[Hoopshype] The 78 greatest defensive players in NBA history

[GSWFan1994]

Another Hoopshype list. Here's the link if you want to read the reasoning (and check some amazing photos) behind the ranking.

Why 78 players? That's the number of seasons the NBA has played in its history.

Without further ado:

1. Bill Russell
2. Hakeem Olajuwon
3. Tim Duncan
4. Kevin Garnett
5. Dennis Rodman
6. Scottie Pippen
7. Ben Wallace
8. Dikembe Mutombo
9. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
10. Dwight Howard

11. Wilt Chamberlain
12. David Robinson
13. Draymond Green
14. Rudy Gobert
15. Michael Jordan
16. Gary Payton
17. Giannis Antetokounmpo
18. Mark Eaton
19. Kawhi Leonard
20. Bobby Jones

21. Bruce Bowen
22. Tony Allen
23. Alonzo Mourning
24. Metta World Peace
25. Anthony Davis
26. Nate Thurmond
27. Marcus Camby
28. Andre Iguodala
29. Shaquille O'Neal
30. John Havlicek

31. Michael Cooper
32. LeBron James
33. Shawn Marion
34. Patrick Ewing
35. Andrei Kirilenko
36. Kobe Bryant
37. Tayshaun Prince
38. Joe Dumars
39. Alvin Robertson
40. Dennis Johnson

41. Tyson Chandler
42. Jason Kidd
43. Jrue Holiday
44. Wes Unseld
45. Marc Gasol
46. Norm Van Lier
47. Chris Paul
48. Walt Frazier
49. Sidney Moncrief
50. Moses Malone

51. Dave DeBusschere
52. Kevin McHale
53. Shane Battier
54. Jimmy Butler
55. Horace Grant
56. Joakim Noah
57. Maurice Cheeks
58. Bam Adebayo
59. Jerry Sloan
60. John Stockton

61. Rajon Rondo
62. Jaren Jackson Jr.
63. Marcus Smart
64. George Mikan
65. Buck Williams
66. Serge Ibaka
67. Jerry West
68. Elvin Hayes
69. Charles Oakley
70. Willis Reed

71. Patrick Beverley
72. Mookie Blaylock
73. Nate McMillan
74. Larry Bird
75. Dwyane Wade
76. Doug Christie
77. Larry Nance
78. Derek Harper

[AleksandarN]

Another Hoopshype list. Here's the link if you want to read the reasoning (and check some amazing photos) behind the ranking.

Why 78 players? That's the number of seasons the NBA has played in its history.

Without further ado:

1. Bill Russell
2. Hakeem Olajuwon
3. Tim Duncan
4. Kevin Garnett
5. Dennis Rodman
6. Scottie Pippen
7. Ben Wallace
8. Dikembe Mutombo
9. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
10. Dwight Howard

11. Wilt Chamberlain
12. David Robinson
13. Draymond Green
14. Rudy Gobert
15. Michael Jordan
16. Gary Payton
17. Giannis Antetokounmpo
18. Mark Eaton
19. Kawhi Leonard
20. Bobby Jones

21. Bruce Bowen
22. Tony Allen
23. Alonzo Mourning
24. Metta World Peace
25. Anthony Davis
26. Nate Thurmond
27. Marcus Camby
28. Andre Iguodala
29. Shaquille O'Neal
30. John Havlicek

31. Michael Cooper
32. LeBron James
33. Shawn Marion
34. Patrick Ewing
35. Andrei Kirilenko
36. Kobe Bryant
37. Tayshaun Prince
38. Joe Dumars
39. Alvin Robertson
40. Dennis Johnson

41. Tyson Chandler
42. Jason Kidd
43. Jrue Holiday
44. Wes Unseld
45. Marc Gasol
46. Norm Van Lier
47. Chris Paul
48. Walt Frazier
49. Sidney Moncrief
50. Moses Malone

51. Dave DeBusschere
52. Kevin McHale
53. Shane Battier
54. Jimmy Butler
55. Horace Grant
56. Joakim Noah
57. Maurice Cheeks
58. Bam Adebayo
59. Jerry Sloan
60. John Stockton

61. Rajon Rondo
62. Jaren Jackson Jr.
63. Marcus Smart
64. George Mikan
65. Buck Williams
66. Serge Ibaka
67. Jerry West
68. Elvin Hayes
69. Charles Oakley
70. Willis Reed

71. Patrick Beverley
72. Mookie Blaylock
73. Nate McMillan
74. Larry Bird
75. Dwyane Wade
76. Doug Christie
77. Larry Nance
78. Derek Harper

How tf is Green a head Allen and Jordan

[jasonxxx102]

If we are talking peak, Kirilenko is way too low

[Karate Diop]

Jordan is waaaaay too high.

[jerok]

list is wack,
Jordan will always be overrated in these.
Some weird ones like Havlicek over LeBron/Kobe/Butler/AK47

imagine Havlicek having to check KD, KD will get 80.
Jru should be way way up.

[Djoker]

Nate Thurmond at #26 too low!

[flranger]

Surprised Kobe is so low with 9 first team and 12 total all defense teams

ETA: People who quote and requote the full 78 person list clogging up the thread are a-holes

[cpower]

Another Hoopshype list. Here's the link if you want to read the reasoning (and check some amazing photos) behind the ranking.

Why 78 players? That's the number of seasons the NBA has played in its history.

Without further ado:

1. Bill Russell
2. Hakeem Olajuwon
3. Tim Duncan
4. Kevin Garnett
5. Dennis Rodman
6. Scottie Pippen
7. Ben Wallace
8. Dikembe Mutombo
9. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
10. Dwight Howard

11. Wilt Chamberlain
12. David Robinson
13. Draymond Green
14. Rudy Gobert
15. Michael Jordan
16. Gary Payton
17. Giannis Antetokounmpo
18. Mark Eaton
19. Kawhi Leonard
20. Bobby Jones

21. Bruce Bowen
22. Tony Allen
23. Alonzo Mourning
24. Metta World Peace
25. Anthony Davis
26. Nate Thurmond
27. Marcus Camby
28. Andre Iguodala
29. Shaquille O'Neal
30. John Havlicek

31. Michael Cooper
32. LeBron James
33. Shawn Marion
34. Patrick Ewing
35. Andrei Kirilenko
36. Kobe Bryant
37. Tayshaun Prince
38. Joe Dumars
39. Alvin Robertson
40. Dennis Johnson

41. Tyson Chandler
42. Jason Kidd
43. Jrue Holiday
44. Wes Unseld
45. Marc Gasol
46. Norm Van Lier
47. Chris Paul
48. Walt Frazier
49. Sidney Moncrief
50. Moses Malone

51. Dave DeBusschere
52. Kevin McHale
53. Shane Battier
54. Jimmy Butler
55. Horace Grant
56. Joakim Noah
57. Maurice Cheeks
58. Bam Adebayo
59. Jerry Sloan
60. John Stockton

61. Rajon Rondo
62. Jaren Jackson Jr.
63. Marcus Smart
64. George Mikan
65. Buck Williams
66. Serge Ibaka
67. Jerry West
68. Elvin Hayes
69. Charles Oakley
70. Willis Reed

71. Patrick Beverley
72. Mookie Blaylock
73. Nate McMillan
74. Larry Bird
75. Dwyane Wade
76. Doug Christie
77. Larry Nance
78. Derek Harper

How tf is Green a head Allen and Jordan

because he is clearly head and shoulder better, Green is ranked 3rd in RAPM all time (only behind KG and Mutombo, without old timers)

[Sealab2024]

Duncan over KG is crazy. Duncan was obviously the better go to offensive player but KG could legitimately (and did at times) D up Kobe on one possession and then Shaq on the next. He'd get bullied by Shaq but everyone got bullied by Shaq. Dude was a defense unto himself. Duncan wasn't. Though obviously TD was a very, very good post defender.

[scrabbarista]

Nice timing with the comment (two comments) above: was gonna say Mutombo is too low.

Good to see Duncan get his propers, though.

[Ruma85]

To be fair, if we are just talking about the 78 greatest in no order, this list might just be that. I cannot remember at the moment who else I would put though honorable mentions could have Michael Ray Richardson though he probably did not play longer enough to be considered, I’m sure I’ve been forgetting someone greats.

[jasonxxx102]

Another Hoopshype list. Here's the link if you want to read the reasoning (and check some amazing photos) behind the ranking.

Why 78 players? That's the number of seasons the NBA has played in its history.

Without further ado:

1. Bill Russell
2. Hakeem Olajuwon
3. Tim Duncan
4. Kevin Garnett
5. Dennis Rodman
6. Scottie Pippen
7. Ben Wallace
8. Dikembe Mutombo
9. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
10. Dwight Howard

11. Wilt Chamberlain
12. David Robinson
13. Draymond Green
14. Rudy Gobert
15. Michael Jordan
16. Gary Payton
17. Giannis Antetokounmpo
18. Mark Eaton
19. Kawhi Leonard
20. Bobby Jones

21. Bruce Bowen
22. Tony Allen
23. Alonzo Mourning
24. Metta World Peace
25. Anthony Davis
26. Nate Thurmond
27. Marcus Camby
28. Andre Iguodala
29. Shaquille O'Neal
30. John Havlicek

31. Michael Cooper
32. LeBron James
33. Shawn Marion
34. Patrick Ewing
35. Andrei Kirilenko
36. Kobe Bryant
37. Tayshaun Prince
38. Joe Dumars
39. Alvin Robertson
40. Dennis Johnson

41. Tyson Chandler
42. Jason Kidd
43. Jrue Holiday
44. Wes Unseld
45. Marc Gasol
46. Norm Van Lier
47. Chris Paul
48. Walt Frazier
49. Sidney Moncrief
50. Moses Malone

51. Dave DeBusschere
52. Kevin McHale
53. Shane Battier
54. Jimmy Butler
55. Horace Grant
56. Joakim Noah
57. Maurice Cheeks
58. Bam Adebayo
59. Jerry Sloan
60. John Stockton

61. Rajon Rondo
62. Jaren Jackson Jr.
63. Marcus Smart
64. George Mikan
65. Buck Williams
66. Serge Ibaka
67. Jerry West
68. Elvin Hayes
69. Charles Oakley
70. Willis Reed

71. Patrick Beverley
72. Mookie Blaylock
73. Nate McMillan
74. Larry Bird
75. Dwyane Wade
76. Doug Christie
77. Larry Nance
78. Derek Harper

How tf is Green a head Allen and Jordan

because he's just so clearly better than both of them

[Celts17Pride]

No Trae Young?

[dhsilv2]

Not the worst list...I'd say that got a lot of the right people. The ranking itself makes little sense. Wilt at 11? Really? If it's about peak, Mookie is way off. Career? well anyway.

[CIN-C-STAR]

Duncan over KG is crazy. Duncan was obviously the better go to offensive player but KG could legitimately (and did at times) D up Kobe on one possession and then Shaq on the next. He'd get bullied by Shaq but everyone got bullied by Shaq. Dude was a defense unto himself. Duncan wasn't. Though obviously TD was a very, very good post defender.

Because playing ok defense on Shaq and Kobe in back to back possessions isn’t nearly as valuable to winning as some people seem to think it is.
It’s like the defense version of watching guys make really difficult shots out of iso situations. Yes it looks amazing, but the best offensive players actually consistently create good shots for themselves or teammates, rather than have to rely on making very difficult shots in the first place.
Duncan was far better at the one defensive skill that matters most here: rim protection — both in help and as a post defender.

[YogurtProducer]

How is Giannis ahead of Kawhi?

[mastermixer]

List is pretty good but here are my hot takes

AD should be ranked higher. Dude silently covers everything from the rim to the three point line all game.

I’d put AK47 higher, already mentioned


I’m probably gonna get MURDERED for this one. I think Rasheed Wallace is criminally underrated defensively and should probably be on the list. IMO, his ability to switch and cover for Ben Wallace was what allowed Big Ben to roam and gamble (successfully) on D like he did. Because Sheed was always there to cover for him.

Sheed was the vocal defensive anchor of that team and why you don’t really see Ben have the same impact when he played on teams without Sheed.

I personally rank Sheeds defense impact much higher and Ben’s lower.

[ScrantonBulls]

These lists are generally trash because historically a guard can't touch the defensive impact a big man has. Bruce Bowen, Tony Allen, MJ and Gary Payton above Anthony Davis? Wrong. Tony Allen averaged 22 MPG across his career. No freaking way should he be ranked 22. He didn't play enough to have that impact.
Centers and PFs > SFs > SGs > PGs. The list should more heavily reflect that.

[bkkrh]

Another Hoopshype list. Here's the link if you want to read the reasoning (and check some amazing photos) behind the ranking.

Why 78 players? That's the number of seasons the NBA has played in its history.

Without further ado:

1. Bill Russell
2. Hakeem Olajuwon
3. Tim Duncan
4. Kevin Garnett
5. Dennis Rodman
6. Scottie Pippen
7. Ben Wallace
8. Dikembe Mutombo
9. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
10. Dwight Howard

11. Wilt Chamberlain
12. David Robinson
13. Draymond Green
14. Rudy Gobert
15. Michael Jordan
16. Gary Payton
17. Giannis Antetokounmpo
18. Mark Eaton
19. Kawhi Leonard
20. Bobby Jones

21. Bruce Bowen
22. Tony Allen
23. Alonzo Mourning
24. Metta World Peace
25. Anthony Davis
26. Nate Thurmond
27. Marcus Camby
28. Andre Iguodala
29. Shaquille O'Neal
30. John Havlicek

31. Michael Cooper
32. LeBron James
33. Shawn Marion
34. Patrick Ewing
35. Andrei Kirilenko
36. Kobe Bryant
37. Tayshaun Prince
38. Joe Dumars
39. Alvin Robertson
40. Dennis Johnson

41. Tyson Chandler
42. Jason Kidd
43. Jrue Holiday
44. Wes Unseld
45. Marc Gasol
46. Norm Van Lier
47. Chris Paul
48. Walt Frazier
49. Sidney Moncrief
50. Moses Malone

51. Dave DeBusschere
52. Kevin McHale
53. Shane Battier
54. Jimmy Butler
55. Horace Grant
56. Joakim Noah
57. Maurice Cheeks
58. Bam Adebayo
59. Jerry Sloan
60. John Stockton

61. Rajon Rondo
62. Jaren Jackson Jr.
63. Marcus Smart
64. George Mikan
65. Buck Williams
66. Serge Ibaka
67. Jerry West
68. Elvin Hayes
69. Charles Oakley
70. Willis Reed

71. Patrick Beverley
72. Mookie Blaylock
73. Nate McMillan
74. Larry Bird
75. Dwyane Wade
76. Doug Christie
77. Larry Nance
78. Derek Harper

How tf is Green a head Allen and Jordan

Some of the positions are weird. Ewing was a monster on defense for his first 8-9 seasons. Mookie Blaylock at 72 and behind Pat Bev is a joke, I´d also put Nate McMillan over him. Bobby Jones feels a bit too low. Marcus Camby a bit too high (and he is one of my all time favorites). Shaq is definitely too high. Tyson Chandler should also be lower if we consider his full career. I think Bird is a bit underrated as defender, but he is not a a top 75 All Time Defender in league history.

[xdrta+]

Thurmond is always underrated.

Career against Wilt:
RS 47games 15.5pts
PS 17games 12.5pts