Best Defensive Player in NBA History?

[Storm Surge]

Who is it?

[penbeast0]

Easy one . . . clearly Bill Russell. (shotblocking centers have an impact that no other position can match and Russell's level of success combined with his reputation make him the DGOAT)

Harder question . . . Who is the best MAN defender in NBA history?

I'd go with Sidney Moncrief personally, among other things he may be the only multiple time DPOYs to not have big steal/block numbers.

[TMU]

Easy one . . . clearly Bill Russell. (shotblocking centers have an impact that no other position can match and Russell's level of success combined with his reputation make him the DGOAT)

Harder question . . . Who is the best MAN defender in NBA history?

I'd go with Sidney Moncrief personally, among other things he may be the only multiple time DPOYs to not have big steal/block numbers.

Man defender? I'd still say Bill Russell.
Perimeter defender, I'd say Sidney Moncrief.

[penbeast0]

Of course if you believe that modern players are superior athletically and defensively you have to go with Timmy, Ron Ron, or the legend that is Bruuuuuuuuuuce Booooooooooowen!



(edited to add even up the number of o's and u's)

[kooldude]

^going to ignore your sarcasm and say Ron Ron and Bruce Bowen are pretty athletic.

Duncan is a big; he doesn't elite athleticism to keep up with other bigs when he's a rotation, position player. His lack of athleticism is why he's not an elite shotblocker.

[massey1992]

I say Bill Russell.

[shawngoat23]

Bill Russell

[Baller 24]

Bill Russell, honorable mention to Hakeem in the big man department..

Perimeter TMU got it with Sidney Moncrief

[Ben Wilson25]

Gotta agree with Bill Russell. Scottie Pippen is the best perimeter defender I've ever seen.

[Rasheeed!!!]

Gotta give Rodman a mention for his versatility!

[penbeast0]

Not really sarcasm, I'd say those are the best defenders today.

[TrueLAfan]

I agree with Russell at number one. For man defenders...it

[ronnymac2]

Bill Russell. When I think of defense, I think of Bill Russell. It really began with him.

Hakeem is in the discussion. Perimeter, I gotta say Scottie Pippen. So damn disruptive.

[writerman]

Bigs--Russell, Wilt, Deke, Thurmond, Gilmore, Hakeem (the Best: Russell/Wilt tie, though Russell was better longer, Wilt at his best was better than Russell at his best--which Russell admitted, BTW)

Perimeter--Frazier, Havlicek, Sloan, Payton, Moncrief, Van Lier, Artest, Kidd (the Best: I'd go with Frazier--insanely quick hands--but I wouldn't argue with anyone picking Havlicek or Moncrief. Never was that impressed with Pippen, though he was definitely better than average.)

Despite picking two old timers among the three best--and they were great defenders then and would be elite defenders today--perimeter defenses overall are generally better today, partly because of the slower pace of the game; but compared to the past, defenses in the paint today suck big time, partly because of stupid rule changes designed to hamper the dominance of the bigs.

[ronnymac2]

Bigs--Russell, Wilt, Deke, Thurmond, Hakeem (the Best: Russell/Wilt tie, though Russell was better longer, Wilt at his best was better than Russell at his best)

Perimeter--Frazier, Havlicek, Sloan, Payton, Moncrief, Van Lier, Artest, Kidd (the Best: I'd go with Frazier--insanely quick hands--but I wouldn't argue with anyone picking Havlicek or Moncrief. Never was that impressed with Pippen, though he was definitely better than average.)

Despite picking two old timers among the three best--and they were great defenders then and would be elite defenders today--perimeter defenses overall are generally better today, partly because of the slower pace of the game; but compared to the past, defenses in the paint today suck big time, partly because of stupid rule changes designed to hamper the dominance of the bigs.

I like those lists. I didn't know Van Lier was that good on d. I knew good, but not all time great good. lol

For the list on the perimeter, what about Jerry West? And I'd take Bowen over Artest.

And for my additions to the perimeter: (I already said Pippen in my first post), Jordan, Kobe, Dumars. Then Bowen over Artest.

For the bigs, I'd add Duncan, Robinson, prime Walton, and Kareem, Garnett. Oh, and Rodman.

Edit: And Zo.

[Dexmor]

How old are the people who say Russell? Has any of you actually seen him play? Probably not and if you did you are probably 90 years old. Just conforming to what is nba history and not really an opinion based anything besides what you have been told.

How about best defensive player youhave seen play?

[Dexmor]

I think the guys from the old era's competetion was nothing compared to now. The defense defenately was not as safisticated and the players haven't evolved like they have now. No Lebrons or anybody like that. No KG's. Nobody like that.


I am a Lakers fan but I have to go with KG here and the reason is he can guard anybody. He is the only player who can guard 5 positions fulltime. He can guard the pg's fulltime and the Center's fulltime. Anybody at anytime he can guard.
He is the most versitle defender for sure and there are better defensive players on the wing and better defenders in the post but not both in 1 player.

[conleyorbust]

How old are the people who say Russell? Has any of you actually seen him play? Probably not and if you did you are probably 90 years old. Just conforming to what is nba history and not really an opinion based anything besides what you have been told.

How about best defensive player youhave seen play?

I know writerman and I think penbeast have seen him play. They both said Russell. He's basically consensus though.

[Dexmor]

Peremeiter defenders

Pippen
Kobe
Jordan
Artest
Bowen
Battier
Payton

Bigs

Hakeem
KG
Camby
Rodman
Deke
Ewing

[HarlemHeat37]

LOL @ Kobe and Camby..don't belong with the rest..