NBA: Best defenders in NBA history?

[Juggity]

People underestimate how great DHoward is at defense. He is Dennis Rodman part 2 but taller with some offensive game. He has 3 straight Defensive Player of the Year award's. 5 Rebounding les. Dude even carried a scrub Magic team to the Finals. And this guy is only 28.

There was a time when he was the second or third best player in the league around 2009 or 2010. He's slipped a lot since then though tbh. After that herniated disk and back surgery, he's been a more marginal top 10 player. That said, 3 DPOYs is very good historically. At his peak, he was great.

[sook]

Russell, Rodman, Hakeem, Pippen, Payton tbh.

A lot of 90s ball..

[m>s]

steve nash
kirby
melo
kevin love
amare

[Chris]

Ben Wallace

[Jenks]

I'm partial to bigs when it comes to D. Wilt, Robinson, Russell, Hakeem, Duncan

[DMC]

So the best defenders are bigs? Is blocking shots the pinnacle of defense? I know they alter them to and sure a dominant presence in the paint changes the game, but you have people out there who play perimeter defense, and when the best players in the game are guards, how is a center the best defender?

With advanced metrics, you'd think defense could be quantified by things other than blocked shots and steals.

[HemisfairArena]

So the best defenders are bigs? Is blocking shots the pinnacle of defense? I know they alter them to and sure a dominant presence in the paint changes the game, but you have people out there who play perimeter defense, and when the best players in the game are guards, how is a center the best defender?

With advanced metrics, you'd think defense could be quantified by things other than blocked shots and steals.

Its simple, DMC. The closer to the basket,,,the easier to score and harder to defend. Its easy to stick a hand in a guys face shooting a 19 ft jumper and pretend you are a great defender when he misses as opposed to a guy in the paint having to deny him from 6-8 feet out.

[Jenks]

So the best defenders are bigs? Is blocking shots the pinnacle of defense? I know they alter them to and sure a dominant presence in the paint changes the game, but you have people out there who play perimeter defense, and when the best players in the game are guards, how is a center the best defender?

With advanced metrics, you'd think defense could be quantified by things other than blocked shots and steals.

I'll let Ewing explain for me at 4:15

[Arcadian]

Russell, Chamberlain, Olajuwon, Robinson, Motumbo

[HemisfairArena]

Russell, Chamberlain, Olajuwon, Robinson, Motumbo

Robinson?,,,,cmon,,,,as a Spurs fan I loved Rodman getting traded here and calling David a wimp. If Robinson had any toughness,,,we have les before Timmy arrived. I remember Karl Malone knocking David out while I also remember Rodman crushing Malone and laughing about it when he was with the Bulls.

[Buddy Mignon]

Rodman is the best I've seen. He could guard 1-5 with ease. GP, Alvin Robertson, and Cooper are the best guards I've seen... you can throw Derek Harper in there too. Hakeem and Wilt were the best at the center position. There is not one player in today's game that can be considered a good defensive player. Bowen was a product of a system.

[DMC]

Its simple, DMC. The closer to the basket,,,the easier to score and harder to defend. Its easy to stick a hand in a guys face shooting a 19 ft jumper and pretend you are a great defender when he misses as opposed to a guy in the paint having to deny him from 6-8 feet out.

Not really. If Marcus Camby can be the DPoY and Bruce Bowen never was, then there's something wrong with your assessment and how people look at NBA defense in general. How much switching does a center have to do? Not much, he's just weak side help. What powerhouse team has a center as their best offensive player today? Even when MJ played, he was the best. If you could stop MJ you could stop the Bulls, and he didn't have to get to the rim over and over. He could shoot. Defending at the rim is highlight stuff, but perimeter defense, hands that cause a star to put the ball on the floor when he doesn't want to, or to pass to a lower threat wins championships.

Perimeter defenders are underrated because they don't collect blocked shots, and people like Chris Paul are overrated because they collect steals. Good defenders who can guard the 2 through 4 positions are a hot commodity, and yet they get overlooked during talks about best defenders.

[DMC]

Rodman is the best I've seen. He could guard 1-5 with ease. GP, Alvin Robertson, and Cooper are the best guards I've seen... you can throw Derek Harper in there too. Hakeem and Wilt were the best at the center position. There is not one player in today's game that can be considered a good defensive player. Bowen was a product of a system.

I was with you until that last one. Leonard is a good defensive player, and Bowen was a great defensive player. There's no one on one system, and that's how Bruce and Kawhi defend. They aren't out there funneling stars to Tim.

[DMC]

I'll let Ewing explain for me at 4:15

So then a PG is always the best on offense because he's the floor general on the offensive end. Great logic, also too.

[ambchang]

Pippen Payton Robinson Hakeem Rodman.

Jordan Russell Artest Walton Moncrief, Dennis Johnson comes next.

Bowen Lebron Wallace comes after.

Mutombo was an extremely overrated defensive player, basically serge Ibaka in the 90s. Mourning was a way better defender.

[HemisfairArena]

Not really. If Marcus Camby can be the DPoY and Bruce Bowen never was, then there's something wrong with your assessment and how people look at NBA defense in general. How much switching does a center have to do? Not much, he's just weak side help. What powerhouse team has a center as their best offensive player today? Even when MJ played, he was the best. If you could stop MJ you could stop the Bulls, and he didn't have to get to the rim over and over. He could shoot. Defending at the rim is highlight stuff, but perimeter defense, hands that cause a star to put the ball on the floor when he doesn't want to, or to pass to a lower threat wins championships.

Perimeter defenders are underrated because they don't collect blocked shots, and people like Chris Paul are overrated because they collect steals. Good defenders who can guard the 2 through 4 positions are a hot commodity, and yet they get overlooked during talks about best defenders.

Yes,,,,really. Paint players score at a higher clip percentage and are harder to guard than perimeter players,,,,its not hard to grasp, DMC,,,,c'mon

[Buddy Mignon]

I was with you until that last one. Leonard is a good defensive player, and Bowen was a great defensive player. There's no one on one system, and that's how Bruce and Kawhi defend. They aren't out there funneling stars to Tim.

I don't have Leonard as a good defender just yet. He has the tools but he's still a long ways away. Bowen was good, but far from great. He was 32 before ever being voted on the all defensive 1st team, which was three years after joining the Spurs. He was more annoying with his tactics than anything. I have Bowen in the Doug Christie/Rick Fox league. I'd take a Joe Dumars or Paul Pressey over Bowen any day.

[Malik Hairston]

The top 4 are clear IMO(in no order, though), 5th is up for debate..

Ben Wallace, Dwight Howard, David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon are the most elite defenders in history, all combining an unparalleled ability to intimidate in the paint along with the speed to rotate to the perimeter..

I'd have Duncan at 5th, with Garnett as another option, and maybe Mutombo/Ewing/Rodman as other options..

I can't believe there are people in this thread listing Gary Payton..statistically, he had very minimal impact on the defense of his teams, tbh..

[HemisfairArena]

The top 4 are clear IMO(in no order, though), 5th is up for debate..

Ben Wallace, Dwight Howard, David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon are the most elite defenders in history, all combining an unparalleled ability to intimidate in the paint along with the speed to rotate to the perimeter..

I'd have Duncan at 5th, with Garnett as another option, and Mutombo/Ewing as other options..

I can't believe there are people in this thread listing Gary Payton..statistically, he had very minimal impact on the defense of his teams, tbh..

The fact you dont have Rodman as a top 5 speaks volumes. Robinson over Rodman? LMAO

[Jenks]

So then a PG is always the best on offense because he's the floor general on the offensive end. Great logic, also too.

Who said they're always the best?

[DMC]

I don't have Leonard as a good defender just yet. He has the tools but he's still a long ways away. Bowen was good, but far from great. He was 32 before ever being voted on the all defensive 1st team, which was three years after joining the Spurs. He was more annoying with his tactics than anything. I have Bowen in the Doug Christie/Rick Fox league. I'd take a Joe Dumars or Paul Pressey over Bowen any day.

Votes are all you need to know to totally ignore those things. Results are what matters. Kobe was on the all defensive team and didn't play a lick of defense... so.. I guess he's a better defender than Bowen.

[DMC]

Who said they're always the best?

If Pat's logic holds up, then the center is the floor general on defense thus, according to you, the best defender on the floor. Same then must be true on offense for the PG.

[Buddy Mignon]

Pippen Payton Robinson Hakeem Rodman.

Jordan Russell Artest Walton Moncrief, Dennis Johnson comes next.

Bowen Lebron Wallace comes after.

Mutombo was an extremely overrated defensive player, basically serge Ibaka in the 90s. Mourning was a way better defender.

I don't see why anyone would rank Jordan as a great defender. There is too much footage of him getting torched. Watch how easily Bird torches Jordan.

[Malik Hairston]

It's amazing how much nostalgia and the era without metrics has affected perception, tbh..

The stories of Gary Payton competing against a past prime Jordan and having a "Glove" nickname..

[Buddy Mignon]

Votes are all you need to know to totally ignore those things. Results are what matters. Kobe was on the all defensive team and didn't play a lick of defense... so.. I guess he's a better defender than Bowen.

Kobe was a better defender than Bowen. Bowen was in the league a good 8 years before people start making a big deal about his defense. And most of it was dirty.