Top 10 Shot Blockers in NBA History

In the annals of NBA history, shot blockers have held a place of unique prestige. These athletes aren't just tall guys who hang around the basket. They're masters of anticipation, agility, and game intelligence. They're the ones who, in the heat of the game, rise like titans to intercept what seemed like sure-fire baskets and turn them into thunderous rejections.

The best shot blockers in NBA history are known for their knack for intimidation. They don't just defend the hoop. They demoralize their opponents. A great shot blocker can make an offensive player think twice about driving towards the basket, creating a mental game that's as important as the physical one.

But let's not forget the spectacle. The roar of the crowd as a powerful block is made, the expression of shock and awe on the faces of fans, players, and coaches alike. It's an integral part of the NBA experience. Shot blockers often become fan favorites because they bring that element of surprise and raw energy to the game.

1. Wilt Chamberlain

   

   Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American basketball player. He was born on August 21, 1936, in Philadelphia and died on October 12, 1999, in Los Angeles due to heart failure. He was 63 years old at the time of his death.... read more

   Almost 2 inches taller than Shaq, and over 2 inches wider at the shoulder, with a wingspan wider than Yao Ming's.

   He had a higher vertical leap than any 7-footer in history and would be listed as 7-3 on a modern roster, given the way they measure players now with their shoes on.

   He was something like Shaq but noticeably bigger, and a much better jumper. Just a shot-blocking monster.

   The way NBA players are measured today, with basketball shoes on, Wilt would be listed on the team roster at 7-3 tall.

   He also had the highest vertical of any 7-footer in NBA history and a wingspan several inches wider than Yao Ming.

   There has never been another physical specimen like Wilt in the NBA.

2. JaVale McGee

   

   JaVale Lindy McGee is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Born on January 19, 1988, he has played for multiple teams during his NBA career. McGee won NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018.

3. Bill Russell

   

   William Felton "Bill" Russell was an American professional basketball player. He played center for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association from 1956 to 1969. Russell was an 11-time NBA champion and a five-time MVP, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the... read more

   Bill Russell would actually block the shot and get the rebound, or block the shot to another player on his team. This would result in what amounted to a 4-point swing.

   The paint was his.

   When you see how he blocked Wilt's dunk and add all of the fast-break points produced after his blocks, plus 11 NBA rings, he is second to none.

   Russell would block the shot and get possession of the ball, not swat it out of bounds.

4. Hakeem Olajuwon

   

   Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, formerly known as Akeem Olajuwon, is a Nigerian-American retired professional basketball player. He played in the NBA from 1984 to 2002, spending most of his career with the Houston Rockets. Olajuwon led the Rockets to two NBA championships in 1994 and 1995 and was named NBA Finals... read more

   I think Hakeem Olajuwon should be number one on this list. First of all, I don't even know how Serge Ibaka is on this list.

   The best shot blocker of anyone who was not named Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell.

   It's obviously him if he has the most blocks out of anyone ever.

5. Jermaine O'Neal

   

   Jermaine Lee O'Neal is an American former professional basketball player. The 6 ft 11 in, 255 lb forward-center had a standout high school career and entered the 1996 NBA draft directly out of high school.

   He played 18 seasons in the NBA, earning six All-Star selections and most notably contributing... read more

   I think that Jermaine O'Neal is the best shot blocker of all time. When it comes to Jermaine O'Neal and blocking, he is the best.

   Jermaine O'Neal should be number one. He is the greatest shot and dunk blocker of all time.

6. Dikembe Mutombo

   

   Shawn Bradley couldn't block much, but this guy should be second to Bill Russell.

7. Serge Ibaka

   

   Serge Jonas Ibaka Ngobila is a Congolese-Spanish professional basketball player. He played in the NBA for teams including the Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors, and Milwaukee Bucks. Ibaka won an NBA championship with the Raptors in 2019 and has also played professionally in Europe, most recently... read more

8. Shaquille O'Neal

   

   Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal, known widely as Shaq, is a retired American professional basketball player. He currently works as a sports analyst on the television program Inside the NBA. Renowned for his dominant presence on the court and his charismatic, approachable personality, O'Neal remains one of the... read more

9. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

   

   Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is an American retired professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points, a record he held from 1989 until it was surpassed in 2023... read more

10. Darryl Dawkins

    

    Darryl Dawkins was an American professional basketball player known for his time with the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Nets in the NBA. He also played briefly for the Detroit Pistons and the Utah Jazz later in his career. Dawkins was famous for his powerful dunks and flamboyant personality... read more

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Ivica Zubac

    
12. ?

    Chet Holmgren

    
The Contenders

13. Tim Duncan

    

    Timothy Theodore "Tim" Duncan is a retired American professional basketball player. He played his entire 19-season career with the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association. Duncan won five NBA championships, earned two MVP awards, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards... read more

14. Nate Thurmond

    

    Nathaniel Thurmond was an American basketball player who spent the majority of his 14-year career in the National Basketball Association with the Golden State Warriors. He played the center and power forward positions. Thurmond was a seven-time NBA All-Star and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of... read more

    Nate Thurmond was awesome. If not for Chamberlain and Russell, he would have owned the NBA and the paint.

    He has the first recorded quadruple-double after they started counting blocked shot stats. He was almost as strong as Chamberlain and almost as skillful as Russell.

    He was a joy to watch.

    Quite possibly the third-best of all time, but he played in the shadow of Wilt and Russell.

15. Mark Eaton

    

    He shut down the paint and helped the Jazz become a legitimate team.

16. Alonzo Mourning

    

17. Nikola Jokic

    

    Nikola Jokić is a Serbian professional basketball player who plays for the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association. He was drafted by the Nuggets in 2014 and has since become one of the league's top players. Jokić won the NBA Most Valuable Player award in both 2021 and 2022.

18. Kevin Garnett

    

    Kevin Maurice Garnett is a former professional basketball player who spent 21 seasons in the National Basketball Association. He played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, and Brooklyn Nets. Garnett is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history.

19. Manute Bol

    Just take a look at the list of most blocks in a single game. Enough said.

    Not a big surprise, the guy was 7 feet, 7 inches tall.

20. Yao Ming

    

    Yao Ming is a retired Chinese professional basketball player and a prominent basketball executive. He played for the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association and for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association. After retiring in 2011, he took on leadership roles in Chinese... read more

21. Bobby Jones

22. Patrick Ewing

23. Michael Jordan

    

    Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials MJ, is an American retired professional basketball player. Widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, he made six NBA Finals appearances. Jordan won the NBA championship each time.

24. Ben Wallace

    

    Ben Camey Wallace is a retired American professional basketball player. A native of Alabama, Wallace attended Cuyahoga Community College and Virginia Union University. He signed with the Washington Bullets as an undrafted free agent in 1996.... read more

    Easily one of the most athletic players of all time, he is tied for the most Defensive Player of the Year awards.

    He is only discredited because of his poor performance at the line.

    Even though he is undersized, Ben Wallace has been considered the best shot-blocker of all time.

25. David Robinson

    

    David Maurice Robinson is an American former professional basketball player who played center for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association for his entire career. Nicknamed The Admiral due to his service in the U.S. Navy, he is a two-time NBA champion, a 10-time NBA All-Star, and an... read more

    He served his military obligation his first two years and would have easily had another 600 blocks.

    He would have had another 200 more if he hadn't been injured in 1996-97.

26. Victor Wembanyama

    

27. Gheorghe Mureșan

    

    He may or may not have been as tall as Manute Bol. He was a pituitary giant, and the NBA paid for his surgery to stop his growth.