Top 10 Best Defensive Players in NBA History

He pretty much gave birth to blocking, in which he would have too many blocks for Wikipedia to remember if the NBA recorded blocking as a stat back then. The second-best rebounder ever, maybe first, but still, Bill Russell is at least in the top 5 of the greatest NBA players ever. He might be better than Michael Jordan overall.

It is believed by many that if blocks were a recorded stat during his playing time, Bill Russell would have averaged double digits in blocks per game. Add that to the 15.1 points per game and the 22.5 rebounds per game, more than likely Bill Russell averaged a triple-double throughout his career.

Hakeem was a complete and versatile defender. You could not run pick and roll with Hakeem. He could legitimately guard any player on the floor, even the fastest point guards, and shut them down and get turnovers off them. Very agile and quick player with long arms. Combined, that quickness and instincts from playing soccer goalie as a youth helped him find steals in the lane and strip balls in the paint. That's why he was top 10 in steals all time, getting 2-2.6 steals per game a year for five years. Compare that to Kobe Bryant at 2.2 SPG only once. That quickness also allowed him to surprise players and get into position for blocks, recover from being out of position, or being potentially beat to get blocks.

Dennis has shut down everybody on the inside, short-range, and mid-range when the NBA was at its most competitive. A stat that is not measured is forcing the best players to pass the ball to someone else because they were being too well guarded, reducing the team's overall point totals. And Rodman did that to EVERYONE and every team. Now, Larry Bird did torch Rodman from the outside in his rookie season, but Rodman learned quickly and became the best defender and one of the best rebounders of all time.

Personally, Rodman just got on my nerves after his decision to "be himself." With Detroit, he was awesome, but then he just got so annoying and stupid. However, you cannot deny this guy's ability to play defense. He's got 2 DPOY awards to show for it.

Best all-around defender ever, on and off the ball. Scottie is so underrated! He was the best defender on a team that had Jordan and Rodman! That's saying a lot! Chuck Daly said Scottie was the best player on the Dream Team! Players and coaches, who would know, are the ones who rank him so highly. Fans tend to underrate Scottie, partly because he played next to the greatest player ever.

Pippen racked up the steals and blocks, but his help defense was legendary. He could be all over the court harassing everybody. I still remember when he was the catalyst in shutting down Utah's pick-and-roll and holding the Jazz to 54 points in the '98 Finals. He took charge after charge on Karl Malone. No one would ever have the guts to step in front of someone as big as Malone, but Pippen did it multiple times.

I saw Jordan's entire career. I grew up in Boston and was a huge Celtics and Larry Bird fan. I also played basketball my whole life through college. Michael Jordan is by far the best basketball player of all time. People can argue for #2, but there is a big gap between #2 and #1.

Every night, when it came time to take over the game, he took the game over. Every single night! There was no answer for this guy, plain and simple. The Detroit Pistons of the late '80s were probably the greatest defensive team of all time, and Isaiah Thomas said Jordan made them look like high school kids. His defense doesn't get the recognition it deserves because they usually put Pippen on the other team's best defender. That wasn't because Pippen was a better defender. It was to keep Jordan fresh for the offensive end. But when Jordan locked you down, that was it! Your scoring streak and hot hand quickly cooled. He was smothering on defense, quicker and more explosive than Pippen. If somebody had a good game against the Bulls, you could bet your paycheck that Jordan would shut them down the next game. He did every single time.

The Glove is definitely the best defensive guard in NBA history, locked down 3 positions at point guard, and didn't take risks. If you watched tape you would know he's a better defender than Jordan.

He is a beast. He held Jordan to 23 points. If not the best defensive player, then the best defensive point guard!

His shoes were always on the floor, moving, and his mind was completely in the game.

Four DPotY awards! Big Ben is the only other player to accomplish that.

He invented the finger wag because of all the shots he blocked.

4 DPOY awards! Dikembe Mutombo was the only other player to get 4! But the difference is that Mutombo got his 4 over a stretch of 7 seasons, while it only took Ben 5 seasons to do so, as both pairs of awards were back-to-back. I'm so glad to see Big Ben back in Detroit, even if he is getting old.

Best defensive center of all time. Had the quickness to pickpocket guards, the strength to hold back oversized centers like Shaq, and led his team to an NBA championship just off his defense. Very underrated player and should be higher on this list.

No one can match KG's intensity on defense! He turned Boston, which was the worst defensive team, into one of the best defensive teams ever. He is one of the best defensive leaders in NBA history.

I used to hate KG for all of his trash-talking, but you have to respect his presence on defense. He inspired lackluster defenders like Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to actually care about guarding someone.

Because of Garnett, Rondo became an expert pickpocket, and, because of The Big Ticket, Avery Bradley made a name for himself based on defense alone. KG's defense made other players better on defense, and that's why he should be in the top 5.

By far the leading shot-blocker in NBA history. Yes, even a little ahead of Bill Russell, and miles ahead of everyone else. Although blocks were not an "official" NBA stat when he played, they were an official team stat for a number of clubs.

In those games where blocks were tallied, he averaged an incredible 8.8 blocks per game, and in several games, he had over 20. Not that much of a surprise, since he had the highest "touch," which is vertical plus length, in NBA history.

Damn, the amount of disrespect shown towards the Big Dipper is unbelievable. All you millennials don't have a clue about how great of a player Wilt was on the defensive side of the floor. This brother probably blocked 4000+ shots, but the NBA, being the stubborn fools they are, didn't have the courtesy to count blocks or steals, especially when guys like Russell and Thurmond were playing. Nonetheless, Wilt goes unnoticed when it comes to recognizing defensive ability!

LeBron's athleticism makes him a great on-ball and off-ball defender. His footwork is not the best, but because of speed against guards and strength against big men, he can guard all 5 positions like an all-defensive first teamer. If he could hand check like Jordan and Pippen, he would be remembered as one of the best on-ball defenders ever. He can intercept passing lanes because of his speed and can take it to the other end with no trouble. Let's also not forget he is the best chasedown blocker ever, with his superhuman chasedown block on Iggy.

Kareem is the best. Plain and simple. He owned the key and rarely there exist highlights of non-centers making him look bad, except for Doc J. 13 times All-Defense, won rebounding titles, embarrassed Patrick Ewing who was much younger, blocked shots of both The Dream and Ralph Sampson in the same game! Blocked Wilt's shot, then dunked in his face. Not too many people want to mention that though. For all his accomplishments, he still gets hate for his defense.

One of the greatest shot-blockers of all time. His career total of blocks is the 3rd highest of all time, and it doesn't even include his first 4 seasons, as the league did not start recording blocks until the 1973-74 season. Disappointing that he didn't earn any DPOY awards. He deserved at least one.

Here lies the greatest defensive player of all time. Ask ANY center that played against him, and you will hear them all say Nate was the toughest. Only man able to block Kareem's skyhook. First man to record a quadruple-double and would have had many more if blocks were recorded in his time. Even at 35, when he played against the Celtics in the Eastern Finals in '76, Cowens said it was like having a curtain in front of him.

You're going to say he isn't number one? He locked up LeBron in the finals and took Finals MVP. His huge hands and long wingspan make him such a great defender. Also, the stats prove it. He led the league in steals in the 2015 NBA season and can play monster defense both off and on the ball!

He's not just the best defender right now, maybe the best of all time. That's saying a lot!

Toughest defender according to Larry Bird.

In the 1980s "Showtime" Lakers, his job was to stop the young MJ, and he did a great job.

Kobe is the greatest perimeter lockdown defender ever. He could defend 3 positions, that's why he was 12 times All-Defensive Team.

Kobe's defense has won playoff series for his team! Locked up CP3 and Westbrook. What he did to Reggie Miller in game 1 of the finals was something none of the 90s defenders could do. Would have continued it if Jalen Rose wasn't hunting for Kobe's ankle.

He blocks with his left hand... Remember that Ray Allen, Deron Williams, and the new guy in Portland!

Wow. If you've seen this guy play defense, then you know why he's on the list. He's also got two DPOY awards to show for it.

A very underrated defensive player. His unreal athleticism for a two helped him get a lot of blocks and steals. He also had a great transition game and lockdown potential.

Most blocks in history for a guard! Enough said!

Defensive Player of the Year, that season he had 4.5 blocks per game to go along with 2.3 steals per game, and yes that is an all-time NBA record for BPG + SPG in a season (not counting Wilt and Russell). Consistently around 3.5 BPG and 1.6 SPG for 6 other seasons. Really should be around #10-11, ahead of easily ahead of LeBron, Kobe, Garnett, Jerry West, Bruce Bowen, Wade, and Nash... and probably Moses Malone and Artest as well.

DPOY 91-92, in that year he averaged 4.5 bpg + 2.3 spg, which is the all-time NBA record for bpg + spg in a season (not counting Wilt and Russell). Also averaged 3.5 bpg + 1.6 spg for the other 6 of his first 7 seasons. Really should be around number 10-11.

Should be ranked higher than Jordan and Kobe but not higher than Payton all-time in defense. Some folks need to go back to AP NBA History and get their facts straight. This guy was the best defensive guard besides Payton, and maybe a case can be made for some that aren't even on this list.

Steals were not recorded during his playing days, but he is likely in the top three all-time.

Good defensive player, high basketball IQ allows him to read plays and be in good position to try and stop them. Hustles to make defensive plays.

With consistent defensive performance, he should be in the top 20 by the end of the 2015-2016 season.