be exclusively centers. Having a center who is a dominant rebounder & rim protector is far more valuable on the defensive end than having someone like Payton or MJ.

My list would probably look something like...

1. Russell (undisputed defensive GOAT)
2. Hakeem
3. D. Robinson
4. Mutombo
5. Duncan

Bill Walton also goes unnoticed in these discussions, a healthy/prime Walton was the most dominant defensive force in the league in '77 & '78.

[1987_Lakers]

Right off the bat...Rodman at 3, Pippen at 4,Jordan at 8 and Payton, in particular at 6, is just hilarious. It’s legitimately impossible to take someone seriously if they believe Gary Payton was a more impactful ( or even half realistically) defensive player than a Robinson, Wallace, Garnett, or Duncan. (And really a whole boat load of big men in general). It’s also amusing as Jason Kidd was a far more impactful defensive pg anyway. To have Payton at 6th while Duncan is at 20 is pathetic. Dwight Howard at 5 is pretty amusing as far as big men go. Howard was very good, but him at top 5 all time over the big men I just named (and others) is laughable. The whole list is hilariously bonkers. I’m a Chris Paul fan as you all know and him above Patrick Ewing on a defensive players list is about as cringe worthy as it gets.

You are right on the money.

[Smoke117]

Threads like these are why I feel David Robinson gets overlooked.
http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?481943-Why-doesn-t-David-Robinson-get-more-consideration-for-Defensive-GOAT

To be honest, the top 5 would have to be exclusively centers. Having a center who is a dominant rebounder & rim protector is far more valuable on the defensive end than having someone like Payton or MJ.

My list would probably look something like...

1. Russell (undisputed defensive GOAT)
2. Hakeem
3. D. Robinson
4. Mutombo
5. Duncan

Bill Walton also goes unnoticed in these discussions, a healthy/prime Walton was the most dominant defensive force in the league in '77 & '78.

Walton was a great defensive player. If they had DPOY in 78 when he won MVP he also would have been the front runner for that and would have been the top defensive player in the league for years to come if he could have stayed stay healthy. I can't agree with Mutombo at 4, though. He is overrated if anything. He was great at protecting the rim, but his mobility left a lot to be desired compared to a Ben Wallace, Kevin Garnett, or Tim Duncan who are definitely over him for me. They are all better and more impactful defensive players prime vs prime and peak vs peak.

[Whoah10115]

It's hard not to focus on centers.

The best way to make a list like this is to break it up per position. Even if you don't fully agree that a wing player can't have similar impact, the absolute fact of it is that the most of the absolute standouts are centers, with power forwards like KG and Duncan making it interesting. And of course I think Oakley is ridiculously ignored on these lists, but that's another thing.

[1987_Lakers]

It's hard not to focus on centers.

The best way to make a list like this is to break it up per position. Even if you don't fully agree that a wing player can't have similar impact, the absolute fact of it is that the most of the absolute standouts are centers, with power forwards like KG and Duncan making it interesting. And of course I think Oakley is ridiculously ignored on these lists, but that's another thing.

LOL. Oakley is far from an all-time defender.

[HoopsNY]

The problem is that historically, centers were the elite players and so you needed a great defensive center to counter him. So the question is, who's your matchup? I do think Dennis Rodman deserves to be up there because his defensive IQ was unbelievable, and you could actually put him on a center for stretches during the game.

But Hakeem is my pick. If I saw Wilt or Russell play, then maybe I would choose one of the two.

[Whoah10115]

LOL. Oakley is far from an all-time defender.

Not interested.

[1987_Lakers]

Not interested.

Just a good low post defender. Not a rim protector nor was he versatile to guard other positions, don't know what you are seeing.

[Axe]

The problem is that historically, centers were the elite players and so you needed a great defensive center to counter him. So the question is, who's your matchup? I do think Dennis Rodman deserves to be up there because his defensive IQ was unbelievable, and you could actually put him on a center for stretches during the game.

But Hakeem is my pick. If I saw Wilt or Russell play, then maybe I would choose one of the two.
Imagine if the nba all-defensive team already existed way before the late 60s, then russell would probably be selected for how many times in a row for that one.

[SouBeachTalents]

Very hard picking an exact order here, but which players do you think are MUCH too high or low?
Thurmond is a huge omission, Duncan & Wilt are way too low, Zo was a great defender but definitely not top 10, and Kobe & West have no business being in the top 15

[OrlandoMagicGuy]

Dwight is way too damn high

[SouBeachTalents]

Dwight is way too damn high
Didn't even notice that, 5th :oldlol:

[Whoah10115]

What I'll say about Howard is that he was special. He was the entire defense, entirely on his own.

I wouldn't rank him top 5, especially given it stopped so early. But still.

[imdaman99]

Not interested.

:kobe: Oakley was a homeless man's Rodman. He was very good. He would take charges, he would give out hard fouls. But no he's not one of the best.

[Whoah10115]

:kobe: Oakley was a homeless man's Rodman. He was very good. He would take charges, he would give out hard fouls. But no he's not one of the best.

Oak is one of the best help defenders I've ever seen. Outside of Pippen he was regularly in the conversation for best in that regard, and I've even heard live broadcasts with the same opinion.

Great post defender, yes. But the Knicks are probably the best defense I've ever seen, and we're nowhere near that without Charles Oakley.

Outside of hustle Oakley and Rodman aren't very similar.

[Phoenix]

:kobe: Oakley was a homeless man's Rodman. He was very good. He would take charges, he would give out hard fouls. But no he's not one of the best.

I wouldn't even go that far. Oakley was a bruiser/enforcer type protecting the rim. Really good team defender as said above. Driving the lane? He'll probably be the one delivering the Bradshaw clotheline

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/AshamedCheerfulCardinal.webp

Rodman throughout his career was defending everyone from peak MJ on the perimeter in Detroit, to banging down low with Shaq and Malone in the 2nd 3peat. He and Oakley did very different things on defense.

[Lion's pride]

I think the list should be broken into 2 parts.. Bigman and paint RIM protector and versatile perimeter/wing defender..

[Lion's pride]

Top defenders

1. Bill Russell
2. Hakeem Olajuwon
3. Dennis Rodman
4. Scottie Pippen
5. Dwight Howard
6. Gary Payton
7. Ben Wallace
8. Michael Jordan
9. Alonzo Mourning
10. Bobby Jones
11. Kevin Garnett
12. Dikembe Mutombo
13. David Robinson
14. Kobe Bryant
15. Jerry West
16. Walt Frazier
17. Michael Cooper
18. Sidney Moncrief
19. Wilt Chamberlain
20. Tim Duncan
21. Joe Dumars
22. Chris Paul
23. Dave DeBusschere
24. Ron Artest (Metta World Peace)
25. Mark Eaton
26. Patrick Ewing
27. Kahwi Leonard
28. Bruce Bowen

No list can not be criticized by someone and be perfect. But I like KG to be much higher as he was not only a great individual defender, but team defender. The man could switch out on PNR probably better than any other Big.. Then factor in how he demanded great effort and intensity from his teammates.

[jlip]

My list would not include any perimeter (sf/g) in the top ten. It would be very difficult to consider any wing player more defensively impacting than the likes of Russell, Wilt, Thurmond, Hakeem, D. Robinson, Duncan, KG, and Ben Wallace. Additionally, I'm not convinced that superstar/ hall of fame wing players who were scorers but yet known to be great defensively were necessarily better defensively than defensive specialists such as Bowen and Tony Allen.

[Gotterdammerung]

Just a good low post defender. Not a rim protector nor was he versatile to guard other positions, don't know what you are seeing.

In the 1994 Finals, instead of putting Charles Oakley on the Rockets' number one scoring option, they chose Anthony Mason.

He was strong enough to use his low center of gravity to keep Hakeem from establishing deep post-ups, and he often fronted him, trusting the Knicks' interior rotations to cover for him if Hakeem actually got the ball.

[Smoke117]

My list would not include any perimeter (sf/g) in the top ten. It would be very difficult to consider any wing player more defensively impacting than the likes of Russell, Wilt, Thurmond, Hakeem, D. Robinson, Duncan, KG, and Ben Wallace. Additionally, I'm not convinced that superstar/ hall of fame wing players who were scorers but yet known to be great defensively were necessarily better defensively than defensive specialists such as Bowen and Tony Allen.

Scottie Pippen and Kawhi are definitely better defensive players than Tony Allen and Bowen. Also, in Allen's case, he didn't exactly play heavy minutes so he could pretty much go full on out the entire time. Still didn't have the impact a Pippen or Kawhi had either way. You're of course right about the top 10. If you could put a non big man in the top 10 only Pippen and Kawhi would warrant that kind of respect. Gary Payton as the 6th best defensive player of all time, though? As I said before, that's just laughable. Do people really think he deserved that DPOY he got in 96 by actual impact? As I've pointed out before, the Spurs got BETTER defensively trading Rodman away and were 3rd in defense. David Robinson was clearly the DPOY in 96 and that is only proven by 97 when he played 8 games and they dropped to DEAD LAST in defense. Sonics clearly would not drop to dead last if Payton missed the 97 season lol. Paytons drating in 96 is actually much higher than the overall teams that made them 2nd. They were second with a 102.1 after the Bulls and Payton was a 105. You can say, oh that's because of rebounds and this and that...except Nate McMillan had a 98 drating. He was always a better defensive player than Payton. How do you win DPOY and have someone like OP putting you as the 6th greatest defensive player of all time when you weren't even the best defensive player at your position on the team?

[TheCorporation]

Scottie Pippen and Kawhi are definitely better defensive players than Tony Allen and Bowen. Also, in Allen's case, he didn't exactly play heavy minutes so he could pretty much go full on out the entire time. Still didn't have the impact a Pippen or Kawhi had either way. You're of course right about the top 10. If you could put a non big man in the top 10 only Pippen and Kawhi would warrant that kind of respect. Gary Payton as the 6th best defensive player of all time, though? As I said before, that's just laughable. Do people really think he deserved that DPOY he got in 96 by actual impact? As I've pointed out before, the Spurs got BETTER defensively trading Rodman away and were 3rd in defense. David Robinson was clearly the DPOY in 96 and that is only proven by 97 when he played 8 games and they dropped to DEAD LAST in defense. Sonics clearly would not drop to dead last if Payton missed the 97 season lol. Paytons drating in 96 is actually much higher than the overall teams that made them 2nd. They were second with a 102.1 after the Bulls and Payton was a 105. You can say, oh that's because of rebounds and this and that...except Nate McMillan had a 98 drating. He was always a better defensive player than Payton. How do you win DPOY and have someone like OP putting you as the 6th greatest defensive player of all time when you weren't even the best defensive player at your position on the team?

Agreed. I'm not giving a 6'1 Payton any DPOY honors. It was a sham

[Pointguard]

Top defenders

1. Bill Russell
2. Hakeem Olajuwon
3. Dennis Rodman
4. Scottie Pippen
5. Dwight Howard
6. Gary Payton
7. Ben Wallace
8. Michael Jordan
9. Alonzo Mourning
10. Bobby Jones
11. Kevin Garnett
12. Dikembe Mutombo
13. David Robinson
14. Kobe Bryant
15. Jerry West
16. Walt Frazier
17. Michael Cooper
18. Sidney Moncrief
19. Wilt Chamberlain
20. Tim Duncan
21. Joe Dumars
22. Chris Paul
23. Dave DeBusschere
24. Ron Artest (Metta World Peace)
25. Mark Eaton
26. Patrick Ewing
27. Kahwi Leonard
28. Bruce Bowen

KG will have to be top 3. He's the best communicator on defense in the sport - that's basically a quiet list. KG has the best defensive feet movement of 7 footers. Best team defender of 7 footers. Most versatile of the tall defenders. One of the best one on one defenders of the 7 footers. You could not drive on his championship team. Was a leader by example and communication. He's also the best in zone like defenses because of his communication skills. I have him at one.

I don't have issue otherwise. Jannis is going to go on the list. He's similar to KG without the communication.

[72-10]

OP can you make top 600 nba defenders? Does Ledell Eackles make it in?

that's not a funny joke; my goat joke, on the other hand...

[XYY]

No list can not be criticized by someone and be perfect. But I like KG to be much higher as he was not only a great individual defender, but team defender. The man could switch out on PNR probably better than any other Big.. Then factor in how he demanded great effort and intensity from his teammates.

Eaton. The clueless one. Imagine him trying to play today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0RGcMhGMk4

LOL!

[imdaman99]

Why did OP stop at some obscure number like 28? Might as well have gone to 50.

It's prob because he doesn't like #29. Who is it, OP?

[72-10]

K, I have tiers

it's kind of tiered

[Roundball_Rock]

Agreed. I'm not giving a 6'1 Payton any DPOY honors. It was a sham

They didn't want the Bulls to sweep all the awards: MVP, DPOY, COY, 6th man.

[Shooter]

They didn't want the Bulls to sweep all the awards: MVP, DPOY, COY, 6th man.

Shoulda been BDP Big Dick Pip

[72-10]

OP can you make top 600 nba defenders? Does Ledell Eackles make it in?

hardy har har. Tony Allen might deserve to make the list. There's also a whole slew of '90s Knicks.

[Micku]

Scottie Pippen and Kawhi are definitely better defensive players than Tony Allen and Bowen. Also, in Allen's case, he didn't exactly play heavy minutes so he could pretty much go full on out the entire time. Still didn't have the impact a Pippen or Kawhi had either way. You're of course right about the top 10. If you could put a non big man in the top 10 only Pippen and Kawhi would warrant that kind of respect. Gary Payton as the 6th best defensive player of all time, though? As I said before, that's just laughable. Do people really think he deserved that DPOY he got in 96 by actual impact? As I've pointed out before, the Spurs got BETTER defensively trading Rodman away and were 3rd in defense. David Robinson was clearly the DPOY in 96 and that is only proven by 97 when he played 8 games and they dropped to DEAD LAST in defense. Sonics clearly would not drop to dead last if Payton missed the 97 season lol. Paytons drating in 96 is actually much higher than the overall teams that made them 2nd. They were second with a 102.1 after the Bulls and Payton was a 105. You can say, oh that's because of rebounds and this and that...except Nate McMillan had a 98 drating. He was always a better defensive player than Payton. How do you win DPOY and have someone like OP putting you as the 6th greatest defensive player of all time when you weren't even the best defensive player at your position on the team?

Well, Tony Allen at this peak did have a lot of impact on his team on the defensive end, but as you said he never played heavy minutes. In 2011, he had more impact on his team than Marc Gasol. You can see the plus/minus stats, but he only average 20 mins a game. And I suppose you can argue it's inflated due to the lineup Memphis had. I would say at his peak, he was better than Kawhi, but Kawhi had more years and mins where he showcase it. In terms of one on one, I'm unsure of the oFG% with both players. For me with the eye test, Tony Allen was the best one on one defender, while Kawhi was the better team defender. Tony Allen was pretty high up there. I suppose given the fact that Tony Allen didn't play as often as Kawhi and Kawhi has more accolade, I would give the nod to him. But I can see an argument. Tim Duncan also doesn't have dpoy awards, but he's better than the guys who did.

In general for perimeter players it's Pippen, Kawhi and MJ for me. MJ having the best DBPM in the league at his peak in 88 and 89, Pippen having the best Dtrg on the team a few teams with the Bulls, Kawhi because of the consistency of while he was with the Spurs.

But the top part of the list should be big men for the most part. And only those three to me deserves a spot imo.

[rmt]

Duncan at #20 is terrible - as is him never winning a DPOY.

8 All-Defensive First Team, 7 All-Defensive Second Team.