NBA Power Rankings: Top 10 Defenders of All Time

July 24, 2024

Eleazar Gonzales breaks down the top 10 NBA defenders of all time. He looks at what makes these 10 particular players stand out from the rest. Who made the cut?

Whether you admit it or not, defense in the NBA is no longer a priority compared to how it was in the past. Gone are the days when players take pride in playing great defense. Players these days often focus more on scoring and that might not be a bad thing, either.

However, there's a saying in basketball -- "Defense wins games." And yes, we've seen players who are better defenders than they are on the offensive end. For most coaches, those are some of their favorite players and the type of guys who get you wins.

In this article, I will unveil my top-10 NBA defenders of all time. Let's get into it!

Michael Jordan

While this may attract different opinions, we tend to forget how great Michael Jordan was as a defender during his prime years.

A three-time league leader in steals and a total of 2,514 steals in his career, Jordan was creating nightmares for whoever he was defending. Aside from winning the 1988 Defensive Player of the Year Award, Air Jordan also ranks tied for second for the most All-Defensive First Team selections (nine).

Not only is MJ considered by most as the greatest player of all time, but possibly the best defensive player.

MJ's career achievements:
▪️ 10x NBA scoring leader
▪️ 2x NBA DPOY
▪️ 10x All-NBA First Team
▪️ 6x NBA champion
▪️ 6x NBA Finals MVP
▪️ 5x NBA MVP
▪️ 14x NBA All-Star
▪️ 3x NBA All-Star Game MVP
▪️ No. 23 retired by both Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat

Happy Birthday GOAT🐐 pic.twitter.com/vMcLafnUpy

— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) February 18, 2022

Dikembe Mutombo

Who could ever forget the footage of Dikembe Mutombo wagging his finger every time he blocked a shot?

Mutombo, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, ranks second in the all-time blocks list, blocking 3,289 blocks in his career. He also led the league in blocks thrice and earned three selections to the All-Defensive First Team. Additionally, he was a two-time league leader in rebounds.

Dikembe Mutombo was a beast back in the day:

8X NBA All-Star
3X All-NBA selections
4X DPOY
6X All-NBA Defensive selections
2X Rebounds Leader
3X Blocks Leader
No. 55 retired by the Hawks and Nuggets

Career stats:
9.8 PPG
10.3 RPG
1.0 APG
2.8 BPG
51.8 FG%
30.8 MPG pic.twitter.com/DaFl5nDcZd

— Fadeaway World (@FadeawayWorld) August 7, 2022

Ben Wallace

Ben Wallace is another four-time Defensive Player of the Year winner who people tend to rank lower in an all-time best defenders list. While he was only 6-foot-9, he was indeed one of the most intimidating defenders of his generation.

Big Ben was selected into the All-Defensive First Team five times and led the NBA in blocks in 2002. Wallace was also a two-time rebounding champion, as evidenced by the 10,482 rebounds he grabbed in his career.

Hall of Fame, 4x DPOY, 4x All Star, NBA Champion Ben Wallace has Austin Reaves beat by a mile https://t.co/TCss5Bqrvk pic.twitter.com/yoDbEZQHW7

— Ruben || Check the Rhyme (@checktherhyme1_) April 25, 2024

Tim Duncan

While he never won a Defensive Player of the Year plum, people tend to forget Tim Duncan was a defensive ace. Holder of a record-setting 15 selections to the All-Defensive Teams (eight First Team selections and seven Second Team selections), Timmy was a nightmare matchup even for centers.

Duncan averaged 2.17 blocks per game and won five NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs.

Tim Duncan from 02-04 led a 105.6 ortg (+2.8) in the PO and when he was off the offense plummeted to 92.6 (-10.2). Steph from 15-17 led a 114.7 ortg (+7.8) and when off 106.8 (-.1) ortg, oh and Duncan was also the anchor of an all time defense

I know who I want in the playoffs! pic.twitter.com/aEO0H4h8Eq

— Turtle (@Sageof6turtles) August 15, 2023

Dennis Rodman

Michael Jordan wasn't the only defensive ace the Chicago Bulls had in their championship-winning years. They also had Dennis Rodman.

The Worm didn't disappoint and delivered some of the most memorable defensive stops the league has seen -- not to mention the list of players whom he frustrated with his defensive antics. He won the Defensive Player of the Year Award twice in his career while earning seven selections to the All-Defensive First Team.

Rodman was the kind of player who didn't need to score to be effective. That's how special he is.

Happy 62nd Birthday, Dennis Rodman.. a defense.. rebound machine… #Legend 🎉🎊🎈 pic.twitter.com/G4yjGNpv74

— Strictly 4 My X’ers (@Lizzs_Lockeroom) May 13, 2023

Kawhi Leonard

When healthy, Kawhi Leonard is effective on both ends of the court -- primarily on the defensive end due to his wingspan and the fact he has one of the biggest pairs of hands in NBA history.

Leonard won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year Awards from 2015 to 2016 with the San Antonio Spurs and also earned seven All-Defensive Team selections.

Remember LeBron James' reaction upon seeing Leonard subbing back into the game during the NBA Finals? That's proof even one of the best players today can be shut down by Kawhi Leonard.

Small Forwards to win a DPOY and a FMVP:

Kawhi Leonard

That’s it. That’s the list. pic.twitter.com/rBb86MEVsL

— KlawWrld (@kawhi_ring) September 4, 2023

Sidney Moncrief

Sidney Moncrief owns the distinction of being the only guard to win the Defensive Player of the Year plum more than once in his career as he did it from 1983 to 1984. And yes, Moncrief was the inaugural recipient of the award.

He would exhaust you with his aggressive way of defending and will try to get in your face. For that, he earned five selections to the All-Defensive Team in his career.

Sidney Moncrief:

— 16/5/4
— 5x All-Star
— 5x All-NBA
— 5x All-Defense
— Back-to-back DPOY
— First ever DPOY

The only guard in NBA history to win Defensive Player of the Year multiple times. pic.twitter.com/yP80Lbtrxt

— StatMuse (@statmuse) October 14, 2023

Kevin Garnett

A record-setting 12-time member of the All-Defensive Team and the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year, Kevin Garnett had the ferociousness and the energy as a defender -- both earned him a spot on the all-time best defenders list.

In 21 seasons, KG won an MVP, an NBA championship, and was a 15-time All-Star.

KG in 21 seasons:

— 17.8 PPG | 10.0 RPG
— 15x All-Star
— 9x All-NBA
— 12x All-Defense
— DPOY
— MVP
— NBA Champion
— Hall of Fame
— NBA Top 75

The only player to lead a franchise in all-time points, rebounds, assist, steals and blocks. pic.twitter.com/qfy1rqdfUv

— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 25, 2023

Gary Payton

He is nicknamed "The Glove" for a reason: Gary Payton would get the ball from his opponent one way or another.

Payton is one of the two point guards who took home the Defensive Player of the Year. Heck, he even guarded Michael Jordan in the NBA Finals. While he didn't win that matchup, Payton made sure Jordan had to work harder than usual for his points.

9x All-Star. 9 All-NBA selections. 9x All-Defensive 1st-Team. Best defensive guard of all time 🔒 Only PG to ever win DPOY. Nickname the stuff of legend 🧤 21,000 + points. 8,900 + assists. 2,400 + steals. NBA champion.

Gary Payton is the ___ th best point guard of all-time. pic.twitter.com/Oar9a2boBb

— Sonics Forever (@SimplySonics) February 26, 2021

Dwight Howard

Can you imagine figuring out how to score in the shaded area with Dwight Howard in your path?

It's doable but difficult.

That's how Howard changed players' mindset during his prime years -- primarily during his stint with the Orlando Magic.

Howard won three straight Defensive Player of the Year Awards and was a two-time league leader in blocks and a five-time leader in rebounds.

Dwight Howard in 2008-09 was FREAKISH (box stats are per 75):

• 22.4 points
• 15.1 rebounds
• 1.1 steals
• 3.2 blocks
• 60.0 TS% (+5.6 rTS%)
• anchor of an elite defense (-6.4 rDRtg)
• won 1st of 3 straight DPOY awards

Top 10 center peak? pic.twitter.com/ApZnpXZzyo

— 𝗕𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘🚨 (@bmore_TM) September 17, 2021