Dirk Nowitzki is one of the five best defensive power forwards of all time.

[Real Men Wear Green]

I read it on the internet so it must be true. (https://sportsnaut.com/2020/05/the-five-best-defensive-power-forwards-of-all-time/)

[Reggie43]

This is what happens when kids use advanced stats without context to rank players :facepalm

[Akeem34TheDream]

Well that's ridiculous but he wasn't that bad tbh. When most people see a big that isn't good at protecting the rim they just see him as a liability. Positioning is very important. For example I'd call Jokic a good defender.

[SouBeachTalents]

I thought it was ridiculous at first too, but he does make some pretty convincing arguments


As a 7-footer, Nowitzki relied on his offense and not his defense. Though he never made any All-Defensive Teams, he was still an able defender, having two seasons in the top-20 in defensive rating.

Overall, his 62.5 DWS is 25th all-time. Not bad for a 7-footer that didn’t average more than 0.8 blocks and steals for his career.

[DoctorP]

dunno. i see a lot of Karens but where are your lists to dispute? This list looks pretty good to me.

oh wait, defensive??? LOL

i didnt see that

[Kblaze8855]

I thought you said offensive so my wheels were already turning to find the best way to say “Duh” in amusing fashion.

[Axe]

Oh goody, i thought it came from wikipedia lmao.

[Dr Hawk]

Google sheets is all we need to rank players.

[tpols]

white people are stereotype'd as not being able to play defense, but dirk simply gave good effort and always made high IQ rotations.

[Reggie43]

Elton Brand, Mavericks center, 2012-13: I remember one game against Carlos Boozer, I know Boozer wants to go left. I’m screaming at Dirk, at Dirty, “Send him right, send him right!” Boozer goes left and scores. And then scores again. And I’m frustrated. I’m just like, “Goddamn, Dirty! Send him right!” And then Dirk hits two dagger 3s to win the game. I go back and apologize: “Look, you never have to play defense again, man.”

[DoctorP]

Elton Brand, Mavericks center, 2012-13: I remember one game against Carlos Boozer, I know Boozer wants to go left. I’m screaming at Dirk, at Dirty, “Send him right, send him right!” Boozer goes left and scores. And then scores again. And I’m frustrated. I’m just like, “Goddamn, Dirty! Send him right!” And then Dirk hits two dagger 3s to win the game. I go back and apologize: “Look, you never have to play defense again, man.”

:lol

[dirkdiggler41]

I would like to point out that Dirk averages for 10 rpg, 1spg and 0.9bpg in 145 playoff games.

[Whoah10115]

Dirk is a worse defender than Nash. Nash hustled and was smart. Dirk had no interest in playing defense outside of the post. To be fair, he was a good post defender and probably a bit better than that for a solid stretch.

He blocked a few shots but nothing crazy and his rim defense was non-existent. He may have improved in some situations, but I don't know that his defensive IQ was particularly high. Whatever is said about Barkley you could more appropriately apply to Dirk. Barkley was at least a playmaker and a strong team defender who was also a good post defender. And he boxed out and got physical enough to have impact there. Absolutely terrible on pick n' roll and switching. Dirk maybe not as bad and was smart about giving a perimeter defender space and looking for a block...but he wasn't a good defender. Nothing to do with being over criticized.

[ArbitraryWater]

I thought it was ridiculous at first too, but he does make some pretty convincing arguments


Lmaooo

I was about to say


how do you put him there in the top 5

and then have his explanation be even worse

[Whoah10115]

Wow these lists are really bad. I mean, wow.

[Smoke117]

He’s definitely underrated if nothing else, but the the most underrated defensive pf was Rasheed Wallace. He was very good to great his entire career, but never made one defensive team. Now that’s a travesty...

[Whoah10115]

How is he underrated?

[imdaman99]

He’s definitely underrated if nothing else, but the the most underrated defensive pf was Rasheed Wallace. He was very good to great his entire career, but never made one defensive team. Now that’s a travesty...

Maybe he shouldn't have left Horry to double team someone in the corner then :lol

[LeCroix]

Def rate in playoffs of 107 so no

[tontoz]

DRTG is a good stat for team defense. It is simple and effective.

DRTG sucks for measuring individual defense. Just look at the formula. It is a convoluted mess.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/about/ratings.html

Setting that aside Dirk was not a good defender. He might not have been as bad as his reputation (which i believe is true of Nash) but it is hard to be a good defender when you are slow and weak no matter how good your rotations are.