The Top 10 Defenders in NBA History (In terms of impact)

[1987_Lakers]

Wilt didn't even make the All-Defensive team (1st or 2nd team) in 1969 & 1971.

[1987_Lakers]

Wilt at #2 is insane.



Strange case indeed.

1965

Warriors full season: 87.7 ORtg, 92.8 DRtg
Warriors with Wilt: 90.3 ORtg, 94.4 DRtg
Warriors without Wilt: 86.2 ORtg, 92.3 DRtg

Sixers full season: 94.1 ORtg, 94.2 DRtg
Sixers with Wilt: 94.7 ORtg, 94.5 DRtg
Sixers without Wilt: 93.5 ORtg, 93.9 DRtg

I really don't understand it, Wilt made both teams worse on defense

To me, the only years where it seemed Wilt played some ATG defense was in '67, '68, '72, & '73.

And maybe '66.

[L.Kizzle]

Wilt didn't even make the All-Defensive team (1st or 2nd team) in 1969 & 1971.

Wilt also didn't make the All NBA teams in 69 or 71. That's was back when players voted and they obviously didn't like him that season to vote Rudy LaRusso over him lol.
He also made first team in 72 and 73.
But, I'm looking at the voting and Dave DeBusschere is number one in votes for five seasons straight

[1987_Lakers]

Imagine someone like a prime Duncan leaving the Spurs and they get better defensively, or KG leaving Boston, or even Draymond. It wouldn't happen.

You saw this happen with Wilt a couple of times.

#2 is insane.

[L.Kizzle]

Imagine someone like a prime Duncan leaving the Spurs and they get better defensively, or KG leaving Boston, or even Draymond. It wouldn't happen.

You saw this happen with Wilt a couple of times.

#2 is insane.

Season after a Wilt left Warrors, they win 35. Last full season with him they win 48 and in the Finals.

Season before he joined Sixers, they're 34-46. First full season with Sixers they're 55-25. 2nd full season with Philly they win the championship.

[1987_Lakers]

2009 Celtics

DRTG with KG: 99.2
DRTG without KG: 109.5

KG > Wilt

[1987_Lakers]

Season after a Wilt left Warrors, they win 35. Last full season with him they win 48 and in the Finals.

Season before he joined Sixers, they're 34-46. First full season with Sixers they're 55-25. 2nd full season with Philly they win the championship.

Can you explain why the 2nd greatest defender in NBA history has this on his resume?

1965

Warriors full season: 87.7 ORtg, 92.8 DRtg
Warriors with Wilt: 90.3 ORtg, 94.4 DRtg
Warriors without Wilt: 86.2 ORtg, 92.3 DRtg

Sixers full season: 94.1 ORtg, 94.2 DRtg
Sixers with Wilt: 94.7 ORtg, 94.5 DRtg
Sixers without Wilt: 93.5 ORtg, 93.9 DRtg

1968 Lakers (without Wilt): #7 defense ( DRTG -0.2 worse than league average)
1969 Lakers: #8 defense ( DRTG +0.6 better than league average)
1970 Lakers (without Wilt): #4 defense (DRTG +1.6 better than league average)
1971 Lakers: #8 defense: (DRTG +1.2 better than league average)

Wilt only slightly improves their defense when he arrives in 1969. The Lakers had their best defensive team in that 4 year period in 1970 when Wilt basically misses the whole season.

That is not the type of impact I expect from the 2nd greatest defender ever.

[L.Kizzle]

Can you explain why the 2nd greatest defender in NBA history has this on his resume?

1965

Warriors full season: 87.7 ORtg, 92.8 DRtg
Warriors with Wilt: 90.3 ORtg, 94.4 DRtg
Warriors without Wilt: 86.2 ORtg, 92.3 DRtg

Sixers full season: 94.1 ORtg, 94.2 DRtg
Sixers with Wilt: 94.7 ORtg, 94.5 DRtg
Sixers without Wilt: 93.5 ORtg, 93.9 DRtg

1968 Lakers (without Wilt): #7 defense ( DRTG -0.2 worse than league average)
1969 Lakers: #8 defense ( DRTG +0.6 better than league average)
1970 Lakers (without Wilt): #4 defense (DRTG +1.6 better than league average)
1971 Lakers: #8 defense: (DRTG +1.2 better than league average)

Wilt only slightly improves their defense when he arrives in 1969. Lakers have their best defense in that 4 year period in 1970 when Willt basically misses the whole season.

That is not the type of impact I expect from the 2nd greatest defender ever.

So, they got better defensively but lost more games each time he left. Got it.

[Im Still Ballin]

Don't you list McHale over Karl Malone due to one season lol.

What's more impactful than Ben's defense. He won 4 DPOY, twice back to back. They were in the NBA Finals or Conference Finals the seasons he won the award. Funny enough the years he comes in 2nd the Pistons win the championship.
What's more impactful than that?

Don't disrespect peak McHale, bruh. Don't make me pull out The Facts.

[1987_Lakers]

So, they got better defensively but lost more games each time he left. Got it.

You thought I was done?

Wilt returned to the playoffs in 1970 and the Lakers DRTG during that postseason run was -0.4 worse than league average.



Wilt at #2 is INSANE!

You talk about blocked shots, but fail to realize guys like Hakeem, Mutombo, & D-Rob would have had just as many if not more blocks than Wilt if they played in that fast paced era.

[L.Kizzle]

You thought I was done?

Wilt returned to the playoffs in 1970 and the Lakers DRTG during that postseason run was -0.4 worse than league average.



Wilt at #2 is INSANE!

You talk about blocked shots, but fail to realize guys like Hakeem, Mutombo, & D-Rob would have had just as many if not more blocks than Wilt if they played in that fast paced era.

Wait, 1970. The season he only played 2 weeks in the regular
seaaon and they still made the Finals. Just checking.

[1987_Lakers]

Wait, 1970. The season he only played 2 weeks in the regular
seaaon and they still made the Finals. Just checking.

You just keep ignoring the actual defensive data. Stop deflecting.

A simple search will tell you the Lakers offense got better in 1970 when Wilt came back, they were the best offensive team during the postseason with Wilt, but got worse on defense.

[tpols]

Wilt was a 7foot plus Olympian level Athlete... a total freak. We probably haven't seen a big man talent like him physically ever outside of Shaq. Who was lazier and slower. If anything because he had to totally carry his teams offense, he didn't have as much juice for defense. But I dont even know about that. Dude was absolute Titan in the paint in a way tweeners could never be. He would embarrass tiny Dray worse than AD has.

[L.Kizzle]

You just keep ignoring the actual defensive data. Stop deflecting.

A simple search will tell you the Lakers offense got better in 1970 when Wilt came back, they were the best offensive team during the postseason with Wilt, but got worse on defense.

Stop reading this data bruh and just trust me on this.

[1987_Lakers]

Posters who has defended Wilt haven’t posted any data proving his case.

You have Lkizzle saying he had a lot of blocks in a fast paced era

And tpols just saying he was an Olympian athlete.