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.
The Top Ten
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... read more

Almost 2 inches taller than Shaq, and over 2 inches wider at the shoulder, with a wingspan wider than Yao Ming's.
Higher vertical leap than any 7-footer in history, and would be listed as 7-3 on a modern roster the way they measure players now with their shoes on.
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 Bill Russell William Felton "Bill" Russell was an American retired professional basketball player. Russell played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association from 1956 to 1969.

Bill Russell would actually block the shot and get the rebound, or block the shot to another player on his team and you would have what amounted to a 4 point swing... The paint was his... Yup.

When you see how he blocked wilt's duck 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.

3 JaVale McGee JaVale Lindy McGee is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association.
4 Hakeem Olajuwon Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, formerly known as Akeem Olajuwon, is a Nigerian-American retired professional basketball player.

So Kareem would have needed to average close to 300 blocked shots a game to be higher than Hakeem in blocked shots. Yes he was young and hungry during those years and quite capable of hitting that number but not guaranteed. A little disrespectful to The Dream to assume so easily that he would be 4th or 5th.

At best Hakeem is in third place for all-time blocks, and more likely fourth place.
Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russells blocks were never tallied, but they are 1-2 in all-time blocks by a mile.
Ditto Kareem's blocks were not counted for his first three years, and it might even be Nate Thurmond in fourth place, dropping Hakeem to fifth.

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 successful high school career and declared his eligibility for the 1996 NBA draft straight out of high school.

I think that Jermaine O'Neal is the best shot blocker of all time. Like 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 Serge Ibaka Serge Jonas Ibaka Ngobila is a Congolese-Spanish professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association.
7 Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal, nicknamed Shaq, is a retired American professional basketball player who is currently an analyst on the television program Inside the NBA. He is known for his fun, friendly personality, and is one of the most beloved athletes of all time.
8 Darryl Dawkins Darryl Dawkins was an American professional basketball player, most noted for his days with the National Basketball Association's Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, although he also played briefly for the Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz late in his career.
9 Tim Duncan Timothy Theodore "Tim" Duncan is an American professional basketball player who has played his entire career for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association.
10 Dikembe Mutombo

Shawn Bradley couldn't block carp but this guy should be second to Bill Russell

The Contenders
11 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.

Nate Thurmond was awesome and if not for Chamberlain and Russell 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.

12 Mark Eaton

Shut down the paint, helped the Jazz to be a legitimate team.

13 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 Los Angeles Lakers.
14 Kevin Garnett Kevin Maurice Garnett is a former professional basketball player who played for 21 seasons in the National Basketball Association, for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, and Brooklyn Nets.
15 Yao Ming Yao Ming is a Chinese basketball executive and retired professional basketball player who played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association and the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association.

Yao Ming is so tall, he got more than 2 meters high, is hand is also super big, if you compost it, his hand may be twice bigger or more!

16 Alonzo Mourning
17 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.

18 Bobby Jones
19 Patrick Ewing
20 Amar'e Stoudemire
21 Michael Jordan Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials, MJ, is an American retired professional basketball player.
22 Ben Wallace Ben Camey Wallace is an American retired professional basketball player. A native of Alabama, Wallace attended Cuyahoga Community College and Virginia Union University and signed with the Washington Bullets as an undrafted free agent in 1996. In his NBA career, Wallace played with the Washington Bullets/Wizards,... read more

Easily one of the most athletic players of all time, is tied for most defensive players of the year awards. He is only discredited because of his poor performance at the line.

Even though he is under-sized Ben Wallace has been considered as the best shot-blocker of all time.

23 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.

He served his military obligation his first two years, and would have easily had another 600 blocks. Another 200 more if he hadn't been injured in 1996-97.

24 Gheorghe Mureșan

May or may not have been as tall as Manute Bol; he was a pituitary giant who had the NBA pay for surgery to stop his growth.

25 Shawn Bradley
8Load More
PSearch List