Draymond ranked 13th greatest defensive NBA player ever...

[Old_Blue]

https://hoopshype.com/lists/78-greatest-defensive-nba-players-ever-hoopshype-list/

[cladden]

I like it. Not completely unearned IMO.

[cpower]

thats beyond terrible, they are using rebounds and steals to define defense. Draymond is top 8 defense for sure

[KevinMcreynolds]

#1 must be Erick Dampier

[DAWill1128]

Some of those guys ahead of Draymond were absolute monsters defensively. People forget Garnett in Minnesota was amazing, I saw games where he guarded Kobe and McGrady the best I had ever seen. Mind you Garnett is a guy who finished his career at center, the fact that he was guarding two of the best shooting guards is something.

Rodman was another guy, started on the perimeter guarding guys like Jordan then finished his career guarding guys like Malone. How he grabbed so many rebounds at his size is just almost a modern mystery, 18 rpg? Crazy.

Ben Wallace was good, as a help defender just so much quickness and timing around the hoop.

Dwight Howard in his prime could clean up the paint better than anyone I've ever seen. Better than Dikembe or Gobert imo. Quicker feet and better leaping ability to get to the spot.

Dray is the best disruptive defender of that bunch. Drays ability is his eye for seeing things.

[SpreeS]

Camby and O'Neal over Ewing??? Need to close this list and forget forever.

Thurmond 26th
Cumby 27th

This is Wilt career numbers against Nate

RS 47games 15.5pts
PS 17games 12.5pts

[oaktownwarriors87]

#1 must be Erick Dampier

Danny Fortson, but close.

[gswhoop]

Not many players on that list can guard 1-5 and has done it in the playoffs and finals.

[Jester_]

I would take prime Dray as a defender over DRob, Wilt and maybe Dwight

[Twinkie defense]

Where does Jordan Poole rank on the list?

[cladden]

I would take prime Dray as a defender over DRob, Wilt and maybe Dwight

I mean I didn't watch Wilt so it's hard to say. I think it's inherently easier to be an impactful defender as a center than a tweener PF. I think Dray's skills on the defensive end surpasses Dwight and David Robinson (AFAICT I was pretty young during his tenure) but his impact not necessarily so. It's a tough question. The only defender I can recall that was decidedly on his level in the present day was Kawhi for a couple years but it didn't last that long. He was unbelievable that time the Spurs beat the Miami Lebrons but he has nowhere near the same career impact. I suspect you have to go to Rodman to find someone equally skilled. Centers play on easy mode when it comes to defensive impact. I have to plead ignorance on Pippen. I was a child during his prime.

[KevinMcreynolds]

Where does Jordan Poole rank on the list?

[Coxy]

I would take prime Dray as a defender over DRob, Wilt and maybe Dwight

I mean I didn't watch Wilt so it's hard to say. I think it's inherently easier to be an impactful defender as a center than a tweener PF. I think Dray's skills on the defensive end surpasses Dwight and David Robinson (AFAICT I was pretty young during his tenure) but his impact not necessarily so. It's a tough question. The only defender I can recall that was decidedly on his level in the present day was Kawhi for a couple years but it didn't last that long. He was unbelievable that time the Spurs beat the Miami Lebrons but he has nowhere near the same career impact. I suspect you have to go to Rodman to find someone equally skilled. Centers play on easy mode when it comes to defensive impact. I have to plead ignorance on Pippen. I was a child during his prime.

Of every player in the NBA I've watched since the early 90's, Pippen was by far the best all round defensive player I've seen. He's number 1 for me. There was nothing on defense that he wasn't elite at with that ridiculously long and athletic frame.

The best defensive big man I've watched is Duncan. He wasn't the best shot blocker, but as a man defender, and patroller of the paint, he was amazing. So smart.

Best starting 5 defensive team I've watched.

Payton
Jordan
Pippen
Duncan
Hakeem

Good luck beating that team in all their primes.

[EvanZ]

I would take prime Dray as a defender over DRob, Wilt and maybe Dwight

I mean I didn't watch Wilt so it's hard to say. I think it's inherently easier to be an impactful defender as a center than a tweener PF. I think Dray's skills on the defensive end surpasses Dwight and David Robinson (AFAICT I was pretty young during his tenure) but his impact not necessarily so. It's a tough question. The only defender I can recall that was decidedly on his level in the present day was Kawhi for a couple years but it didn't last that long. He was unbelievable that time the Spurs beat the Miami Lebrons but he has nowhere near the same career impact. I suspect you have to go to Rodman to find someone equally skilled. Centers play on easy mode when it comes to defensive impact. I have to plead ignorance on Pippen. I was a child during his prime.

Of every player in the NBA I've watched since the early 90's, Pippen was by far the best all round defensive player I've seen. He's number 1 for me. There was nothing on defense that he wasn't elite at with that ridiculously long and athletic frame.

The best defensive big man I've watched is Duncan. He wasn't the best shot blocker, but as a man defender, and patroller of the paint, he was amazing. So smart.

Best starting 5 defensive team I've watched.

Payton
Jordan
Pippen
Duncan
Hakeem

Good luck beating that team in all their primes.

lol yeah, I heard these guys were good on offense too

[Twinkie defense]

Before the three point shot became so dominant centers weren't asked to switch onto guards and defend the perimeter. A lot of the all-time great bigs would have trouble defending in today's NBA. I consider Shaq to be maybe the most dominant player in NBA history and I wonder if he could stay on the court if he was a young player in the year 2025 (though he would probably be shooting threes lol). Could you see Patrick Ewing chasing Stephen Curry around? No.

I think Wilt would still be an elite defender if he played in the modern era though.

[floppymoose]

Yeah Camby hunted blocks more than played defense.

[Nvnervous45]

Hakeem was the best I ever saw. Blocks, steals, boards, he had it all. He had the quickness to guard centers, pf, and sf's.....

[Jester_]

Before the three point shot became so dominant centers weren't asked to switch onto guards and defend the perimeter. A lot of the all-time great bigs would have trouble defending in today's NBA. I consider Shaq to be maybe the most dominant player in NBA history and I wonder if he could stay on the court if he was a young player in the year 2025 (though he would probably be shooting threes lol). Could you see Patrick Ewing chasing Stephen Curry around? No.

I think Wilt would still be an elite defender if he played in the modern era though.

Young Shaq was basically a beefier Giannis. He was also a very underrated defender. I think he would've adjusted fine

Lakers onwards fat Shaq i dono about though

[ShootersShoot]

Dunno about rodman top 5 but seeing some of the names on that list its puts into perspective how good draymonds been to be listed among those greats

[dk1115]

Not mad about that. Looks around right to me. And yeah, the only one I really questioned is Rodman.