My Greatest Defensive Team of All Time

[_Game7_]

James defiantly needs more love here, at his peak he was a terror on the defensive end. Could shut down your point guard or power forward/center. Him playing free safety for the Heat was a cheat code, I think he easily has a case for top 10-15 defender all-time, especially at his peak. What he did defensively throughout the 2016 playoffs was one of his greatest achievements. And that’s just his physical gifts, his IQ and reads, shouting at teammates to get in position is GOAT worthy.

[Paddy Brosso]

Here's my attempt:

1st Team:
C Bill Russell
PF Kevin Garnett
SF Scottie Pippen
SG Michael Jordan
PG Gary Payton

2nd Team:
C Hakeem Olajuwon
PF Tim Duncan
SF Kawhi Leonard
SG Sidney Moncrieff
PF Walt Frazier

3rd Team:
C Ben Wallace
PF Dennis Rodman
SF Metta World Peace
SG Kobe Bryant
PG Alvin Robertson

4th Team:
C Dikembe Mutombo
PF Bobby Jones
SF Bruce Bowen
SG Tony Allen
PG Jason Kidd

[Joao Saraiva]

My lineup:
C - Hakeem Olajuwon/Ben Wallace
PF - Tim Duncan/Giannis
SF - LeBron James/Kirilenko
SG - Michael Jordan/Tony Allen
PG - Jason Kidd/Gary Payton

This is only from the players I've seen live (so more consistent observation).

HM: Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, Moncrief, Bill Russell, Mutombo, Kawih Leonard, Ron Artest, David Robinson, Dennis Rodman, John Stockton... too many to put on the list.

[mademan]

James defiantly needs more love here, at his peak he was a terror on the defensive end. Could shut down your point guard or power forward/center. Him playing free safety for the Heat was a cheat code, I think he easily has a case for top 10-15 defender all-time, especially at his peak. What he did defensively throughout the 2016 playoffs was one of his greatest achievements. And that’s just his physical gifts, his IQ and reads, shouting at teammates to get in position is GOAT worthy.

Its laughable to see pg sized guys being put over him. Like sure, Payton is a terrific defender, but he's not on the same level as peak James (or really any premier SF defender). Size matters on defense.

[Birth of the Cool]

I want Defensive players that are versatile (can switch and defend multiple positions and spots on the court), otherwise I would pick a beast like Mutumbo or solid front court defender like Duncan to man the Center.

C David Robinson
PF Kevin Garnett
SF Scottie Pippen
SG Kawhi Leonard (or if that's cheating putting him as a 2 Guard, then Michael Jordan)
PG Chris Paul (slight edge over J Kidd and Payton who i like for being bigger, but Paul I feel also does a lot of dirty work and is more low key dirty & aggressive than Payton).

[_Game7_]

James defiantly needs more love here, at his peak he was a terror on the defensive end. Could shut down your point guard or power forward/center. Him playing free safety for the Heat was a cheat code, I think he easily has a case for top 10-15 defender all-time, especially at his peak. What he did defensively throughout the 2016 playoffs was one of his greatest achievements. And that’s just his physical gifts, his IQ and reads, shouting at teammates to get in position is GOAT worthy.

Its laughable to see pg sized guys being put over him. Like sure, Payton is a terrific defender, but he's not on the same level as peak James (or really any premier SF defender). Size matters on defense.

Seriously, LeBron anchored defenses on those Miami Heat teams, even 2nd stint Cleveland. Honestly never seen someone play free safety like that before, calling out reads, recovering to shooters, bullying pg’s on an island, and holding his own with centers downlow. I would say Lebron’s defense is allot more valuable than someone like MJ for example, is that even debatable?

[JB2]

All-Defensive Team of All Time


PG: Walt Frazier
SG: Michael Jordan
SF: Scottie Pippen
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Bill Russell

Bench


PG: Gary Payton
SG: Tony Allen
SF: Ron Artest
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Hakeem Olajuwon

11th: Dennis Rodman
12th: Kawhi Leonard

Hakeem, Russell
KG, Duncan
Pippen, Kawhi
Jordan, Artest
Kobe, Payton

Rodman, Big Ben, Tony Allen

[Diop]

shout out to the only forward to average 2 or more blocks and steals a game in a season Gerald Wallace.

[70sFan]

shout out to the only forward to average 2 or more blocks and steals a game in a season Gerald Wallace.

Bobby Jones did it twice in the ABA and almost two another times in the NBA.

[Diop]

shout out to the only forward to average 2 or more blocks and steals a game in a season Gerald Wallace.

Bobby Jones did it twice in the ABA and almost two another times in the NBA.

Bball reference misled me

[dhsilv2]

shout out to the only forward to average 2 or more blocks and steals a game in a season Gerald Wallace.

Bobby Jones did it twice in the ABA and almost two another times in the NBA.

ABA doesn't count

[Air Apparent]

kareem, dikembe, and dwight deserve more love in this thread, but i don't disagree with the other names so far

[Sane]

All-Defensive Team of All Time


PG: Walt Frazier
SG: Michael Jordan
SF: Scottie Pippen
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Bill Russell

Bench


PG: Gary Payton
SG: Tony Allen
SF: Ron Artest
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Hakeem Olajuwon

11th: Dennis Rodman
12th: Kawhi Leonard

Can I just say, Hakeem Olajuwon between 1992 and 1995 is better than any version of Garnett ever at both PF and C, on offense and defense, on the interior and on the perimeter. Maybe in the mid range as well, I don't know. Mind you, Garnett is one of my favorite players of all time. I'm not diminishing him at all. Hakeem started his career in a twin tower lineup playing PF, it was seamless for him. In 1992 - the season before winning his first title with a bunch of role players - Hakeem averaged 26/14/3.5asst/4.2blk/1.8stl. He went on to win two defensive player of the year and two Finals MVP's. Top 10 in steals all time btw.

It's criminal to leave Hakeem off the starting line up of this list. This is an all time list it's supposed to be able to guard teams of all time. This season's Rockets - not even a top 3 favorite for the title - would absolutely toast Bill Russell on the perimeter. He has never in his life seen a Russell Westbrook, and he's certainly never had to guard a James Harden. A young Hakeem could hold his own. If all eras are taken into account as one, there is a case to be made for Hakeem as one of the top ever.

[PointaSista]

no Tayshaun Prince?

[mdonnelly1989]

All-Defensive Team of All Time


PG: Walt Frazier
SG: Michael Jordan
SF: Scottie Pippen
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Bill Russell

Bench


PG: Gary Payton
SG: Tony Allen
SF: Ron Artest
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Hakeem Olajuwon

11th: Dennis Rodman
12th: Kawhi Leonard

Can I just say, Hakeem Olajuwon between 1992 and 1995 is better than any version of Garnett ever at both PF and C, on offense and defense, on the interior and on the perimeter. Maybe in the mid range as well, I don't know. Mind you, Garnett is one of my favorite players of all time. I'm not diminishing him at all. Hakeem started his career in a twin tower lineup playing PF, it was seamless for him. In 1992 - the season before winning his first title with a bunch of role players - Hakeem averaged 26/14/3.5asst/4.2blk/1.8stl. He went on to win two defensive player of the year and two Finals MVP's. Top 10 in steals all time btw.

It's criminal to leave Hakeem off the starting line up of this list. This is an all time list it's supposed to be able to guard teams of all time. This season's Rockets - not even a top 3 favorite for the title - would absolutely toast Bill Russell on the perimeter. He has never in his life seen a Russell Westbrook, and he's certainly never had to guard a James Harden. A young Hakeem could hold his own. If all eras are taken into account as one, there is a case to be made for Hakeem as one of the top ever.

Hakeem is in a league of his own as the 2nd greatest defensive player of all time behind Bill Russell. Of course BR hasn't seen those guys 60 years ago. If you put Westbrook in the league back then you can basically cancel his athletic ability by 75%.

If you put Bill Russell in the league you can probably add 75% on top of his freakish althletic ability.

In either case you cannot take away from a guy or add to a guy just because of the ERA they played in. I'm going relative to league ERA. and BR is the Goat Defensive player.

1. BR
2. Hakeem
Tier and Gap

3. David Robinson
4A. KG
4B. Duncan
6. Ben Wallace
7. Pippen
8. Tony Allen
9. Rodman
10. Kawhi

[Suprasc1]

James defiantly needs more love here, at his peak he was a terror on the defensive end. Could shut down your point guard or power forward/center. Him playing free safety for the Heat was a cheat code, I think he easily has a case for top 10-15 defender all-time, especially at his peak. What he did defensively throughout the 2016 playoffs was one of his greatest achievements. And that’s just his physical gifts, his IQ and reads, shouting at teammates to get in position is GOAT worthy.

Its laughable to see pg sized guys being put over him. Like sure, Payton is a terrific defender, but he's not on the same level as peak James (or really any premier SF defender). Size matters on defense.

Seriously, LeBron anchored defenses on those Miami Heat teams, even 2nd stint Cleveland. Honestly never seen someone play free safety like that before, calling out reads, recovering to shooters, bullying pg’s on an island, and holding his own with centers downlow. I would say Lebron’s defense is allot more valuable than someone like MJ for example, is that even debatable?

It's sad how haters just think LeBron can pass

[70sFan]

This season's Rockets - not even a top 3 favorite for the title - would absolutely toast Bill Russell on the perimeter. He has never in his life seen a Russell Westbrook, and he's certainly never had to guard a James Harden. A young Hakeem could hold his own. If all eras are taken into account as one, there is a case to be made for Hakeem as one of the top ever.

I hope that you know that Russell wasn't just a rim protector right? He could switch on perimeter players just fine and if he could deal with Oscar, West or Baylor, Westbrook wouldn't be anything to worry about.

Russell had better footwork on defense than Hakeem and he read the game better. I don't think it's plasuable to write off Russell because of inability to guard perimeter - Bill Russell was more suited to that than Hakeem (who would be also very good at that).

[Drylick]

Suprised to see no Lebron mention who "anchored" a great defense moreso than any other SF in NBA history IMO. Not to mention him locking up prime D Rose, Tony Parker, blocks and steals galore in the playoffs, the block, overall more DPOY votes than MJ even though MJ won one.

NO.

I only stated facts. So, YES

LeBron aint a better defender than Pip in the SF position and he aint better than Mike in defense regardless of votes. So yea, no.