Greatest Defensive Teams in NBA History
Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships. Legendary college football coach Bear Bryant said those words about the gridiron, but they apply to the basketball hardwood, too.
Offense and lots of points can be exciting, but the nuts and bolts of a great team is a commitment on the defensive end of the court. That has changed more in the current NBA, but of the last 22 NBA champions (through 2020), all but two of them ranked in the top 10 in opponent's field-goal percentage. Six of those champions had the lowest opponent’s field-goal percentage, and all 22 were better than league average in that defensive statistic.
Still, you don’t have to be an NBA champion to be a great defensive team. Some great defensive squads don't even make the playoffs. These are the greatest defensive teams in NBA history.
Note: The rankings take into account traditional stats, advanced stats, individual players and defensive schemes.
30. 1993-94 New York Knicks
Record: 57-25 (.695 winning percentage), first place in Atlantic Division
Points allowed: 91.5 per game
Blocks: 4.7 per game
Steals: 9.2 per game
Defensive rebounds: 31.0 per game
Finish: Lost NBA Finals (4-3) against Houston Rockets
Bottom Line: 1993-94 New York Knicks
Pat Riley made his name as a coach with the flashy Showtime Lakers, but he really preferred a rough and rugged style, and no team epitomized that more than the 1994 Knicks.
The mere mention of their front line of Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and Anthony Mason gives many mid-90s big men chills. Those three didn’t just look tough. They were tough.
With intimidation, intellect and ability, the Knicks allowed the fewest points per game that season, 91.5. That was 4.3 fewer points than the second-best team, the Spurs, who allowed 94.8 points. That's impressive.
29. 1977-78 Phoenix Suns
Record: 49-33 (.598 winning percentage), second place in Pacific Division
Points allowed: 108.6 per game
Blocks: 4.5 per game
Steals: 12.9 per game
Defensive rebounds: 31.5 per game
Finish: Lost Western Conference first round (2-0) against Milwaukee Bucks
Bottom Line: 1977-78 Phoenix Suns
General manager Jerry Colangelo had a specific vision in mind when he constructed the 1977-78 Suns team, and the team played exactly as he envisioned.
The Suns didn’t have a single player in their 30s, and five of the 12 players on the team were rookies, which meant lots of boundless energy that could be applied on the court. That energy manifested itself into a frenzied defensive style in which Suns would pressure opposing players into making mistakes and committing turnovers.
The Suns not only led the league in steals, but their average of 12.9 per game also remains an all-time NBA record over 40 years later. Backup point guard Ron Lee led the league in steals while starting point Don Buse finished fifth as the top six players for the Suns collected more steals than all but one other NBA team.
28. 1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 67-15 (.817 winning percentage), first place in Pacific Division
Points allowed: 92.3 per game
Blocks: 6.5 per game
Steals: 7.5 per game
Defensive rebounds: 33.4 per game
Finish: Won NBA Finals (4-2) against Indiana Pacers
Bottom Line: 1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers
Phil Jackson joined the Kobe-Shaq Lakers in this season, and outside of the triangle offense, Jackson’s biggest impact was an increased focus on rebounding the ball. The Lakers led the league in both total rebounds and defensive rebounds after finishing middle-of-the-pack in both stats the year before.
Sometimes a shift in focus is all it takes. The Lakers didn’t change personnel in regards to their roster. Their top seven players in minutes played from the previous season returned.
But more of an emphasis on rebounding led to more possessions for Shaq and Kobe, which led to the first Lakers championship in a dozen years.
27. 1974-75 Washington Bullets
Record: 60-22 (.732 winning percentage), first place in Central Division
Points allowed: 97.5 per game
Blocks: 5.0 per game
Steals: 11.3 per game
Defensive rebounds: 33.7 per game
Finish: Lost NBA Finals (4-0) against Golden State Warriors
Bottom Line: 1974-75 Washington Bullets
When you have one of the greatest rebounders in NBA history on your team, then you can be assured that board work will be prioritized. When you have two of the greatest board men ever, then you build an NBA Finals team like the 1975 Bullets.
Their big man combo of Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld featured two guys who currently rank fourth and 12th, respectively, in career rebounds. That duo was the catalyst for preventing offensive rebounds and close-range second opportunities.
The Bullets limited opponents to 43.8 percent from the field which led the NBA and helped propel the team to their most wins (60) in franchise history.
26. 2013-14 Indiana Pacers
Record: 56-26 (.683 winning percentage), first place in Central Division
Points allowed: 92.3 per game
Blocks: 5.4 per game
Steals: 6.7 per game
Defensive rebounds: 34.5 per game
Finish: Lost Eastern Conference finals (4-2) against Miami Heat
Bottom Line: 2013-14 Indiana Pacers
A forgotten team because they were never able to get over the hump of LeBron and the Miami Heat, the 2014 Pacers team had everything required to be elite defensively.
They had length on the perimeter with George Hill and Paul George, toughness with Lance Stephenson and David West, and a deterrent in the middle with Roy Hibbert. This team also had continuity. Those five players started 73 of the 82 games, which helps in knowing the tendencies of your teammates.
These Pacers lacked depth beyond the starting five, which is why they’re ranked so low on this list, but you would be hard-pressed to find a better five-man defensive unit in recent NBA history.
25. 1989-90 Detroit Pistons
Record: 59-23 (.720 winning percentage) first place in Central Division
Points allowed: 98.3 per game
Blocks: 5.1 per game
Steals: 6.2 per game
Defensive rebounds: 30.0 per game
Finish: Won NBA Finals (4-1) against Portland Trail Blazers
Bottom Line: 1989-90 Detroit Pistons
In the "Bad Boys" era of the Pistons, this 1990 unit was the best of the bunch. It was led by Dennis Rodman, who won the Defensive Player of the Year award.
The Pistons started the season a little flat after winning the title the previous year, but inserting Rodman into the starting lineup made all of the difference in the world. Detroit went 26-13 with Rodman off the bench and 33-10 with him as a starter.
His energy was infectious. He could guard 1-5 back in those days, and he was the catalyst that helped the Pistons limit opponents to the worst field goal percentage in the league.
24. 1980-81 Phoenix Suns
Record: 57-25 (.695 winning percentage), first place in Pacific Division
Points allowed: 104.5 per game
Blocks: 5.1 per game
Steals: 10.7 per game
Defensive rebounds: 30.4 per game
Finish: Lost Western Conference semifinals (4-3) against Kansas City Kings
Bottom Line: 1980-81 Phoenix Suns
Sometimes one player can make all the difference in the world, both on the court and off the court. For the 1981 Suns, that player was Dennis Johnson, who was acquired via trade for fellow Hall of Famer Paul Westphal.
DJ was known for his tough-nosed defense. He is the NBA’s all-time leading shot blocker amongst point guards and was selected to nine All-Defensive teams. But Johnson was also known for his leadership, and he got his new Suns teammates to buy into that end of the court.
Westphal was a brilliant offensive player, but he made no impact defensively. The SuperSonics team he was traded to got worse defensively with both his addition and Johnson’s subtraction.
23. 2014-15 Golden State Warriors
Record: 67-15 (.817 winning percentage), first place in Pacific Division
Points allowed: 99.9 per game
Blocks: 6.0 per game
Steals: 9.3 per game
Defensive rebounds: 34.3 per game
Finish: Won NBA Finals (4-2) against Cleveland Cavaliers
Bottom Line: 2014-15 Golden State Warriors
Of the recent Warriors’ five-year dynasty, this unit was the best defensive team as it consisted of familiar names (minus Kevin Durant) but was loaded with depth.
Whenever you bring up the Splash Brothers era of the Warriors, everyone usually focuses on the offense, but they actually finished with the best defensive rating in the league compared with the second-best offensive rating.
The Warriors’ famed "Lineup of Death" was nicknamed that for a reason. It featured similarly sized players who all had the ability to switch on the perimeter. Everyone on the court could stay in front of their man and contest jumpers and that allowed Golden State to hold opponents to the lowest field goal percentage in the league.
22. 1977-78 New Jersey Nets
Record: 24-58 (.293 winning percentage), fifth place in Atlantic Division
Points allowed: 112.5 per game
Blocks: 7.7 per game
Steals: 10.5 per game
Defensive rebounds: 31.6 per game
Finish: Did not make playoffs
Bottom Line: 1977-78 New Jersey Nets
This might be the worst great defensive team in NBA history. The Nets finished 24-58 thanks to a last-ranked offense, and their defense was solid at seventh-best though not elite.
But what earns their placement on this list was their uncanny ability to rack up, as Bill Simmons calls them, stocks (steals and blocks). These woeful, cellar-dweller Nets are the only team in NBA history to average at least 10.5 steals and 7.5 blocks per game.
When this season was over, the Nets ranked 16th all-time in steals for a single-season while also ranking second all-time in blocks. No other team in NBA history has reached both of those thresholds in a single season.
21. 2018-19 Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 60-22 (.732 winning percentage), first place in Central Division
Points allowed: 109.3 per game
Blocks: 5.9 per game
Steals: 7.5 per game
Defensive rebounds: 40.4 per game
Finish: Lost Eastern Conference finals (4-2) against Toronto Raptors
Bottom Line: 2018-19 Milwaukee Bucks
The stats for these Bucks highlight the difference between points allowed per game and defensive rating, which is points allowed per 100 possessions. Due to their second-ranked pace, the Bucks ranked 11th in points allowed, but when every team is compared on 100 possessions, the Bucks led the league in defensive rating.
A big reason for their lofty defensive rating was them limiting opponents to only one shot. The Bucks led the NBA in both total rebounds and defensive rebounds so a missed shot usually ended up in one of their players' hands instead of resulting in an offensive rebound.
You can’t score if you don’t have the ball and these Bucks excelled at limiting additional possessions.
20. 1991-92 Chicago Bulls
Record: 67-15 (.817 winning percentage), first place in Central Division
Points allowed: 99.5 per game
Blocks: 5.9 per game
Steals: 8.2 per game
Defensive rebounds: 29.7 per game
Finish: Won NBA Finals (4-2) against Portland Trail Blazers
Bottom Line: 1991-92 Chicago Bulls
The Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen combo is perhaps the greatest perimeter defensive duo in NBA history. This team featured that duo at their athletic primes along with power forward Horace Grant.
The Bulls didn’t rank in the top 10 in either steals or blocks, but there was no one better in terms of man-to-man defense.
They also played their best when it mattered most, slashing their points allowed average from 99.5 in the regular season to 94.2 in the postseason.
19. 1968-69 Boston Celtics
Record: 48-34 (.585 winning percentage), fourth place in Eastern Division
Points allowed: 105.4 per game
Blocks: N/A
Steals: N/A
Defensive rebounds: N/A
Finish: Won NBA Finals (4-3) against Los Angeles Lakers
Bottom Line: 1968-69 Boston Celtics
This was Bill Russell’s final season and the last of his 11 championship-winning seasons. Russell was also the coach, so he had many responsibilities, but Red Auerbach eased some of the burden on him by scaling back his role on offense. That allowed Russell to do what he did best, which was play defense.
The Celtics had a subpar regular season in which they won their fewest games in 12 years, but they turned things up in the postseason. Russell went toe-to-toe with big men Willis Reed of the Knicks and Wilt Chamberlain of the Lakers and thwarted their efforts to end the Celtics dynasty.
Russell grabbed 21 rebounds in his final game as the Celtics became the first team to win an NBA Finals Game 7 on the road.
18. 1951-52 Minneapolis Lakers
Record: 40-26 (.606 winning percentage), second place in Western Division
Points allowed: 79.5 per game
Blocks: N/A
Steals: N/A
Defensive rebounds: N/A
Finish: Won NBA Finals (4-3) against New York Knicks
Bottom Line: 1951-52 Minneapolis Lakers
We go way back to before the implementation of the shot clock to acknowledge the Lakers. This defense was built around the NBA’s first great big man in George Mikan, who was both tall and athletic while many other players of that time were one or the other.
Mikan controlled the paint on both ends of the court so much that the NBA made a rule change and widened the paint from six feet to 12 feet before this season. That led to players not even challenging Mikan and instead settling for unfamiliar jump shots, which played right into the Lakers’ game plan and they allowed no easy baskets with Mikan in the middle.
17. 2008-09 Orlando Magic
Record: 59-23 (.720 winning percentage), first place in Southeast Division
Points allowed: 94.4 per game
Blocks: 5.4 per game
Steals: 7.0 per game
Defensive rebounds: 33.3 per game
Finish: Lost NBA Finals (4-1) against Los Angeles Lakers
Bottom Line: 2008-09 Orlando Magic
More than getting lots of blocks and steals, the best thing a good defense does is forcing the opponent to take and make difficult shots. That is manifested in opposing field goal percentage, and the Magic ranked in the top three in opposing two-point percentage, three-point percentage and overall percentage.
They were so good that they even had a great free-throw defense, and opponents had the third-worst free-throw percentage. The catalyst for that (well, not the free-throw defense) was Dwight Howard, who led the league in rebounds and blocks on his way to the first of three Defensive Player of the Year awards.
16. 1998-99 Atlanta Hawks
Record: 31-19 (.620 winning percentage), second place in Central Division
Points allowed: 83.4 per game
Blocks: 5.2 per game
Steals: 6.9 per game
Defensive rebounds: 30.0 per game
Finish: Lost Eastern Conference semifinals (4-0) against New York Knicks
Bottom Line: 1998-99 Atlanta Hawks
Most teams on this list are built around great team defenses, but the 1999 Hawks’ placement is really all about two players: Mookie Blaylock and Dikembe Mutombo.
Blaylock was the two-time reigning steals champion and made his sixth straight All-Defensive team this season. Mutombo controlled the paint and was the two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year who finished in the top four in both rebounds and blocks.
Pretty much everyone else on the team was average at best on defense, but those two alone allowed the Hawks to allow the fewest points in the league during the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season.
15. 1985-86 Washington Bullets
Record: 39-43 (.476 winning percentage), third place in Atlantic Division
Points allowed: 104.8 per game
Blocks: 8.7 per game
Steals: 7.6 per game
Defensive rebounds: 29.7 per game
Finish: Lost Eastern Conference first round (3-2) against Philadelphia 76ers
Bottom Line: 1985-86 Washington Bullets
These Bullets weren’t the best team in the world. Look at their losing record. But they were the best at one specific thing: blocking shots. They blocked more shots in a single season than any other team in NBA history thanks to a 7-foot-7-inch rookie named Manute Bol.
Bol alone blocked more shots (397) than 11 NBA teams, and he was at his athletic prime as injuries would hamper him thereafter. His mere presence forced opponents to second-guess coming into the lane, which then led to tougher, outside shots.
Because of that, opponents shot just 47.4 percent on two-point attempts, the second-worst in the NBA.
14. 2012-13 Memphis Grizzlies
Record: 56-26 (.683 winning percentage), second place in Southwest Division
Points allowed: 89.3 per game
Blocks: 5.3 per game
Steals: 8.6 per game
Defensive rebounds: 29.8 per game
Finish: Lost Western Conference finals (4-0) against San Antonio Spurs
Bottom Line: 2012-13 Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies’ Grit and Grind era was known for their tough-nosed defensive units, and this team was the best of that bunch. They had four players in their starting lineup that were either past or future All-Defensive selections, but team defense was their calling card.
Center Marc Gasol was the conductor of this great unit and was considered the best in his league at calling out defensive assignments and switches for teammates on the perimeter.
Gasol was also great individually and allowed just 0.76 points per play as an on-ball defender, which was the best in the league. For his efforts, he was named the 2012-13 Defensive Player of the Year.
13. 1982-83 New Jersey Nets
Record: 49-33 (.598 winning percentage), third place in Atlantic Division
Points allowed: 103.0 per game
Blocks: 7.2 per game
Steals: 11.1 per game
Defensive rebounds: 29.6 per game
Finish: Lost Eastern Conference first round (2-0) against New York Knicks
Bottom Line: 1982-83 New Jersey Nets
This team is best known for coach Larry Brown resigning two weeks before the playoffs after accepting a job at Kansas. But for the duration of the season, Brown built a ferocious defensive team that led the league in forcing turnovers.
The Nets ranked first in the league in steals and third in blocks as they could play many different styles. They were a good defensive team, which then became a great one when they traded for Michael Ray Richardson just before the trade deadline.
Richardson led the NBA in steals per game this season and set the tone for the rest of the season by nabbing six steals in his first start as a Net.
12. 1996-97 Miami Heat
Record: 61-21 (.744 winning percentage), first place in Atlantic Division
Points allowed: 89.3 per game
Blocks: 5.4 per game
Steals: 7.9 per game
Defensive rebounds: 29.3 per game
Finish: Lost Eastern Conference finals (4-1) against Chicago Bulls
Bottom Line: 1996-97 Miami Heat
Pat Riley constructed his early Miami Heat teams similarly to how he did his Knicks teams. That meant they were big, physical teams that had a habit of wearing teams down late in games.
This Heat squad had an intimidating front line of Jamal Mashburn, P.J. Brown and Alonzo Mourning, all of whom were at least 240 pounds. Miami didn’t rank in the top five in either blocks or steals, but they ranked second in opposing field goal percentage (43.2 percent).
With their size and length, they simply made it difficult for opponents to get easy baskets and it showed as 71 of their 82 opponents were kept under 100 points.
11. 1969-70 New York Knicks
Record: 60-22 (.732 winning percentage), first place in Eastern Division
Points allowed: 105.9 per game
Blocks: N/A
Steals: N/A
Defensive rebounds: N/A
Finish: Won NBA Finals (4-3) against Los Angeles Lakers
Bottom Line: 1969-70 New York Knicks
Like all Red Holzman-coached teams, the Knicks were known as a great passing team that was fun to watch. Watching great defense isn’t always fun, but these Knicks brought it on that end of the court as well with point guard Walt Frazier as the head of the snake.
Frazier is considered by many to be the greatest defensive point guard of all time, and he would harass opposing ballhandlers all over the court before picking their pockets. His defense against future backcourt-mate Earl Monroe along with Jerry West in the playoffs enabled the Knicks to win their first NBA championship.
10. 1993-94 Seattle Supersonics
Record: 63-19 (.768 winning percentage), first place in Pacific Division
Points allowed: 96.9 per game
Blocks: 4.5 per game
Steals: 12.8 per game
Defensive rebounds: 27.2 per game
Finish: Lost Western Conference first round (3-2) against Denver Nuggets
Bottom Line: 1993-94 Seattle Supersonics
Just like in football, in basketball turnovers are often the biggest predictor of success. Creating more turnovers means more possessions for your team, which equates to more points scored.
The SuperSonics had supersonic speed on the defensive end and created more turnovers than any other team in the 1993-94 season. The catalysts for that were their two All-Defensive selection point guards in Gary Payton and Nate McMillan, who combined to average nearly 5.5 steals per game.
Whether it was hounding opposing point guards, jumping passing lanes or stripping big men in the post, those two set the tone for this Seattle team. Until they became the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 8 seed in the playoffs.
9. 1981-82 Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 55-27 (.671 winning percentage), first place in Central Division
Points allowed: 102.9 per game
Blocks: 5.5 per game
Steals: 9.3 per game
Defensive rebounds: 29.5 per game
Finish: Lost Eastern Conference semifinals (4-2) against Philadelphia 76ers
Bottom Line: 1981-82 Milwaukee Bucks
Any Don Nelson-coached team is known for its Nellie Ball style, which is an offensive-oriented scheme that often has defense taking a backseat. But Milwaukee Buck-ed that trend and posted the best defensive rating of any team in the 1981-82 season.
The tone for the team’s defense was set in the backcourt with Quinn Buckner and Sidney Moncrief. Those two combined for 10 All-Defensive selections in their careers.
They specialized in getting steals and forcing turnovers as the Bucks ranked in the top five in both of those stats.
8. 1976-77 Denver Nuggets
Record: 50-32 (.610 winning percentage), first place in Midwest Division
Points allowed: 107.4 per game
Blocks: 5.7 per game
Steals: 11.6 per game
Defensive rebounds: 32.9 per game
Finish: Lost Western Conference semifinals (4-2) against Portland Trail Blazers
Bottom Line: 1976-77 Denver Nuggets
Because of the thin air in Denver, the Nuggets have historically been offensive-oriented teams that use pace to their advantage in order to tire opponents.
This team was no different and ranked second in pace, but they also ranked first in defensive rating, which is points allowed per 100 possessions.
They also led the league in steals as coach Larry Brown employed undersized lineups that used their quickness to jump passing lanes before they would then race down the other end of the court for easy baskets.
7. 2010-11 Chicago Bulls
Record: 62-20 (.756 winning percentage), first place in Central Division
Points allowed: 91.3 per game
Blocks: 5.7 per game
Steals: 7.2 per game
Defensive rebounds: 32.4 per game
Finish: Lost Eastern Conference finals (4-1) against Miami Heat
Bottom Line: 2010-11 Chicago Bulls
You can’t have a greatest defensive teams list without including a Tom Thibodeau-coached team. The 2010-11 season is best remembered for Derrick Rose winning the MVP, but the strength of that Bulls team was their man-to-man defense.
Thibodeau’s teams didn’t put up big stats in terms of steals and blocks, but they could lock you down and made scoring an arduous task. The Bulls held opponents to the lowest two-point percentage (45.6 percent), the lowest three-point percentage (32.6 percent), and thus, the lowest field goal percentage (43.0 percent) in the league.
The Bulls won all three of their regular-season games against the Miami Heat in their first year of the Big 3, but the Heat got their revenge by eliminating the Bulls from the playoffs.
6. 1998-99 San Antonio Spurs
Record: 37-13 (.740 winning percentage), first place in Midwest Division
Points allowed: 84.7 per game
Blocks: 7.0 per game
Steals: 8.4 per game
Defensive rebounds: 31.7 per game
Finish: Won NBA Finals (4-1) against New York Knicks
Bottom Line: 1998-99 San Antonio Spurs
This season was shortened to 50 games due to a lockout so continuity was important in a truncated season. The Spurs had that as they kept the same starting lineup for their last 47 games, including playoffs, and went 40-7 over that span.
The Twin Towers of Tim Duncan and David Robinson controlled the paint as the Spurs led the league in blocks, and those two players alone blocked more shots than 13 entire teams.
Their top-ranked defense got even better in the playoffs as San Antonio allowed just over 81 points per game and had more games with opponents scoring in the 60s (2) than they had games with opponents scoring in the 100s (1). That's remarkable.
5. 2007-08 Boston Celtics
Record: 66-16 (.805 winning percentage), first place in Atlantic Division
Points allowed: 90.3 per game
Blocks: 4.6 per game
Steals: 8.5 per game
Defensive rebounds: 31.9 per game
Finish: Won NBA Finals (4-2) against Los Angeles Lakers
Bottom Line: 2007-08 Boston Celtics
This team ushered in the era of super teams as Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen joined Paul Pierce in Beantown. But the calling card of this unit was defense, and it was loaded with former and future All-Defensive players.
With Garnett and Rajon Rondo in the starting lineup, and Tony Allen and P.J. Brown off the bench, those four players combined to make 25 All-Defensive Teams during their careers.
Garnett claimed the Defensive Player of the Year award and deserves as much credit for his on-court play as he does for his leadership and getting the defensive-aversive Pierce and Allen to buy into competing on that end of the court.
4. 2003-04 San Antonio Spurs
Record: 57-25 (.695 winning percentage), second place in Midwest Division
Points allowed: 84.3 per game
Blocks: 6.5 per game
Steals: 8.1 per game
Defensive rebounds: 32.5 per game
Finish: Lost Western Conference semifinals (4-2) against Los Angeles Lakers
Bottom Line: 2003-04 San Antonio Spurs
There have been five Spurs championship seasons over the last 21 years, but this non-championship team is statistically the best defensive one in franchise history. They allowed nine fewer points than the league average and held opponents to barely 40 percent shooting, which was the best in the league.
This Spurs team lost Hall of Famer David Robinson to retirement but adequately replaced him with big man Rasho Nesterovic and "Big Shot Bob," Robert Horry, who had a knack of being in the right place at the right time on both ends of the court.
This is a forgotten Spurs team thanks to Derek Fisher and 0.4 seconds, but it’s the best defensive Spurs team of all time.
3. 1963-64 Boston Celtics
Record: 59-21 (.738 winning percentage), first place in Eastern Division
Points allowed: 105.1 per game
Blocks: N/A
Steals: N/A
Defensive rebounds: N/A
Finish: Won NBA Finals (4-1) against San Francisco Warriors
Bottom Line: 1963-64 Boston Celtics
This was the best defensive team of Bill Russell’s career and the best defensive team in Celtics history which is saying a lot. Russell averaged a career-high of 24.7 rebounds per game and led the league in that stat, individually, as the Celtics led the NBA in rebounding as a team.
The NBA didn’t separate offensive and defensive rebounds at this time so a rebound was just a rebound, but since the Celtics held opponents to the second-fewest points per game, there’s a good chance that the vast majority of those boards were on the defensive end.
These Celtics had, statistically, the worst offense in the NBA that season, which points to just how great their defense was to win the championship.
2. 1995-96 Chicago Bulls
Record: 72-10 (.878 winning percentage), 1st place in Central Division
Points allowed: 92.9 per game
Blocks: 4.2 per game
Steals: 9.1 per game
Defensive rebounds: 29.4 per game
Finish: Won NBA Finals (4-2) against Seattle Supersonics
Bottom Line: 1995-96 Chicago Bulls
The best team that Michael Jordan ever played on was also the best defensive team he suited up for.
With Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and Ron Harper all standing between 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-8, these Bulls were able to easily switch on the perimeter even before that kind of thing was talked about.
Jordan, Pippen and Rodman all made All-Defensive first team to become the first and only NBA team with three players to receive those honors in a season.
1. 2003-04 Detroit Pistons
Record: 54-28 (.659 winning percentage) second place in Central Division
Points allowed: 84.3 per game
Blocks: 7.0 per game
Steals: 8.0 per game
Defensive rebounds: 30.4 per game
Finish: Won NBA Finals (4-1) against Los Angeles Lakers
Bottom Line: 2003-04 Detroit Pistons
This Pistons were a dominant defensive team that then became a historic one after a midseason trade landed them Rasheed Wallace. He was a seamless fit next to Ben Wallace, and the Pistons ran roughshod over the league after his arrival.
During one stretch late in the season, the Pistons went five straight games without allowing their opponents to even crack 70 points. Things would get only better in the playoffs as the Pistons blocked an NBA postseason record of 19 shots in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.
One of those blocks is now simply known as "The Block" and featured Tayshaun Prince chasing down a seemingly wide open layup from Reggie Miller. Then, they dominated the Lakers in the NBA Finals.
Related: Greatest NBA Teams by Franchise