78 greatest defensive NBA players ever: The HoopsHype list
At HoopsHype, we maintain multiple all-time rankings lists, including the HoopsHype 78 for top NBA players and the HoopsHype International 78 for foreign stars.
These lists are updated annually during the offseason, adding one player and adjusting rankings based on major achievements. You can be sure Nikola Jokic will move up in both rankings in a few months, which would then be the HoopsHype 79 and the HoopsHype International 79.
Today, we introduce the HoopsHype Defensive 78, ranking the greatest defenders in NBA history. As with the other rankings, we held a team vote with the opinions of multiple HoopsHype staff members, discarded the highest and lowest ranks for each player, and awarded points based on the remaining positions.
Please note that we factor longevity into these rankings to a big extent. For example, although Victor Wembanyama could very well one day top this list, we think his career simply hasn't been long enough to warrant a spot in the rankings yet.
Now, let’s delve into the list.
1. Bill Russell
Top defensive accolades: One All-Defensive 1st Team selection, five times NBA rebounds leader
NBA rank: 2nd in total rebounds
Share of the vote: 100.0 percent of the maximum amount possible
11-time NBA champion and five-time NBA MVP Bill Russell was known for his rebounding, playmaking and, most of all, his defending. Even taking the era he played into account, we still came up with Russell as the best defender in NBA history, leading the way to a record amount of championships for the Boston Celtics.
We obviously don’t have any official data on Russell’s defensive numbers, nor were defensive accolades a thing until very late on in his career – even then, Russell has one 1st Team All-Defense on his resume, which came in 1968-69, the final year of his career when he was already 34 – so we mostly had to fall back on video evidence…
Celtics legend Sam Jones said Russell's mere presence would have opponents settling up for midrange jumpers rather than attack him near the rim (via Sporting News):
Another Hall of Fame teammate of Russell’s, Bob Cousy, also compared the center to a man playing amongst boys in that era due to his intensity, speed and quickness. Considering Russell was reportedly 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan and a freak athlete (Russell once told Kendrick Perkins on Twitter that he was an Olympic-level high jumper in his heyday), that might not be too far off from the truth. Russell also had a fantastic basketball IQ, as he was notorious for blocking shots and keeping the ball in bounds to maintain possession, among other things.
One RealGM poster went back through old newspaper articles to give a rough estimate of the type of block numbers Russell might have put up in his prime and came up with 8.1 blocks on a sample size of 135 games. Obviously, the actual number was almost certainly lower than that, as games in which Russell got a mundane number of blocks probably didn’t get mentioned in the post-game newspaper reports as often. Plus, his career spanned 963 regular-season games, so 135 games is a decent but not great sample size for Russell’s time in the NBA.
Even so, Russell was one of one when it came to defensive impact to winning, so he earns the top spot in our ranking of greatest defenders in NBA history.
2. Hakeem Olajuwon
Top defensive accolades: Two Defensive Player of the Year awards, nine All-Defensive Team selections, three times NBA blocks leader, 10 years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 1st in blocks, 8th in defensive rebounds, 10th in steals
Share of the vote: 97.73 percent of the maximum amount possible
Few players in NBA history can say they made as much of an impact as Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon, an all-time player who thrived in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Olajuwon earned 1st Team All-Defense honors five times and 2nd Team All-Defense honors another four times, the latter honor coming as late in his career as 1995-96 and 1996-97 when he was already in his mid-30s.
Olajuwon ranks first all-time in total blocks to this day, finishing his career with a ridiculous 3,830 rejections. He was more than just a shot-blocker, however, as he was also extremely nimble for a center, as evidenced by the Houston Rockets legend averaging 1.7 steals per game for his career. Olajuwon is actually the only player ever to rank Top 10 in blocks, steals and defensive rebounds.
His defense was hugely impactful to winning, too, as it led to three Finals trips and two championships for Houston.
3. Tim Duncan
Top defensive accolades: 15 All-Defensive Team selections, 15 years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 3rd in defensive rebounds, 5th in blocks, 171st in steals
Share of the vote: 97.47 percent of the maximum amount possible
The all-time leader in All-Defensive Team honors, legendary power forward Tim Duncan earned the distinction an astonishing 15 times in his career, eight times as a 1st Teamer and seven times as a 2nd Teamer. That's 15 times in a 19-year career, a ridiculous level for any player to attain, one that is almost hard to believe in hindsight.
Even more unbelievable is that despite Duncan making that many All-Defense teams in his career, he never won Defensive Player of the Year, one of the most shocking bits of trivia in NBA history. (He never even finished second in the vote either. He finished third twice, in ‘01 and ‘07.)
Regardless, Duncan ranks fifth in NBA history in total blocks at 3,020, as he had fantastic instincts when it came to protecting the paint, as well as the quickness and length (the Wake Forest product had a reported 7-foot-5 wingspan) to make a huge impact as a shot-swatter. Even as a 36-year-old in 2012-13, Duncan was still blocking 2.7 shots per contest.
Duncan led the San Antonio Spurs to five championships during his 19 seasons there, a number that would have been difficult to achieve without how great of a defender the big man was.
4. Kevin Garnett
Top defensive accolades: One Defensive Player of the Year award, 12 All-Defensive Team selections, 14 years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 1st in defensive rebounds, 18th in blocks, 19th in steals
Share of the vote: 96.21 percent of the maximum amount possible
Duncan is the leader in overall All-Defensive Team appearances but his chief rival at power forward in the ‘00s, Kevin Garnett, is the all-time leader in 1st Team All-Defenses with nine such honors in his 21 seasons.
If you wanted to build the most impactful defender you could in a lab, your final product might look a lot like Garnett. (One day, we'll definitely be saying the same about Wembanyama.) Size? He had at it 6-foot-11. Length? He had that, too. Intensity? Garnett had that in spades. Quickness? Despite being a power forward, Garnett had near-guard-like quickness laterally.
A 12-time All-Defender in the NBA, Garnett’s instincts, effort and elite athleticism made him one of the most impactful defensive players the NBA has ever seen, one who could defend the rim, jump passing lanes and play tough one-on-one post defense.
5. Dennis Rodman
Top defensive accolades: Two Defensive Player of the Year awards, eight All-Defensive Team selections, 10 years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 20th in defensive rebounds, 266th in blocks, 470th in steals
Share of the vote: 95.45 percent of the maximum amount possible
An important factor in getting defensive stops in the NBA is finishing the possession with a rebound. Few players in modern NBA history have been better at that than Hall of Fame big man Dennis Rodman. Rodman had a seven-year stretch in which he led the league in rebounding every season, peaking in 1991-92 at 18.7 boards nightly.
But purely as a defender, Rodman was also special, as he had elite strength to slow down opposing centers, a much more important trait back in his era, as well as good lateral quickness and lightning-fast hands when tasked with switching. Rodman was named Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career, back-to-back seasons in ‘90 and ‘91.
He was also part of two different historically great teams, first with the Bad Boys Pistons in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, then with the Bulls, making a huge impact on five separate teams that won NBA championships with his highly intense defense, and ability to get under foes' skin.
6. Scottie Pippen
Top defensive accolades: 10 All-Defensive Team selections, one-time NBA steals leader, nine years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 66th in defensive rebounds, 8th in steals, 112th in blocks
Share of the vote: 93.94 percent of the maximum amount possible
The greatest wing defender in NBA history, at least according to us, six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippen is one of the most impactful players of all time because without him, would there even have been a Chicago Bulls dynasty in the ‘90s to speak of?
Pippen finished with All-Defensive Team honors 10 times in his career, the second-most for a non-big man ever. He was a 1st Team All-Defender eight times, likewise the second-most ever for a non-big. Like Duncan, Pippen never won Defensive Player of the Year but he did finish second in the vote twice, back-to-back years in ‘95 and ‘96.
To this day, Pippen ranks eighth all-time in career steals at 2,307, no surprise considering his elite lateral athleticism and outstanding size (6-foot-8) and length (he had a reported 7-foot-3 wingspan), as well as his effort on that end of the floor.
All in all, with those physical gifts, Pippen would have thrived in any era as a defender, including in today’s high-scoring NBA.
7. Ben Wallace
Top defensive accolades: Four Defensive Player of the Year awards, six All-Defensive Team selections, one time NBA blocks leader, eight years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 14th in blocks, 29th in defensive rebounds, 68th in steals
Share of the vote: 93.69 percent of the maximum amount possible
One of the greatest success stories for an undrafted player in NBA history, 2004 NBA champion Ben Wallace won Defensive Player of the Year four times in his career, sweeping the award every year besides one from 2001-02 to 2005-06.
The one year he didn’t win it in that stretch, 2003-04, he finished second in the vote. Oh, and the Detroit Pistons won the title that year, so Wallace could take solace in that, too. Wallace is tied for most Defensive Player of the Year honors in league history with two other centers, both coming up later on this list.
He didn’t have the perfect size for a center, but he had unbelievable instincts on that end of the floor and played with a tenacity that few in the NBA could rival. He was also outrageously quick for his position, making him a great switch defender and creating one of the league’s all-time best defenses in Detroit during his peak.
Wallace ranks 14th all-time in blocked shots with 2,137, enjoying a three-year stretch in the early 2000s when he averaged 3.2 nightly rejections.
8. Dikembe Mutombo
Top defensive accolades: Four Defensive Player of the Year awards, six All-Defensive Team selections, three times NBA blocks leader, nine years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 2nd in blocks, 13th in defensive rebounds
Share of the vote: 92.17 percent of the maximum amount possible
Unlike some of the other players on this list so far, Hall of Fame center Dikembe Mutombo was more of a pure defensive specialist with less of an offensive game to speak of. Still, he was such a good defender and likable player overall, with the popular finger wag after blocked shots and all, that he made eight All-Star appearances in his career anyway despite averaging more than 13.8 points per game just once during his time in the NBA.
Mutombo’s defense was also quite impactful, as the big man led the league in blocks three times in his career, including in 1995-96 when he averaged an astonishing 4.5 blocks per game. That was the sixth-highest single-season block average in league history. Mutombo was such a good shot-blocker, with excellent length and timing on block attempts, that even as a 37-year-old in 2003-04, he was averaging 1.9 blocks per game.
Mutombo ranks second all-time in total blocks at 3,289.
9. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Top defensive accolades: 11 All-Defensive Team selections, four times NBA blocks leader
NBA rank: 3rd in blocks, 10th in defensive rebounds, 109th in steals
Share of the vote: 90.91 percent of the maximum amount possible
Possessing outrageous longevity, six-time NBA MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was an 11-time All-Defensive Team member, the third-highest mark in NBA history. That was five times as a 1st Teamer and six times as a 2nd Teamer. He never won Defensive Player of the Year but that was in large part due to the fact the award didn’t exist until ‘83 and by then, Abdul-Jabbar was squarely in his mid-30s.
Blocks also weren’t an official statistic until 1973-74, Abdul-Jabbar’s fifth season in the NBA, but even then, he still led the league in nightly rejections four times in his career. Despite the first four seasons of his career not being counted, Abdul-Jabbar also ranks third all-time in career blocks at 3,189.
From ‘74 through ‘77, the first four years of Abdul-Jabbar’s career in which blocks were tracked, the illustrious big man rejected 1,094 shots. If we simply add that amount to his overall total to make up for the four years of his career in which his blocks weren’t counted, we get to 4,283 swat-aways, a mark that would have shattered Olajuwon’s all-time record total of 3,830 career blocks. So really, at least for the non-Russell, non-Wilt Chamberlain years, Abdul-Jabbar is probably the NBA's all-time blocks king.
Considering the NBA was so much more paint-driven back in the '70s and '80s, Abdul-Jabbar’s paint protection was vital. Even in the ‘80s, past his athletic prime during the Showtime Laker days, Abdul-Jabbar averaged 2.0 blocks per game, a large factor in L.A.’s dynasty of that decade.
10. Dwight Howard
Top defensive accolades: Three Defensive Player of the Year awards, five All-Defensive 1st Team selections, two times NBA blocks leader, nine years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 4th in defensive rebounds, 13th in blocks, 146th in steals
Share of the vote: 90.40 percent of the maximum amount possible
A monstrous player in his prime, future Hall of Famer Dwight Howard was a defensive eraser in the paint, one who made a living blocking shots. Howard won Defensive Player of the Year three seasons in a row from ‘09 to ‘11, a stretch that saw him average 2.7 blocks (and 1.1 steals) per game and lead the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals once.
That 2009 Magic team that made it all the way to the Finals boasted the best defense in the league that season, allowing just 101.3 points per 100 possessions, and a lot of that can be attributed to Howard’s elite level of rim protection, which would deter opponents from attacking the paint when he was in the game.
Howard’s freakish athleticism at the 5-spot and his timing on blocked shots was something to behold in his heyday.
11. Wilt Chamberlain
Top defensive accolades: Two All-Defensive Team selections
NBA rank: 1st in total rebounds
Share of the vote: 89.39 percent of the maximum amount possible
Defensive accolades didn’t exist until very late in Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain’s time in the NBA. (Even then, he was a two-time 2nd Team All-Defensive player.) Nor were blocks and steals ever recorded back then. But even so, he was an all-time defender when he locked in thanks to his ridiculous athleticism and size.
The same RealGM blog post about Russell also took a look at Chamberlain’s numbers when his total blocks for a game would get mentioned in the post-game newspaper reports. The poster found 112 games’ worth of evidence in which Chamberlain was averaging 8.8 blocks per contest, an outrageous mark. Surely we have to take those numbers with a grain of salt, but the actual number might not have been all that much lower.
Chamberlain had a reported 9-foot-6 standing reach, a 7-foot-8 wingspan and ridiculous vertical jumping ability. And because so much of basketball back then took place near the rim, that helped big men like Chamberlain camp down low and just wait to block shots left and right. Few had Chamberlain's freakish physical attributes and timing, though, which allowed him to do things like get his hand near the top of the backboard on attempted blocks:
Just for fun, here are some stats that came from Chamberlain newspaper clippings of yesteryear:
12. David Robinson
Top defensive accolades: One Defensive Player of the Year award, eight All-Defensive Team selections, one time NBA blocks leader, nine years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 6th in blocks, 24th in defensive rebounds, 66th in steals
Share of the vote: 87.88 percent of the maximum amount possible
An eight-time All-Defender and the 1991-92 Defensive Player of the Year, David Robinson ranks sixth all-time in blocks at 2,954.
One of the best athletes the NBA has ever seen, particularly for a 7-footer, Robinson boasted elite side-to-side movement prowess for a big man, as well as high-level leaping ability. That, along with his great size at 7-foot-1, made him a terror on the defensive end.
Along with Duncan and another player coming up later on the list, Robinson helped form various elite Spurs defenses during his time in the NBA.
13. Draymond Green
Top defensive accolades: One Defensive Player of the Year award, eight All-Defensive Team selections, one time NBA steals leader, eight years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 94th in defensive rebounds, 123rd in steals, 139th in blocks
Share of the vote: 87.12 percent of the maximum amount possible
The defensive anchor for a dynasty in Golden State, hybrid big man Draymond Green is a very versatile defender, one possessing the strength and intensity to match up with centers – albeit modern-day centers, i.e., he never had to defend a Hakeem-type of crafty post-player – as well as the quickness to defend star-level wings, too.
Green was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2016-17 and is an eight-time All-Defensive player, too, four times as a 1st Teamer.
Green's versatility and intensity on the defensive end, which allowed him – at 6-foot-6 – to guard centers or wings and play small-ball 5 in what became known as Golden State's "Death Lineup", was hugely important to the team's success in the Stephen Curry era. We'd go as far as to say the Warriors might not have the four championships they won this century had Green not been around.
14. Rudy Gobert
Top defensive accolades: Four Defensive Player of the Year awards, seven All-Defensive Team selections, one time NBA blocks leader, nine years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 31st in blocks, 37th in defensive rebounds
Share of the vote: 86.87 percent of the maximum amount possible
Perhaps no player has been hurt more by playing in the modern era than Minnesota Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert. That’s because had he played in the ‘70s, ‘80s or ‘90s, he would have been asked to defend way more pure post-up centers, a task in which Gobert would have thrived thanks to his size, length and strength.
He also would have avoided playing in today’s floor-spacing, three-point-centric era, where big men so often have to be versatile enough to defend well on switches, which is not Gobert’s strongest suit. (Plus, with social media today, Gobert gets clowned way more often than he should for his occasional defensive miscues on switches. Elite big-men defenders of yester-year who would have fared equally poorly trying to defend ball-handlers didn’t have social media around to hurt their legacies.)
So if anything, for Gobert to be one of just three players along with Wallace and Mutombo to win four Defensive Player of the Year awards is even more impressive considering he is thriving in an era not tailored to his strengths.
Gobert is one of the best rim-protectors of his era – when he’s out there, foes either shoot it poorly from near the basket or avoid driving the ball at him at all – and just because he isn’t the best switch defender, that shouldn’t be held too harshly against him, as he’s undoubtedly an all-time defender.
15. Michael Jordan
Top defensive accolades: One Defensive Player of the Year award, nine All-Defensive 1st Team selections, three times NBA steals leader, 10 years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 4th in steals, 90th in defensive rebounds, 125th in blocks
Share of the vote: 85.61 percent of the maximum amount possible
One of just two players in NBA history to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan was one of the best guard defenders in NBA history thanks to his tenacity, elite athleticism and quick hands on that end of the floor.
Jordan was named a 1st Team All-Defensive player nine times in his career, all the way until his final campaign with the Bulls in 1997-98. For his career, he averaged 2.3 steals per game (and for anyone who wants to doubt the veracity of those numbers, the fact he averaged 1.5 steals during his two seasons with the Washington Wizards combined should be a pretty clear indicator that he was probably an even more impactful defender in his actual athletic prime) and to this day, he ranks fourth all-time in steals with 2,514.
Jordan had one of the most important steals in NBA playoff history, too. Everyone remembers the final shot of Jordan's Bulls career, the iconic game-winning jumper in Game 6 of the '98 Finals. But what fewer remember was that Utah had the ball right before that with under 30 seconds remaining and holding onto an 86-85 lead. That was when Jordan snuck behind Karl Malone, stole the ball, brought it down himself and sank the game-winner to give the Bulls the sixth championship in the franchise's history. That was one of Jordan's four steals in that game, by the way.
NBA.com only provides team data going back to 1996-97, but that gives us enough time to look at the final two seasons of Jordan’s Bulls career. Chicago ranked fourth in defensive efficiency in ‘97 and then third in ‘98, allowing fewer than 101 points per 100 possessions both seasons, elite marks for the era. Pippen and Rodman get a lot of the credit for that but Jordan was likewise an all-time defender in his own right.
16. Gary Payton
Top defensive accolades: One Defensive Player of the Year award, nine All-Defensive 1st Team selections, one time NBA steals leader, eight years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 5th in steals, 179th in defensive rebounds
Share of the vote: 85.35 percent of the maximum amount possible
One of just two players listed at point guard to ever win Defensive Player of the Year, Hall of Famer Gary Payton took home the award in 1995-96, a season that saw him lead the league in steals with 2.9. Payton finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year vote two other times in his career.
Without a doubt, Payton is the GOAT when it comes to point-guard defenders, as he had elite lateral quickness, fantastic hands and played with a whole lot of tenacity and swagger on that end of the floor, making defense look cool. He also had a knack for getting in opponents’ heads with his trash-talking prowess.
His defensive aptitude led the Seattle SuperSonics all the way to the Finals in ‘96, a championship series that maybe could have gone differently had Payton been tasked with defending Jordan earlier in the matchup (via Sports Illustrated):
With Payton as his primary defender, Jordan’s numbers fell to 23.7 points on 36.7 percent shooting from the field over Games 4, 5 and 6 combined, two of which were victories for Seattle.
Regardless, Payton was a nine-time All-Defensive player, earning 1st Team honors all nine times, tied for the most ever. All in all, there’s no question he’s the best undersized defender the league has ever seen.
17. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Top defensive accolades: One Defensive Player of the Year award, five All-Defensive Team selections, six years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 38th in defensive rebounds, 98th in blocks, 220th in steals
Share of the vote: 83.08 percent of the maximum amount possible
One of only three players to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo accomplished the feat in 2019-20. Antetokounmpo has made five All-Defensive Teams in his career, four times as a 1st Teamer.
He hasn’t earned All-Defensive Team honors since 2021-22, though voter fatigue might have something to do with his missing out on that honor in 2022-23 considering Antetokounmpo led a Bucks team that year that ranked fourth league-wide in defensive efficiency. At the same time, perhaps the fact the Greek star missed nearly 20 games that year also factored in.
Regardless, blessed with freakish size and athleticism, as well as playing with all-out effort every time he’s on the floor, Antetokounmpo is very clearly one of the most impactful defenders of all time, capable of guarding multiple positions and playing elite help defense in crunch time.
Antetokounmpo even has one of the most clutch blocks in NBA history, rejecting a Deandre Ayton alley-oop dunk attempt in crunch time of Game 5 of the 2021 NBA Finals:
18. Mark Eaton
Top defensive accolades: Two Defensive Player of the Year awards, five All-Defensive Team selections, four times NBA blocks leader, six years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 4th in blocks, 87th in defensive rebounds
Share of the vote: 81.31 percent of the maximum amount possible
One of the greatest shot-blockers ever, former Utah Jazz center Mark Eaton was a behemoth on the floor, standing at 7-foot-4 and weighing nearly 300 pounds. But he was nimble enough to be a huge factor defensively, blocking 3.5 shots per game for his career, the highest career block average for any player ever.
Eaton ranks fourth all-time in career blocks at 3,064 and his 5.56 blocks per game in 1985-86 remains the highest single-season block average for a player in league history.
Eaton finished his career with two Defensive Player of the Year awards and three 1st Team All-Defenses. All in all, the Jazz legend was one of the most impactful defenders the NBA has ever seen.
19. Kawhi Leonard
Top defensive accolades: Two Defensive Player of the Year awards, seven All-Defensive Team selections, one time NBA steals leader, six years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 93rd in steals, 202nd in defensive rebounds, 309th in blocks
Share of the vote: 81.06 percent of the maximum amount possible
One of just two non-centers in NBA history with multiple Defensive Player of the Year honors, Kawhi Leonard won the prestigious point-stopping distinction twice in his career, in ‘15 and ‘16. He was also a six-time All-Defender, earning 1st Team All-Defense honors three times and 2nd Team All-Defense three times in his career.
Leonard possesses an otherworldly wingspan for a wing at 7-foot-3, as well as notoriously huge hands, both of which made him a ridiculous defender in his prime. Leonard led the league in steals in 2014-15 at 2.3 per game and was a menace both as an off-ball and on-ball defender.
If not for injuries slowing him down and forcing him to conserve energy on that end of the floor later in his career, Leonard could rank higher on this list. Regardless, The Klaw played a large part in two championship runs in his career, with the Spurs in 2013-14 and then as the Toronto Raptors’ best player in 2018-19, and his elite defending was a large reason for both of those titles.
20. Bobby Jones
Top defensive accolades: Nine All-Defensive Team selections, two years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 107th in blocks, 158th in steals, 308th in defensive rebounds
Share of the vote: 80.30 percent of the maximum amount possible
One of the most underrated two-way swingmen in league history, Hall of Fame forward Bobby Jones used his athleticism, length and timing extremely well on the defensive end, averaging 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks for his career.
Jones was a 1st Team All-Defender in the NBA eight times, tied for the fifth most such honors by a single player ever. What’s more, among those who played in the ABA and NBA, Jones ranks among the Top 70 players ever in career steals and blocks.
Jones’ defense was also hugely impactful, as he made the playoffs all 12 years of his professional career, including in 1982-83 when he played a part in the Philadelphia 76ers’ championship run of that season.
21. Bruce Bowen
Top defensive accolades: Eight All-Defensive Team selections, seven years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 382nd in steals, 453rd in blocks
Share of the vote: 76.01 percent of the maximum amount possible
One of the most tenacious wing defenders ever, Bruce Bowen earned 1st Team All-Defense honors five times in his career and 2nd Team All-Defense three times. Bowen was an elite 3-and-D player in his prime, shooting 39.3 percent from three for his career and playing a huge part as a role player on three championship-winning Spurs teams.
Bowen was so well thought of as a one-on-one defender on the wing, almost always against stars, that he finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year vote three times despite averaging just 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks in that stretch. Bowen’s impact as a perimeter defender went far beyond the stat sheet.
On the other hand, Bowen's tenacity on the defensive end bordered on the dirty at times, with the former standout defender developing a negative reputation due to repeated instances of him putting his feet under where opposing shooters were going to land, which would be a flagrant foul in today's game.
And those were just examples against Vince Carter.
Nevertheless, dirty tactics or not, Bowen, along with a player coming up later on this list, is tied for having the most All-Defensive Team honors in a single career (eight) without being in the Hall of Fame, so clearly his tactics on the point-stopping end of he floor were effective.
22. Tony Allen
Top defensive accolades: Six All-Defensive Team selections, five years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 112th in steals, 452nd in blocks
Share of the vote: 75.25 percent of the maximum amount possible
Undersized but quite strong and extremely intense, Memphis Grizzlies legend Tony Allen played with a whole lot of toughness and lateral quickness, giving him the ability to remain glued to the opponents he was tasked with shutting down. Allen was a six-time All-Defender, three times as a 1st Teamer, all as a member of the Grizzlies from his age-29 season and onward.
23. Alonzo Mourning
Top defensive accolades: Two Defensive Player of the Year awards, two All-Defensive 1st Team selections, two times NBA blocks leader, five years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 11th in blocks, 99th in defensive rebounds
Share of the vote: 74.75 percent of the maximum amount possible
A two-time Defensive Player of the Year winner, Hall of Fame big man Alonzo Mourning was a monster defensively for the Charlotte Hornets and the Miami Heat in the ‘90s, leading the league in blocks in ‘99 and ‘00 when he averaged 3.8 rejections overall.
Mourning is a bit underrated defensively historically due to the fact he played in an era with so many elite defensive centers. As such, the big man only made two All-Defensive Teams in his career (both times as 1st Teamer) even though he averaged nearly 3.0 blocks per game during his time in the NBA.
The Georgetown legend ranks 11th all-time in career blocks to this day.
24. Metta World Peace
Top defensive accolades: One Defensive Player of the Year award, four All-Defensive Team selections, eight years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 24th in steals, 250th in defensive rebounds, 276th in blocks
Share of the vote: 74.75 percent of the maximum amount possible
One of the toughest and scariest defenders of all time (just ask James Harden or Pistons fans who were at the Palace on Nov. 19, 2004, about that), Metta World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, won Defensive Player of the Year in 2003-04, beating out Detroit’s Wallace in the vote that season.
Wallace, if you recall, was in the midst of winning the award four out of five years during that time, so for World Peace to have been so good on the defensive end that he managed to break the big man’s near-perfect five-year streak says a lot about his level as a defender. World Peace also finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year vote in ‘03.
World Peace was so effective defensively because not only did he have great size on the wing at 6-foot-7, but he was also very likely the strongest pound-for-pound player of his era, officially listed at 260 pounds with boulders for shoulders and great lower-body power. World Peace was also quick laterally and had very fast hands, enjoying an eight-year stretch in which he averaged 2.2 steals.
The Queensbridge native ranks just inside the Top 25 all-time in career steals with 1,721.
25. Anthony Davis
Top defensive accolades: Five All-Defensive Team selections, three times NBA blocks leader, six years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 25th in blocks, 44th in defensive rebounds, 169th in steals
Share of the vote: 72.47 percent of the maximum amount possible
One of the most impactful defenders in NBA history to have never won Defensive Player of the Year, Mavericks big man Anthony Davis came close in 2019-20 when he finished second in the vote, losing to Antetokounmpo. Besides that, Davis has never finished higher than third in the vote despite leading the league in blocks three times, averaging 2.3 blocks for his career and earning 1st Team All-Defense honors three times.
Davis, a freakish defender thanks to his ridiculous 7-foot-6 wingspan and unbelievable lateral quickness, just recently entered the all-time Top 25 in career blocks and should finish pretty high on the list considering he’s just 31 with a game that should age quite well.
26. Nate Thurmond
Top defensive accolades: Five All-Defensive Team selections
NBA rank: 250th in blocks
Share of the vote: 72.22 percent of the maximum amount possible
A two-time 1st Team All-Defender, Warriors legend Nate Thurmond thrived in the ‘60s and ‘70s when he made seven All-Star appearances and five All-Defensive Teams overall. Thurmond was a shot-blocking extraordinaire, one who protected the paint at a very high level in his prime.
The NBA didn’t officially start tracking blocked shots until the final four seasons of Thurmond’s career, starting in 1973-74. Despite Thurmond already being in his 30s by then, the big man still averaged 2.9, 2.4, 1.3 and 1.7 blocks over his final four campaigns, making us wonder what that number might have been like at his athletic peak.
27. Marcus Camby
Top defensive accolades: One Defensive Player of the Year award, four All-Defensive Team selections, four times NBA blocks leader, six years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 12th in blocks, 36th in defensive rebounds, 199th in steals
Share of the vote: 71.97 percent of the maximum amount possible
One of the best shot-blockers in league history, 17-year NBA veteran Marcus Camby was a game-changer on the defensive end during his prime. Camby enjoyed a four-year stretch in which he blocked 3.3 shots per game, leading the league in rejections three times during that span of time.
Camby won Defensive Player of the Year once during that time, in 2006-07, and finished second in the voting the following season, ‘08. Using his excellent length and timing to block shots, Camby ranks 12th all-time in career blocks to this day.
28. Andre Iguodala
Top defensive accolades: Two All-Defensive Team selections, eight years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 20th in steals, 102nd in defensive rebounds, 215th in blocks
Share of the vote: 71.21 percent of the maximum amount possible
Boasting a career steals average of 1.4, Andre Iguodala was a two-time All-Defender, once as a 1st Teamer in 2013-14. He also earned Defensive Player of the Year votes eight times in his career, albeit without finishing higher than fifth in the vote. Iguodala had elite length and moved very well laterally in his prime. To this day, he ranks 20th all-time in career steals.
Iguodala was such a good role player, primarily thanks to his versatile defense, that he wound up being impactful on four NBA championship teams, all in Golden State. He also used his defensive chops to make two Team USA rosters, for the 2010 World Championship and 2012 Olympics, both gold-medal-winning squads.
Iguodala's defensive skills were also the primary reason why he won Finals MVP in '15 over Steph Curry, as Iguodala was credited with at least somewhat slowing down a prime LeBron James in that series.
29. Shaquille O'Neal
Top defensive accolades: Three All-Defensive 2nd Team selections, five years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 8th in blocks, 11th in defensive rebounds, 352nd in steals
Share of the vote: 70.45 percent of the maximum amount possible
Defense probably isn’t the first thing you think about when you remember Shaquille O’Neal’s illustrious NBA career but the Big Aristotle was a deterrent on that end of the floor, especially during his time with the Lakers. O'Neal's sheer size was a hugely intimidating factor, leading many opponents to avoid driving into the paint when the big man was in the game. That alone made him a defensive asset even if he didn't always put his best effort on that end of the floor.
O’Neal’s 1999-00 season was one of the greatest individual campaigns ever by a player, a league year that saw the 7-foot behemoth be named regular-season MVP, earn 1st Team All-NBA honors, be named an All-Star, win his first career championship and win Finals MVP. What many may not remember is that O’Neal averaged 2.4 blocks that season and finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year vote, meaning that the all-time big man came that close to sweeping just about every major accolade possible in that campaign.
Regardless, for his career, it’s true that outside of blocking shots, O’Neal conserved energy at times on the defensive end. As such, even despite his outrageous physical talent, he made just three 2nd Team All-Defenses. O’Neal is eighth all-time in career blocks at 2,732.
30. John Havlicek
Top defensive accolades: Eight All-Defensive Team selections
NBA rank: 81st in total rebounds
Share of the vote: 69.44 percent of the maximum amount possible
Celtics legend John Havlicek made five 1st Team All-Defenses in his career as well as three 2nd Team All-Defenses.
Steals weren’t recorded as an official stat until the final five years of his career but even then, Havlicek averaged 1.2 steals in his NBA days despite those days being far beyond his athletic prime.
Havlicek won eight championships in Boston, including in ‘74 when he earned Finals MVP honors.
31. Michael Cooper
Top defensive accolades: One Defensive Player of the Year award, eight All-Defensive Team selections, five years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 167th in steals, 273rd in blocks
Share of the vote: 67.17 percent of the maximum amount possible
A recent Hall of Fame inductee, Michael Cooper got into the Hall in large part due to his defense.
Cooper was an excellent one-on-one defender who was a vaunted player on that end of the floor in his prime despite not posting huge steal or block numbers. Overall, Cooper didn’t put up huge marks on either end but he was still an important member of the Showtime Lakers, helping the team win five championships in the ‘80s with his one-on-one defending on the outside.
Cooper was an eight-time All-Defender, five times as a 1st Teamer, and he finished Top 5 in the Defensive Player of the Year vote six times, even winning the prestigious accolade in 1986-87.
32. LeBron James
Top defensive accolades: Nine All-Defensive Team selections, nine years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 6th in steals, 7th in defensive rebounds, 75th in blocks
Share of the vote: 66.41 percent of the maximum amount possible
Four-time NBA MVP LeBron James never won Defensive Player of the Year but he did finish second twice in the vote, losing to Dwight Howard in 2008-09 and then to Marc Gasol in 2012-13.
That second shortcoming had to irk James just a bit more considering the fact he was league MVP that year, as well as an All-Star, a 1st Team All-NBAer, won a championship and earned Finals MVP honors, meaning he just missed out on sweeping every major accolade that season.
James even took a slight shot at Gasol on his HBO show, The Shop, pointing out that Gasol didn't earn 1st Team All-Defense honors yet was still named Defensive Player of the Year:
The underrated Dumars was a huge reason why the Pistons won back-to-back championships during his time there.
39. Alvin Robertson
Top defensive accolades: One Defensive Player of the Year award, six All-Defensive Team selections, three times NBA steals leader, five years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 11th in steals, 418th in defensive rebounds, 469th in blocks
Share of the vote: 61.36 percent of the maximum amount possible
One of the most underrated defenders in NBA history, Alvin Robertson is one of just four shooting guards ever to win Defensive Player of the Year.
He led the league in steals three times, including in '86 when he set the single-season steals average record with 3.7 per game, a record that still stands to this day. Robertson is also nearly Top 10 all-time in career steals.
Here's how another elite defensive guard historically, Gary Payton, talked about Robertson's defending back in 2009 (via ESPN):
Johnson's toughness, intensity and basketball IQ made him a terror for opposing guards to deal with during his heyday.
41. Tyson Chandler
Top defensive accolades: One Defensive Player of the Year award, three All-Defensive Team selections, six years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 33rd in defensive rebounds, 50th in blocks, 449th in steals
Share of the vote: 60.86 percent of the maximum amount possible
The Defensive Player of the Year in 2011-12, big man Tyson Chandler also made three All-Defensive Teams in his career, once as a 1st Teamer. Chandler wasn’t the most fleet of foot defender nor was he some monster shot-blocker but he was an expert in using verticality, often forming a wall near the rim to make it difficult for opponents to score on paint forays.
Chandler used his defensive skills to make three Team USA rosters, including once for the Olympics in 2012 and another time for the FIBA World Championship in 2010. That’s the level of defensive intensity and impact Chandler offered in his prime, that he was even deemed Team USA-worthy despite not having much of an offensive game to speak of outside of dunking.
42. Jason Kidd
Top defensive accolades: Nine All-Defensive Team selections, two years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 2nd in steals, 32nd in defensive rebounds, 321st in blocks
Share of the vote: 60.86 percent of the maximum amount possible
No. 2 all-time in steals, Jason Kidd was a borderline savant on the hardwood, and that extended to both ends of the floor. Kidd had a great ability to read passing lanes and jump them to initiate consistent fastbreaks going the other way. He may not have been the most athletic but he did have great strength and solid lateral quickness, which made the one-time Cal Bear an effective defender.
Even in 2011 in his age-37 season, Kidd earned acclaim in the NBA Finals as a member of the Mavericks for the job he did helping slow down LeBron James, refusing to give up an inch when the much bigger James would try to post him up.
Kidd was a four-time 1st Team All-Defender.
43. Jrue Holiday
Top defensive accolades: Six All-Defensive Team selections, five years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 59th in steals, 249th in defensive rebounds, 268th in blocks
Share of the vote: 59.60 percent of the maximum amount possible
A three-time 1st Team All-Defender, Jrue Holiday is one of the best defensive players of his era, using his fantastic lateral quickness and strength to remain glued to opposing ball-handlers and his long arms to poke away balls to rack up steals for his teams. Had Holiday just had better size, he surely would have taken home a Defensive Player of the Year award or two, as his peers have always talked very highly about his impact and toughness on the defensive end.
Here's how Holiday's teammate, another great backcourt defender in Derrick White, discussed the former UCLA standout's defending:
50. Moses Malone
Top defensive accolades: Two All-Defensive Team selections, one year receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 9th in defensive rebounds, 29th in blocks, 138th in steals
Share of the vote: 50.25 percent of the maximum amount possible
Hall of Fame big man Moses Malone made just two All-Defensive Teams in his career, once a 1st Teamer in '83) but he ranks Top 30 all-time in blocks and Top 10 in defensive rebounds.
Malone was hugely intimidating during his time in the NBA due to his size and strength, with opponents often choosing to settle for jumpers rather than challenge him near the rim.
That helped lead to a whole lot of team success for Malone, who played 100 playoff games in his career and won a championship in 1982-83.
51. Dave DeBusschere
Top defensive accolades: Six All-Defensive 1st Team selections
NBA rank: 47th in total rebounds
Share of the vote: 47.73 percent of the maximum amount possible
Hall of Fame forward Dave DeBusschere made six straight All-Defensive 1st Teams from '69 through '74. His defending was also hugely impactful, as the Knicks, DeBusschere's team for the final five-plus seasons of his career, won two championships during his time there, in no small part due to his all-out effort on the less glamorous end of the floor.
A counterpart of DeBusschere's from that era, Bill Bridges, once discussed how hard DeBusschere played on a nightly basis (via the NBA's official website):
60. John Stockton
Top defensive accolades: Five All-Defensive Team selections, two times NBA steals leader, two years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 1st in steals, 286th in defensive rebounds, 485th in blocks
Share of the vote: 42.17 percent of the maximum amount possible
John Stockton had great quickness and lightning-fast hands on the defensive end of the floor. Stockton also had ridiculous longevity, playing until his age-40 campaign, which helped him secure the top spot in the NBA's all-time steals list in what looks like the league's most unbreakable record right now.
On the other hand, Stockton did develop a reputation for being a dirty player, the annoying type who would get away with elbowing an opponent but flop like he was the one getting fouled to get calls (via ESPN):
In that same article, you can find a quote from Steve Kerr, who faced off against Stockton a plethora of times in the '90s, saying he loved Stockton off the court but that on it, he was a "dirty b------".
61. Rajon Rondo
Top defensive accolades: Four All-Defensive Team selections, one time NBA steals leader, four years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 52nd in steals, 230th in defensive rebounds
Share of the vote: 40.15 percent of the maximum amount possible
Two-time NBA champ Rajon Rondo was a point guard known for having a ridiculous 6-foot-9 wingspan and enormous hands, which made him a very impactful defender in his prime, particularly picking pockets and creating havoc off the ball in passing lanes.
A young Rondo was an elite role player for those great Big 3 Celtics teams of the late '00s, especially as a help defender alongside Garnett. Rondo ranks nearly Top 50 all-time in steals and made two All-Defensive 1st Teams in his career.
62. Jaren Jackson Jr.
Top defensive accolades: One Defensive Player of the Year award, two All-Defensive Team selections, two times NBA blocks leader, two years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 170th in blocks
Share of the vote: 38.38 percent of the maximum amount possible
A mobile big man who can defend switches as well as block shots at an elite level, Jaren Jackson Jr. was crowned Defensive Player of the Year in 2022-23. He led the league in blocked shots that season at 3.0 per game, his second season in a row accomplishing the feat.
If he continues on the trajectory he's been on early in his career, Jackson should continue to rise up this ranking, as his quick feet and elite rim-protecting make him a very unique and impactful player.
63. Marcus Smart
Top defensive accolades: One Defensive Player of the Year award, three All-Defensive Team selections, three years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes, three Hustle awards
NBA rank: 191st in steals
Share of the vote: 38.38 percent of the maximum amount possible
One of just five guards ever to win Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Smart earned the prestigious honor in 2021-22.
There was some discourse on how deserving of a winner Smart was that year for the award, though. Voter fatigue might have hurt Rudy Gobert in the vote that season, but even so, Boston ranked first in defensive efficiency that year and Smart was probably the team's most impactful defender.
Regardless, Smart is a tenacious defender who always gives it 100 percent intensity when he’s on the floor. He’s also closing in on 1,000 steals for his career, no small accomplishment.
64. George Mikan
Share of the vote: 35.86 percent of the maximum amount possible
Want to know how ridiculous of a defender George Mikan was? The legendary big man was such an elite rim-protector, one of the first players possessing the ability to jump above the rim to block shots, that the NCAA invented the goaltending rule in 1944 because of him. The NBA then decided to widen the free-throw lane because of Mikan's sheer dominance in 1951 in what was known as the "Mikan Rule".
Credited with being basketball's first big-man superstar, Mikan played with all-out effort, too, becoming known as an intimidating enforcer down low, making him the total package on both ends of the floor. Here's how the late, great Red Auerbach described Mikan, according to the New York Times back in 2001:
66. Serge Ibaka
Top defensive accolades: Three All-Defensive Team selections, two times NBA blocks leader, four years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 27th in blocks, 119th in defensive rebounds
Share of the vote: 35.35 percent of the maximum amount possible
Early on, Serge Ibaka looked well on his way to an all-time career on the defensive end. By the time he was 23, Ibaka had led the league in blocked shots two times, including at the impressive mark of 3.7 in 2011-12.
Ibaka was extremely explosive athletically in his prime and had long arms and great timing, making him a menace as a rim protector. His defense led to much success for the Oklahoma City Thunder during that time, too, as the team made it to the Finals in '12 and as far as the Western Conference Finals three other times with Ibaka.
By his late 20s, however, Ibaka had seemed to lose a step athletically and was no longer as impactful a defender. Even so, in 2018-19, he played a large role in Toronto's run to a championship, although he was arguably more effective on offense by then than at defense, averaging just 1.4 blocks that year.
67. Jerry West
Top defensive accolades: Five All-Defensive Team selections
NBA rank: 244th in total rebounds
Share of the vote: 32.58 percent of the maximum amount possible
The Logo Jerry West is one of the greatest players in NBA history. And though he may be remembered mostly for his smooth off-the-dribble jumper and his playmaking, West was a monster defender, too, earning 1st Team All-Defense honors four times in his career despite the award only starting to exist when he was already 30. Playing with nonstop effort and tenacity, West was willing to put his body on the line to make plays, be it on the offensive or defensive end of the floor.
The NBA didn't track steals until his final season, but that year, 1973-74 when West was already 35, the legendary guard still averaged 2.6 steals, albeit in 31 games. If we conservatively estimate that West averaged 2.4 steals over the other 901 games of his career, that would put West at 2,243 career steals, firmly in the Top 10 in league history.
68. Elvin Hayes
Top defensive accolades: Two All-Defensive Team selections
NBA rank: 26th in blocks, 30th in defensive rebounds, 265th in steals
Share of the vote: 32.58 percent of the maximum amount possible
One of the most tenacious players in league history, Hall of Fame power forward Elvin Hayes spent 16 seasons in the NBA and missed just nine games in that entire stretch. Hayes was an elite shot-blocker (as well as rebounder and scorer), so much so that he still ranks Top 25 in blocks all-time despite the fact the NBA wasn't even counting blocks over the first five seasons of his career.
With 1,771 official career blocks, if we just multiply Hayes' career average for blocks (2.0) by all the games he played in which blocks weren't counted (409), the legendary center would actually be closer to the Top 12 all-time in blocked shots at 2,589. And that's with us estimating very conservatively, as over the final three seasons of Hayes' career, he significantly lowered his career block average by blocking just 213 shots over his final 244 games. Considering Hayes was averaging over 2.5 blocks over the first four seasons the NBA counted the stat, it's almost certain he was blocking more than 2.0 shots per game in his first five seasons when the NBA didn't count the stat yet.
Regardless, that's all to say, Hayes, who even led the league in scoring once and rebounding twice, was a special player – and that was on both ends of the floor.
69. Charles Oakley
Top defensive accolades: Two All-Defensive Team selections, two years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 16th in defensive rebounds, 71st in steals, 383rd in blocks
Share of the vote: 32.32 percent of the maximum amount possible
An intimidating enforcer more than he was an elite defender, Charles Oakley weaponized his toughness and reputation to make opponents think twice about attacking the paint when he was in the game.
Oakley's physicality is the stuff of legend, as the big man was always ready for a scrap if he felt he needed to protect a teammate.
Horace Grant once discussed what it was like facing Oakley (via SI):
Somewhat quietly, Blaylock was a historically impactful defender for a guard, it may have just gone somewhat unnoticed due to him spending his entire prime on good-but-far-from-great Nets and Hawks teams.
73. Nate McMillan
Top defensive accolades: Two All-Defensive 2nd Team selections, one time NBA steals leader, three years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 44th in steals, 433rd in blocks, 462nd in defensive rebounds
Share of the vote: 25.25 percent of the maximum amount possible
Top 50 all-time in steals, Nate McMillan led the league in nightly takeaways in 1993-94 with 3.0. McMillan had five seasons in which he averaged at least 2.0 steals, too.
Better known for his long stints as head coach of the Pacers and Hawls, McMillan was able to carve out a solid 12-year NBA career in large part because of his one-on-one and help defending, as the two-time 2nd Team All-Defender never averaged more than 7.6 points in a campaign.
74. Larry Bird
Top defensive accolades: Three All-Defensive 2nd Team selections, two years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 27th in defensive rebounds, 41st in steals, 165th in blocks
Share of the vote: 25.25 percent of the maximum amount possible
Larry Bird's help defense was an underrated aspect of his game, as the three-time MVP was a three-time 2nd Team All-Defender, every season from '84 to '86. Bird even finished third in the Defensive Player of the Year vote, a season that saw the French Lick native average 1.9 steals per game.
As a one-on-one defender, Bird wasn't at his best, but when it came to jumping passing lanes and picking pockets, Bird had a stretch in his career in which he was downright elite.
75. Dwyane Wade
Top defensive accolades: Three All-Defensive Team selections, six years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 32nd in steals, 131st in blocks, 200th in defensive rebounds
Share of the vote: 23.23 percent of the maximum amount possible
The all-time leading shot-blocker among players 6-foot-4 or shorter, Dwyane Wade used his long arms (Wade checked in with a near 6-foot-11 wingspan at the 2003 draft combine) and great timing to meet players at the rim to block shots out of nowhere.
He also had great lateral quickness and quick hands to secure a lot of steals in his career, ranking nearly Top 30 all-time in the stat. Wade had some memorable moments on defense, including arguably the best highlight of his career with this steal against John Salmons and subsequent game-winning three-pointer in double-overtime:
Wade was obviously an all-time player but he doesn't get enough credit for how good he was on defense, especially in his prime.
76. Doug Christie
Top defensive accolades: Four All-Defensive Team selections, two years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 42nd in steals, 379th in blocks, 384th in defensive rebounds
Share of the vote: 22.22 percent of the maximum amount possible
A one-time 1st Team All-Defender in 2002-03, Doug Christie was the defensive muscle for the classic Sacramento Kings teams of the early 2000s, playing the wing enforcer role on some elite squads that won a lot of games. Christie also made 2nd Team All-Defense three times in his career.
Christie was a great one-on-one wing defender but also had fast hands and great instincts jumping passing lanes, which helped him average 1.9 steals per game for his career. That's one of the 25 highest steals averages for a career in NBA history.
77. Larry Nance
Top defensive accolades: Three All-Defensive Team selections, one year receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 18th in blocks, 89th in defensive rebounds, 258th in steals
Share of the vote: 20.20 percent of the maximum amount possible
A three-time All-Star, Larry Nance Sr. was a great defender during his time in the NBA, earning 1st Team All-Defense honors once and 2nd Team All-Defense honors twice in his career.
Nance's impact as a defender came thanks to his shot-blocking, as the 6-10 big man was an outstanding rim-protector in his prime, posting six seasons in which he averaged at least 2.4 blocks six times. He peaked in '92 in that stat at 3.0 blocks per contest, an outstanding mark that played a part in Cleveland getting all the way to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals that year.
78. Derek Harper
Top defensive accolades: Two All-Defensive 2nd Team selections, three years receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes
NBA rank: 15th in steals, 492nd in defensive rebounds
Share of the vote: 18.69 percent of the maximum amount possible
Mavericks legend Derek Harper made two 2nd Team All-Defenses in his career and also received Defensive Player of the Year votes three times during his time in the NBA, peaking in 1989-90 with a third-place finish.
Harper enjoyed an eight-year stretch in which he averaged 2.0 steals per game, playing tough and impactful perimeter defense for some very good Dallas teams, including one in '88 that got as far as Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, where they finally eventually fell to the Showtime Lakers.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: 78 greatest defensive NBA players ever: The HoopsHype list
