Best NBA Defensive Players of All Time
They don’t play defense in that league. How many times have you heard that said about the NBA over the decades?
Now that the call letters stand for No Bigs Allowed, that widely held belief is truer than ever. Fact is, because of the obsession with the 3-point shot, increase of spread offenses and more versatile athletes and adoption of namby-pamby rules designed to take the physicality out of the game, good D is harder to play than ever. Heck, if a team gives up two points on a possession, it’s a reason to bump fists nowadays.
For those reasons and others, you won’t see many recent names among the greatest defensive players ever.
Note: We wanted guys who brought it for an extended period of time, so the bar was set at 20,000 minutes, the equivalent of 25 minutes per game, 80 games per season for 10 seasons. Our apologies, George Mikan, K.C. Jones, George T. Johnson, Andre Drummond and Kawhi Leonard.
30. Manu Ginobili
Statistics marked with an asterisk are incomplete.
Position: Guard-forward
Career: 2002-18 (16 seasons)
Teams: San Antonio Spurs
Defensive statistics/game: 3.5 defensive rebounds, 1.3 steals, 0.3 blocked shots
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .085
League championships: 4 (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
30. Bottom Line for Manu Ginobili
Bottom line: This swingman ranks 34th in steals percentage (2.7) and 42nd in defensive rating (100.4) in league history.
So why did rival coaches snub him for All-Defensive Team honors throughout his career?
Could it be his well-earned reputation as an all-time flop artist and major annoyance? Discuss.
29. Gary Payton
Position: Guard
Career: 1985-2004 (19 seasons)
Teams: Seattle SuperSonics (1990-2003), Milwaukee Bucks (2002-03), Los Angeles Lakers (2003-04), Boston Celtics (2004-05), Miami Heat (2005-07)
Defensive statistics/game: 2.9 defensive rebounds, 1.8 steals, 0.2 blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .050
League championships: 1 (2006)
29. Bottom Line for Gary Payton
Bottom line: Can’t leave somebody named "The Glove" off this list, right?
This dogged defender was afforded 1995-96 Defensive Player of the Year honors, one of only five guards to do so, although David Robinson might want a recount.
Gary Payton also ranks No. 4 on the all-time steals list with 2,445.
28. Bobby Jones
Position: Forward
Career: 1976-86 (10 seasons)
Teams: Denver Nuggets (1976-78), Philadelphia 76ers (1978-86)
Defensive statistics/game: 3.8 defensive rebounds, 1.4 steals, 1.3 blocks
Defensive win share/48 minutes: .080
League championships: 1 (1983)
28. Bottom Line for Bobby Jones
Bottom line: At 6-foot-9, 210-pounds, this greyhound combined the size and length of a power forward with the quickness and agility of a small forward.
He was an All-Defensive First-Team selection in six of his 10 seasons.
27. Tree Rollins
Position: Center
Career: 1977-95 (18 seasons)
Teams: Atlanta Hawks (1977-88), Cleveland Cavaliers (1988-90), Detroit Pistons (1990-91), Houston Rockets (1991-93), Orlando Magic 1993-95)
Defensive statistics/game: 4.4 defensive rebounds, 0.4 steals, 2.2 blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .084
League championships: None
27. Bottom Line for Tree Rollins
Bottom line: Nobody called him Wayne, his real first name. I would have called him Mr. Rollins.
The 7-foot-1 flyswatter ranks seventh in career blocked shot percentage (6.2), largely on the strength of six seasons of 200-plus rejections.
Really, you have to be pretty dadgum good on defense to average 5.4 points per game and play this long.
26. Scottie Pippen
Position: Forward
Career: 1987-2003 (16 seasons)
Teams: Chicago Bulls (1987-98), Houston Rockets (1998-99), Portland Trail Blazers (1999-2003)
Defensive statistics/game: 4.6 defensive rebounds, 2.0 steals, 0.8 blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .079
League championships: 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
26. Bottom Line for Scottie Pippen
Bottom line: This shutdown defender was a linchpin of the "Doberman" defense that was largely responsible for six Bulls NBA titles.
Scottie Pippen is the all-time steals percentage leader (2.9) at the forward position.
Only LeBron James has more than his 395 takeaways in the playoffs.
25. Shawn Kemp
Position: Center-forward
Career: 1989-2003 (14 seasons)
Teams: Seattle SuperSonics(1989-97), Cleveland Cavaliers (1997-2000), Portland Trail Blazers (2000-02), Orlando Magic (2002-03)
Defensive statistics/game: 5.5 defensive rebounds, 1.1 steals, 1.2 blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .086
League championships: None
25. Bottom Line for Shawn Kemp
Bottom line: Most remember this agile big for his thunderous dunks, but in 10 of 14 seasons, Shawn Kemp had more win shares at the defensive end.
"Reign Man" ranks 33rd in career defensive rating (100.1) and 44th in defensive rebound percentage (23.4).
And only seven centers own a higher steals rate (2.1 percent).
24. Clifford Ray
Position: Center
Career: 1971-81 (10 seasons)
Teams: Chicago Bulls (1971-74), Golden State Warriors (1974-81)
Defensive statistics/game: 5.8* defensive rebounds, 0.8* steals, 1.0* blocks (*incomplete)
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .089
League championships: 1 (1975)
24. Bottom Line for Clifford Ray
Bottom line: This no-time All-Star rates among the most underappreciated bigs at this end, as metrics suggest across the board.
Clifford Ray ranks sixth in defensive rating (95.4) in league history. That's No. 6, people.
He was a tireless rebounder whose competitive spirit elevated the floor around him.
23. Karl Malone
Position: Forward
Career: 1985-2004 (19 seasons)
Teams: Utah Jazz (1985-2003), Los Angeles Lakers (2003-04)
Defensive statistics/game: 7.7 defensive rebounds, 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .081
League championships: None
23. Bottom Line for Karl Malone
Bottom line: While not a great leaper, the "Mail Man" possessed quick feet and a Zeus-like upper body that made him a three-time All-Defensive First Teamer and premier defensive rebounder.
His 23.5 defensive rebound percentage is 12th among power forwards and 44th overall.
22. Larry Bird
Position: Forward
Career: 1979-1993 (13 seasons)
Teams: Boston Celtics
Defensive statistics/game: 8.0 defensive rebounds, 1.7 steals, 0.8 blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .082
League championships: 3 (1981, 1884, 1986)
22. Bottom Line for Larry Bird
Bottom line: Bet you didn’t know that "Larry Legend' paced the league in defensive win shares four times and offensive win shares only once, did you?
He excelled at team defense principles, and his 6-foot-9 size was a major factor on the backboards.
He ranks 18th in defensive rebound percentage (22.4) among forwards.
21. Paul George
Position: Forward-guard
Career: 2010-present (10 seasons)
Teams: Indiana Pacers (2010-17), Oklahoma City Thunder (2017-19), Los Angeles Clippers (2019-present)
Defensive statistics/game: 5.5 defensive rebounds, 1.7 steals, 0.4 blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .081
League championships: None
21. Bottom Line for Paul George
Bottom line: The swingman is a few spots ahead of Scottie Pippen for this reason: At 6-foot-8, he can wreak havoc at any of three positions.
Paul George also ranks seventh in steals percentage (2.6) at small forward and 44th overall.
20. Elvin Hayes
Positions: Forward-center
Career: 1968-84 (16 seasons)
Other teams: San Diego-Houston Rockets (1968-72, 1981-84), Baltimore-Capitol-Washington Bullets (1972-1981)
Defensive statistics/game: 7.8* defensive rebounds, 1.0* steals, 2.0* blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .081
League championships: 1978
20. Bottom Line for Elvin Hayes
Bottom line: "The Big E" also played "Big D" on a regular basis.
His 6-foot-9 size and quick ups translated into all-time ranks in defensive rebound (74th overall) and blocked shot (84th) percentages.
He led the league in defensive win shares in the 1974-75 and 1975-76 campaigns.
19. Michael Jordan
Position: Guard
Career: 1984-98, 2001-03 (15 seasons)
Teams: Chicago Bulls (1984-98), Washington Wizards (2000-02)
Defensive statistics/game: 4.7 defensive rebounds, 2.3 steals, 0.8 blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .075
League championships: 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
19. Bottom Line for Michael Jordan
Bottom line: Based on his defensive rating (113th overall) and win shares per minute, His Airness doesn’t quite make the cut.
Well, we're here to tell you that nobody played the designated stopper role any better, metrics be damned.
Michael Jordan's 2.3 steals per game rank third in league history.
18. Alonzo Mourning
Position: Center
Career: 1992-2008 (15 seasons)
Teams: Charlotte Hornets (1992-95), Miami Heat (1995-2002, 2004-08), New Jersey Nets (2003-05)
Defensive statistics/game: 5.9 defensive rebounds, 0.5 steals, 2.8 blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .089
League championships: 1 (2006)
18. Bottom Line for Alonzo Mourning
Bottom line: This two-time Defensive Player of the Year stood 6-foot-10 but played more like a 7-footer, so fanatical was he about the defensive side of the ball.
Only Shawn Bradley, Theo Ratliff and Mark Eaton had higher blocked shot percentages in their careers.
Alonzo Mourning's 95.3 defensive rating is 26th on the all-time list.
17. Wes Unseld
Position: Center
Career: 1968-81 (13 seasons)
Teams: Baltimore-Capital-Washington Bullets
Defensive statistics/game: 8.4 defensive rebounds, 1.1 rebounds, 0.6 steals
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .086
League championships: 1 (1978)
17. Bottom Line for Wes Unseld
Bottom line: At 6-foot-7, 245 pounds, "The Wide U" proved that one didn’t have to jump out of the gym to hugely impact games.
Wes Unseld patrolled the lane like a traffic cop at Times Square.
Consistent? His defensive ratings are seventh in the regular season (96.3) and postseason (97.0).
16. Dennis Rodman
Position: Forward
Career: 1986-2000 (14 seasons)
Teams: Detroit Pistons (1986-93), San Antonio Spurs (1993-95), Chicago Bulls (1995-98), Los Angeles Lakers (1998-99), Dallas Mavericks ( 1999-2000)
Defensive statistics/game: 8.4 defensive rebounds, 1.8 steals, 0.6 blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .091
League championships: 5 (1988, 1989, 1996, 1997, 1998)
16. Bottom Line for Dennis Rodman
Bottom line: Has any player earned more fame and fortune off hustle and hard work than this all-time rebounder/overachiever/nutcase/spit disturber? The answer is no.
"Dennis the Menace" fun fact: He’s the only one under 6-foot-8 among the top 38 in career defensive rebound percentage, a category in which Dennis Rodman led the league eight consecutive seasons.
15. Mark Eaton
Position: Center
Career: 1982-93 (11 seasons)
Teams: Utah Jazz
Defensive statistics/game: 5.8 defensive rebounds, 0.4 steals, 3.5 blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .092
League championships: None
15. Bottom Line for Mark Eaton
Bottom line: This 7-foot-4 monstrosity owns a pair of records that will never be broken in the 3-point era — most blocked shots in a season (456) and career average per game (3.5).
And to think the two-time Defensive Player of the Year never scored more than 20 points in a pro or college game.
14. Marcus Camby
Position: Center-forward
Career: 1996-2013 (17 seasons)
Teams: Toronto Raptors (1996-98), New York Knicks (1998-2002), Denver Nuggets (2002-08), Los Angeles Clippers (2008-10), Portland Trail Blazers (2009-12), Houston Rockets (2011-12), New York Knicks (2012-13)
Defensive stats/game: 7.1 defensive rebounds, 1.0 steals, 2.4 blocks
Defensive wins shares/48 minutes: .092
League championships: None
14. Bottom Line for Marcus Camby
Bottom line: Aha! You forgot about this guy, didn’t you? After all, his teams were 6-11 in playoff series. Don’t blame "The Camby Man," though.
His career 98.4 defensive rating ranks 13th in the postseason. And only seven players swatted away shots at a higher rate (6.1 percent) in league history.
13. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Position: Center
Career: 1969-89 (20 seasons)
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks (1969-75), Los Angeles Lakers (1975-89)
Defensive statistics/game: 7.6 defensive rebounds, 0.9 steals, 2.6 blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .079
League championships: 6 (1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
13. Bottom Line for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Bottom line: Consider all that "Cap" accomplished at the other end, and it says a lot to also be on the short list of best defenders ever.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led the league in defensive win shares in the 1975-76 and 1976-77 seasons.
He also made the NBA All-Defensive team 11 times in his 20-year career.
12. Kevin Garnett
Position: Forward
Career: 1995-2016 (21 seasons)
Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves (1995-2007, 2014-16), Boston Celtics (2007-2013), Brooklyn Nets (2013-15)
Defensive statistics/game: 7.8 defensive rebounds, 1.3 steals, 1.4 blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .087
League championships: 1 (2008)
12. Bottom Line for Kevin Garnett
Bottom line: K.G. was akin to a funnel spider — spindly, super quick and highly toxic.
His 99.1 defensive rating is 19th on the all-time career list. And only Tim Duncan (15) was named to an All-Defensive Team more times than Kevin Garnett (12).
11. Dikembe Mutombo
Position: Center
Career: 1991-2009 (18 seasons)
Teams: Denver Nuggets (1996-96), Atlanta Hawks (1996-2001), Philadelphia 76ers (2000-02), New Jersey Nets (2002-03), New York Knicks (2003-04), Houston Rockets (2004-09)
Defensive statistics/game: 7.1 defensive rebounds, 0.4 steals, 2.8 blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .089
League championships: None
11. Bottom Line for Dikembe Mutombo
Bottom line: Mt. Mutombo claimed Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan among his 3,289 rejections.
The 7-foot-2 big also gave us that wonderful Finger Wag before the league decided to make it an automatic technical foul.
Gimme an "S," gimme an "A," gimme a "W," gimme an "F," gimme a "T" ... What does it spell? Saaaaawft!
10. Dave Cowens
Position: Center
Career: 1970-80, 1982-83 (11 seasons)
Teams: Boston Celtics (1970-80), Milwaukee Bucks (1982-83)
Defensive statistics/game: 9.8* defensive rebounds, 1.1 steals, 0.9 blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .091
League championships: 2 (1974, 1976)
10. Bottom Line for Dave Cowens
Bottom line: "Big Red" jumped on every loose ball like it was a live grenade.
His defensive ratings in the regular season (95.5) and postseason (93.4) each rank second on the all-time list.
Gang Green exceeded the league average in the category in all but two of Dave Cowens' 10 seasons there.
9. Ben Wallace
Position: Center-forward
Career: 1996-2012 (16 seasons)
Teams: Washington Bullets-Wizards (1996-99), Orlando Magic (1999-2000), Detroit Pistons (2001-06, 2009-12), Chicago Bulls (2006-08), Cleveland Cavaliers (2007-09)
Defensive statistics/game: 6.5 defensive rebounds, 1.3 steals, 2.0 blocks
Defensive wins shares/48 minutes: .106
League championships: 1 (2004)
9. Bottom Line for Ben Wallace
Bottom line: Who’s No. 1 in defensive rating (92.3) in postseason history? Well, here he is, kids.
The four-time Defensive Player of the Year is the rare big on the career blocked shots (13th), defensive rebounds (25th) and steals (65th) leader boards.
8. Dwight Howard
Position: Center
Career: 2004-present (16 seasons)
Teams: Orlando Magic (2004-12), Houston Rockets (2013-16), Atlanta Hawks (2016-17), Charlotte Hornets (2017-18, Washington Wizards (2018-19), Los Angeles Lakers (2012-13, 2019-present)
Defensive statistics/game: 8.9 defensive rebounds, 0.9 steals, 1.9 blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .093
League championships: None
8. Bottom Line for Dwight Howard
Bottom line: There isn’t a thing that D12 hasn’t done more than once at this end.
All-Defensive First Team four times. Defensive Player of the Year three times. Defensive rebounds leader six (consecutive) times. Blocked shots leader two times.
Only 13 players claim more defensive win shares (72.1) in their careers.
7. Patrick Ewing
Positions: Center
Career: 1985-2002 (17 seasons)
Teams: New York Knicks (1985-2000), Seattle SuperSonics (2000-01), Orlando Magic (2001-02)
Defensive statistics/game: 7.5 defensive rebounds, 1.0 steals, 2.4 blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .096
League championships: None
7. Bottom Line for Patrick Ewing
Bottom line: Here’s all you need to know about Patrick Ewing's impact: The Knicks exceeded the league average in defensive rating in 14 of his 15 seasons in New York, while they failed to reach that level in 18 of the 20 since he left.
The "Hoya Destroya" ranks 18th in defensive rating (99.1) and 18th in blocked shot percentage (4.75) on the all-time list.
6. Nate Thurmond
Position: Center-forward
Career: 1963-77 (14 seasons)
Teams: San Francisco-Golden State Warriors (1963-74), Chicago Bulls (1974-76), Cleveland Cavaliers (1975-77)
Defensive statistics/game: 6.8 defensive rebounds, 0.5 steals, 2.1 blocks
Defensive win shares/48 minutes: .104
League championships: None
6. Bottom Line for Nate Thurmond
Bottom line: Blocked shots and steals weren’t tracked until late in Nate Thurmond's career, so the stats don’t do him justice.
This much I can assure you — "Nate the Great" played Kareem-Abdul Jabbar better without help than any big ever.
And the greatest low-post scorer in basketball history would tell you as much.
5. Tim Duncan
Position: Center-forward
Career: 1997-2016 (19 seasons)
Teams: San Antonio Spurs
Defensive statistics/game: 8.1 defensive rebounds, 0.7 steals, 2.2 blocks
Defensive Wins Shares/48 minutes: .108
League championships: 4 (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
5. Bottom Line for Tim Duncan
Bottom line: Timmy was so quietly effective for so long at this side of the court, there was a tendency to overlook his 15 All-Defensive Team selections, the most of any player in league history.
His career 95.6 defensive rating is the third-best ever. He also appears on the short list of best defensive rebound (11th) and blocked shot percentages (25th) in a career.
4. Hakeem Olajuwon
Position: Center
Career: 1984-2002 (18 seasons)
Teams: Houston Rockets (1984-2001), Toronto Raptors (2001-02)
Defensive statistics/game: 7.8 defensive rebounds, 1.7 steals, 3.1 blocks
Defensive wins shares/48 minutes: .103
League championships: 2 (1994, 1995)
4. Bottom Line for Hakeem Olajuwon
Bottom line: For sheer volume, "The Dream" is the greatest defender ever to play the game, no questions asked.
He’s the only one among the top 10 in career blocked shots (first), defensive rebounds (seventh) and steals (ninth).
He’s also No. 1 in blocked shot percentage (3.3) in the history of the playoffs.
3. David Robinson
Positions: Center
Career: 1989-2003 (14 seasons)
Teams: San Antonio Spurs
Defensive statistics/game: 7.5 defensive rebounds, 1.4 steals, 3.0 blocks
Defensive wins shares/48 minutes: .112
League championships: 2 (1999, 2003)
3. Bottom Line for David Robinson
Bottom line: I’ve always thought of "The Admiral" as a modern-day Bill Russell in terms of size, length, instincts and athleticism.
His 95.7 defensive rating is No. 4 on the all-time list, while his 5.7 blocked shot percentage checks in at 19th overall.
He’s also among the rare bigs who rank high (62nd) in career steals.
2. Wilt Chamberlain
Position: Center
Career: 1959-73 (14 seasons)
Teams: Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (1959-64), Philadelphia 76ers (1964-68), Los Angeles Lakers (1968-73)
Defensive statistics/game: 22.9 total rebounds, N/A, N/A
Defensive wins shares/48 minutes: .094
League championships: 2 (1967, 1972)
2. Bottom Line for Wilt Chamberlain
Bottom line: His defensive win shares/48 minutes rate is No. 8 overall, but I’m convinced that’s highly undervalued.
In the confirmed data that exists for 112 games, "The Big Dipper" blocked 8.8 shots per game. That’s 57 percent more than the official league record, people. And get this — he rejected 23 shots in one game.
If Wilt isn’t No. 1 here, then he’s no worse than 1a.
1. Bill Russell
Position: Center
Career: 1956-69 (13 seasons)
Teams: Boston Celtics
Defensive statistics/game: 22.5 total rebounds, N/A, N/A
Defensive wins shares/48 minutes: .157
League championships: 11 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961,1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969)
1. Bottom Line for Bill Russell
Bottom line: Bill Russell's 133.6 defensive wins shares are far and away the most in league history.
While not much of a scorer, he generated more offense on defense than any other player. As a master shot-blocker and defensive rebounder, "The Bearded Wonder" triggered one of the most vaunted fast breaks ever seen.
What’s more, he served as the ultimate safety net in the half-court game. Because teammates knew that Russ had their backs, they were free to cheat on defense, which led to a slew of turnovers and even more easy points in transition.