1. Gary Payton
Excellent defender. He had it all. Great individual containment, excellent team defense, and very quick hands to pressure you even more. He was fast enough to guard the smaller PGs, and strong enough to stick the bigger ones. He also had great defensive versatility able to guard the 1, 2, and 3 occasionally. He also is the only PG to win the DPOY in the 26 years of existence of the award. He won it in an era where centers normally win the award. He also led the league in steals in 1996. Payton also holds the record of 9 straight All-Defensive 1st appearances, giving him a longevity advantage on the defensive end as well.
2. Walt Frazier
Another great defensive PG. He also had the size of Payton at 6'4, and was even more versatile on defense than even Payton and was able to guard the 1, 2, and 3 at ease. Though he wasn't as fast as Payton, he was bigger and tougher. Another guy who could get steals as well, having multiple 2+spg seasons. He made it to 8 All-Defensive 1st teams nearly rivaling Payton's 9.
3. Dennis Johnson
Another very versatile defensive PG. Just like the 2 above him, he could guard more than just the PG position. Had long arms and his defensive footwork was also great. Helped the Celtics win 2 more titles by playing great defense on Magic Johnson. Magic Johnson called Dennis Johnson the best defender he has ever faced. DJ also is a 9 Time All-Defensive selection
4. Maurice Cheeks
Probably the quickest defending PG of All-Time. Actually, he might just be the quickest defending player period. Very good at getting steals, if the dribbler blinked, Cheeks would have the ball. Excellent at full court pressing and made it tough for PGs by just pressing them all day. Lacked the size and versatility of the defenders before him, but was still a great defender
5. KC Jones
The first great defending PG. Was the first PG who was able to press other PGs, and boy did he do it well. A key part to the defensive dynasty of the Boston Celtics with his tough pressing perimeter defenser. Also very quick and defensive minded. His competition was less than the others, however still definately deserves this spot.
Honorable Mentions: Jason Kidd, John Stockton, Mookie Blaylock, Don Buse, Derrick Harper, Norm Van Lier, Michael Ray Richardson.
Gary Payton would get torn up if he tried to defend a prime T-mac.
Dumars was a PG... he was selected all defensive team at the PG.
Honorable Mentions:
Nate Macmillan? Isiah Thomas?
You don't get selected on the teams as "PG". It's either G, F, or C. And he was selected as a guard, while Isiah played PG for the Pistons. And no Isiah is not one of the best defending PGs
You don't get selected on the teams as "PG". It's either G, F, or C. And he was selected as a guard, while Isiah played PG for the Pistons. And no Isiah is not one of the best defending PGs
Well yes its only Guard... but its obvious he would be the PG on his years. I mean the guy is 6'3 and played most of the time at the 1, letting Isiah do the scoring kind of like a 2.
Also, Isiah, a guy who averaged 2 steals a game for his whole career wasn't worth an honorable mention? a guy who is 9th in overall steals is not a good defending PG?
Well yes its only Guard... but its obvious he would be the PG on his years. I mean the guy is 6'3 and played most of the time at the 1, letting Isiah do the scoring kind of like a 2.
Also, Isiah, a guy who averaged 2 steals a game for his whole career wasn't worth an honorable mention? a guy who is 9th in overall steals is not a good defending PG?
More like Isiah did the distributing like a 1 and Dumars played off him at the 2...Trust me, Isiah was a PG, and Dumars a SG. Not the other way around.
And steals does not automatically make you a good defender. Look at AI
Why not on DJ? Just curious. He was still overall one of the best defenders (That played the PG position)
my favorite years of DJ and his defense are not really with the Celtics. although I liked the Boston teams of the 80's, DJ was never really a true PG to me even though he brought the ball up. he guarded Magic well but Magic is not the quickest of PGs. Kinda like when Pippen played point forward and defended Magic as well.
I would have DJ in the top 10 SGs but not PGs or maybe if there is an all around defender list.
Gary Payton was effectively able to guard quick PGs in his defensive prime (1994-2003). If you don't think so, name me some that did well. I've already been over this with you, but you have probably forgot.
Kidd has burned by Tony Parker over the course of his career, Nash, Avery Johnson in a playoff series, and then Anothony Johnson in another playoff series when he was named All-D 1st, and so on.
U like Loki like to give one person a lot of credit for team D so I am not going to get into it again...IF a player like Jason Williams didn't do well against Gp then it's becuz they could defend him at the other end not becuz GP effectively contained quickness....Marbury in Minnie went by him routinely. Your talking about TP on KIDD. TP made his breakout performance against GP when GP was still considered a top defender in Seattle...donm't you remember?
You are gonna talk about KJ (another quick guard) talking about having a tough time withGp...But if you actually consider their timematched up against each other faceup. When does Gp beat him to a spot and turn him teh the way TJ Ford does to other guards?
Never.....
He was never that quick of foot wiry strength and smarts and gettign into opposingplayers heads that was his strength....not that explosively quick ever.
U like Loki like to give one person a lot of credit for team D so I am not going to get into it again...IF a player like Jason Williams didn't do well against Gp then it's becuz they could defend him at the other end not becuz GP effectively contained quickness....Marbury in Minnie went by him routinely. Your talking about TP on KIDD. TP made his breakout performance against GP when GP was still considered a top defender in Seattle...donm't you remember?
You are gonna talk about KJ (another quick guard) talking about having a tough time withGp...But if you actually consider their timematched up against each other faceup. When does Gp beat him to a spot and turn him teh the way TJ Ford does to other guards?
Never.....
He was never that quick of foot wiry strength and smarts and gettign into opposingplayers heads that was his strength....not that explosively quick ever.
I don't give a lot of credit to one person for team D. The player primarily guarding another player should get more credit for the defense plays than anyone else.
I remember as early as 93, Payton was effectively able to guard and KJ could not go past him.
Marbury in Minnesota? This is where I know you've lost it. They actually faced in the 1998 Playoffs 1st round.
Game 1: 4/14 14pts 5ast
Game 2: 9/21 25pts 7ast
Game 3: 3/11 14pts 11ast
Game 4: 4/16 10pts 7ast
Game 5: 2/10 7pts 8ast
You know when they talk about "Shutting Down" a PG? Marbury was shut down in his head to head series against prime Gary Payton. He shot 30.5% and averaged 14ppg. Please KWALI, this is worse than Payton dominating Stockton.
And as far as getting help from his team, Frazier played with Reed and Dave. Who did Payton play with? McMillan? That was his best defender to "help" him. Payton didn't even have dominant shot blocker behind him, do you realize how much having a great defending (Jordan/Pippen, Frazier/Reed, DJ/McHale) helps you? Payton received less team help than most of the All-Time great defenders.
Hype plays a big role there too. Kobe makes it every year too and even his coaches say he doesn't bring it all the time.
I don't need to be told about how overrated Kobe is. Since I am a basketball, I watch basketball, and I know that Kidd's honors were mostly deserved. He made an All-Defensive team for 9 consecutive seasons.
So really you are totally contradicting yourself. Supporting Frazier by calling him a prototype PG, and then putting Kidd over the real protoype PG KC Jones.
Not at all. Since when has KC Jones been respected as a prototype in the same way that Frazier is? Jones' defense never contributed as much to the success of his team as Frazier's did. Jones was not a leading player on those teams (compared to Frazier anyways), he only has a few seasons where he even cracks 30 minutes per game, and he played less than 700 games.
Re: Top 5 Defensive PGs of All-Time
