Best NBA Defenders of All Time

The game of basketball is full of explosive dunks and jaw-dropping buzzer-beaters. On the other side, defense is often overlooked as an aspect of the game. No one can deny that defense can be crucial in winning games, and everyone has heard of the saying “defense wins championships,” which has often proven true.

In addition, for a team to be successful and eventually come out on top, they should always have at least one lockdown defender that will change the course of the game.

There’ve been more than a few exceptional defenders in the NBA. In this review, I’ll provide you with a list of the top 10 NBA defenders ever and rank them based on their accolades, statistics, and overall impact on winning games for their teams.

Keep reading and discover who are the 10 best NBA defenders of all time!

#10 – Ben Wallace

The No. 10 spot goes to one of the best NBA defenders ever—Ben Wallace. Standing at 6’ 9”, he wasn’t the tallest center, but his muscle mass and sheer size gave him the upper hand against other centers in the paint. Wallace was also quite agile for his build and had a high basketball IQ.

When you take a look at his career accolades, there’s no doubt that he belongs among the best shot-stoppers in the game of basketball. Ben won the Defensive Player of the Year award four times and made the NBA All-Defensive First Team 6 times. He was a menace in the paint by blocking shots ferociously and catching the ball with authority in the early 2000s.

During his illustrious career, Wallace mostly played for the Detroit Pistons, but he also had short spells at the Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Orlando Magic. He averaged 5.7 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.3 SPG, and 2.0 BPG.

Ben was a crucial figure in the 2004 Finals against the LA Lakers, where he showcased his defensive prowess and led the Pistons to an NBA title.

Wallace ended his NBA career as a Detroit Pistons player in 2012

#9 – Kevin Garnett

Another big man on the list is the legendary Kevin Garnett. Throughout his time in the NBA, he played as a power forward and was basically a flawless defender that could guard anyone. At 6’ 11”, he was very mobile and light on his feet, which went to his advantage when he competed against other big men in the paint. His athleticism, combined with his high defensive IQ, made him an all-around supreme defender.

Kevin spent the first 12 seasons of his NBA career as a Minnesota Timberwolves player. Even though he didn’t win an NBA title with the Timberwolves, he was undoubtedly the team’s anchor. After the Timberwolves, Kevin went to the Boston Celtics, where he earned his reputation as a fierce competitor. Besides Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, he was one of the leading players in Boston when they won the NBA title back in 2008.

Garnett was the best rebounder in the league four times and was also included in the NBA All-Defensive team 12 times. Apart from being an elite rebounder, he could also block shots and averaged 1.4 BPG. Regarding other statistics, Kevin averaged 17.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 1.3 SPG.

In 2016, Garnett retired from the same club where he started his career—the Minnesota Timberwolves.

#8 – Michael Jordan

NBA fans like yourself know how lethal Michael Jordan was in the offense. But, what’s maybe forgotten about the greatest basketball player of all time is that he was also one of the NBA’s best defenders in history.

Jordan was a one-of-a-kind player who was strong, fast, and highly mobile, and those strengths were helpful on both sides of the floor. He was often a frustration for opposing players since he was exceptional at stealing the ball thanks to his quick and long arms. Also, for being 6’ 6”, his shot-blocking abilities were above average.

MJ’s relentlessness in getting the ball in his hands was unmatched, and he also intercepted many passes in his career, thanks to his high defense IQ. He led the NBA in steals three times and averaged an impressive 2.3 SPG. Regarding other numbers, he averaged 30.1 PPG, 5.3 APG, 6.2 RPG and 0.8 BPG.

Michael’s accomplishments speak for themselves: 6X NBA Champion, 1X DPOY, 9X All-Defensive NBA Team, and many others. The fact that Jordan was basically equally good in both offense and defense made him the best basketball player ever to step onto an NBA hardwood.

After winning the NBA three-peat two times, MJ retired in 1998. He returned from retirement in 2001 and played for the Wahington Wizards until his final retirement from basketball in 2003.

#7 – Scottie Pippen

The second half of Chicago Bulls’s best-ever duo was one of the best small forwards and defenders in basketball—Scottie Pippen. He was an unyielding defender whose defensive intellect helped him to lock down opponents and read defensive plays. Standing at 6’ 8”, he had the immense ability to guard players of all positions thanks to his size and athleticism.

When it came to stealing the ball, his long reach and tenacity to get the ball were the main factors as to why Pippen averaged 2.0 SPG and was a one-time Defensive Player of the Year. In addition, Scottie put up impressive numbers during his career, averaging 16.1 PPG, 5.2 APG, 6.4 RPG, and 0.8 BPG.

His defensive expertise was why he was a part of their All-Defensive team in the NBA 10 times. Many fans would’ve considered Pippen as the no.1 defense player in Bulls history if it weren’t for his teammate, who will show up later on this list of the best NBA defenders of all time.

No one can deny that Pippen played a vital role in Chicago’s success in the 90s.

In 2003, Scottie returned to the Bulls and retired after one season.

#6 – Tim Duncan

One of the most consistent and dominant defensive players in NBA history is the San Antonio Spurs legend—Tim Duncan. In 19 seasons, he was part of the All-Defensive Team 15 times (most ever in the NBA).

One of the best power forwards ever in the NBA was an incredible rim protector. In his career, he averaged 2.2 BPG.

Apart from having fascinating shot-blocking abilities, Tim was an elite rebounder, averaging 10.8 RPG during his time in the NBA. As for other statistics, he averaged 19.0 PPG as well as 0.7 SPG.

Besides having impressive defense skills, his height and 7’ 4” wingspan were mainly why Duncan was such a highly efficient defensive player. However, being coached by Gregg Popovich and mentored by David Robinson helped Tim quickly read defensive plays.

It goes without question that Tim Duncan was the anchor of the San Antonio Spurs team. In almost two decades that he spent in the NBA, he won the championship title 5 times, and many Spurs fans consider him the best player of that franchise.

#5 – Dikembe Mutombo

The player who sits on the No. 5 spot on this list of the best defenders ever is the towering 7’ 2” center—Dikembe Mutombo. Well-known for his finger-wagging celebration after blocking a shot, he was one the most ferocious shot-stoppers that ever played the game of basketball. Mutombo led the league in blocks from 1994 to 1996 and was also the best rebounder in the NBA in 2000 and 2001.

He was a 4-time DPOY and included in the All-Defensive Team 6 times. These accolades are a testament to Dikembe’s dominance in defense. Moreover, Mutombo is the second-best-ever shot-blocker in the NBA, with 3,289 blocks, averaging 2.8 per game. As for other statistics, he averaged 9.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG and 0.4 SPG.

Throughout his career, Mutombo boasted the likes of the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, and the New York Knicks.

Mutombo’s impressive ability to block shots and having an authoritative presence in the paint cement his legacy as one of the best defenders ever in NBA basketball.

#4 – David Robinson

A 7’ 1” beast in the paint, David “The Admiral” Robinson was one of the most intimidating defenders in the history of the NBA. He greatly utilized his speed and athleticism to cover both the perimeter and the paint against his opponents.

Robinson was also a highly efficient shot-blocker with superb timing and positions when rejecting shots. His best season for swatting away shots was 1991-1992 when he recorded 4.5 blocks per game. Robinson averaged 21.1 PPG, 3.0 BPG, 1.4 SPG, and 10.8 RPG during his career.

Regarding his accomplishments, he was a 1-time DPOY, 1-time best-shot blocker, 1-time best rebounder, and included eight times in the All-Defensive team. Robinson was also one of four players in NBA history to record a quadruple-double in one game: 34 points and 10 of each (blocks, rebounds, and assists).

Robinson only played for the Spurs as an NBA player and greatly contributed to two NBA titles he won with this team.

#3 – Dennis Rodman

One of the most eccentric basketball players who holds the No. 3 position on this list is Dennis Rodman. Although he was poor offensively, that isn’t the case when it comes to his defense. Rodman was a top-notch post defender who was fearless when competing against much taller players. Basically, he could guard everyone, from point guards to centers.

Even though Rodman was relatively good at shot-blocking (0.6 BPG) and stealing the ball (0.7 SPG), he was mostly known for being a rebounding genius. In the documentary about the Bulls dynasty, “The Last Dance,” Rodman talked about how he learned a lot about timing and positioning when it came to catching rebounds.

“The Worm” was a 7-time leader in rebounds, 2-time DPOY, and a part of the All-Defensive team 7 times. Rodman averaged an impressive 13.8 RPG, 7.3 PPG, and 1.8 APG in his career.

Rodman is a 5x NBA Champion, winning the titles with the Chicago Bulls as well as the Detroit Pistons. Rodman was undeniably one of the most critical players in both teams. He also played for the LA Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.

#2 – Hakeem Olajuwon

Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon was an outstanding center who is the 2nd best defender in this list. This big man could guard players of all positions, given his speed, athleticism, and size. With a height of 7’ 0” and a 7’ 6” wingspan, Olajuwon was one of the most feared centers in his era. He helped the Houston Rockets to become a competitive team in the 80s and 90s thanks to his high-level skills in both offense and defense.

Olajuwon was a dominant rim-protector and the leader in blocks in NBA history. Throughout his career, he has amassed 3,830 rejections, averaging 3.1 BPG. Although many remember Olajuwon as an elite shot-blocker, he holds the number 10 spot in steals in the history of the NBA with 2,162 and 1.7 SPG. Olajuwon also possessed an impressive offensive prowess, since he averaged 21.8 PPG. Apart from being good at shot-blocking and stealing the ball, Hakeem led the NBA in rebounds 2 times and averaged 11.1 RPG.

As for other accomplishments, “The Dream” was a 2-time DPOY, 3-time block champ, and a part of the All-Defensive team 9 times.

Since Olajuwon, there haven’t been many players who were so dominant on the defensive side of the game.

#1 – Bill Russell

The best defender in NBA history is, without a doubt, Bill Russell. In addition, he’s one of the best basketball players ever, with 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons. With a 6’ 10” frame and a 7’ 4” wingspan, Russell was a nightmare for his opponents since he was also agile and strong for his size. He wasn’t just a superior presence in the pain. Russel could also lock down guards from the perimeter.

He’s the 2nd best all-time rebounder in the NBA, with 21,620 rebounds made in his career while averaging 22.5 RPG. He was the best rebounder in the NBA for four seasons. The NBA didn’t record the NBA All-Defensive team up until the 1968/1969 season, but Bill managed to be a part of that first All-Defensive team in that season.

During Russell’s playing days, the NBA didn’t keep records of blocks or steals, but credible sources estimate that Russell managed to average 8.1 BPG in his entire career, which is an astonishing feat. He blocked shots with perfect timing and often didn’t even make fouls while swatting away shots from guards.

Bill Russell was a true NBA legend, and the best defense player this game has ever seen.

Featured image taken from YouTube.

Author
Recent Posts

Joanna

Best NBA Defenders of All Time – Ranking the Top 10 Basketball Defense Experts