Top 10 NBA Defensive Players Of All-time
Throughout the whole Lebron vs. Kobe debate that took place during the playoffs, I was amazed at how often people focused in on their offensive skills and attributes, and how little people talked about how good these guys were defensively. They are both stoppers, probably stemming from the MJ effect of ‘hating to lose with a passion’.
It got me thinking. Who are the greatest defensive players of all-time in NBA history? Well, I had some chats with friends, and decided to put together a Top 10 list. Feel free to let me know who is missing. Some near misses were Moses Malone, Mark Eaton, Mo Cheeks, Scottie Pippen, etc.
10. Alonzo Mourning
If there was a definition for ‘intensity’ would you not expect to find Alonzo Mourning’s name in there somewhere? How about the word ‘Warrior’? This guy was an absolute beast on the defensive end. Although his offensive game was adequate, yet limited, he more than made up for it on the defensive end. He played with a purpose, and that was to shut people down. He seemingly put a lid on his teams basket. Most folks are aware of Alonzo’s kidney transplant that sidelined him for a few years, and about his almost miraculous comeback to the top with the Miami Heat. Keeping all of the missed games and limited minutes due to his health situations in mind, Mourning still is 10th all-time in blocked shots with 2,356. Even more impressive considering his limited minutes per game, he is 6th all-time in blocks per game at 2.81 over the course of his career. Simply astounding, Mourning is an inspiration, and one mean and intense defensive master. Alonzo is also a 2-time defensive player of the year recipient.
9. Ben Wallace
Some may question this pick for the top 10 of all-time due to the fact that Big Ben doesn’t make any NBA all-time leaders list in blocks, steals, or rebounds. In fact the only notable list he makes in the defensive area is the top 25 in blocks per game at just over 2 for the course of his career. But anyone who has followed his career realizes that there is not one player in NBA history that has dominated the defensive end in a period of 5 years as Ben Wallace did from 2001-2006. In that stretch he won the NBA Defensive Player of the year award 4 times (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006). During that stretch he also was either the leader or second in the league in both blocked shots and rebounds. Ben has surprisingly quick hands and was often getting as many if not more steals per game than blocks in that stretch. All of this from a player that NEVER got drafted to the NBA, instead had to work his way into the league. Ben, you are more than deserving of making the all-time defensive list in our books.
8. Bill Russell
If there was ever a ‘kryptonite’ for the original superman, Wilt Chamberlain, it was Bill Russell. Wilt could simply not be stopped, unless he was going head to head with Russell. The road to the title in those days went through Bill Russell, and only a very select few got through him. Although they didn’t record blocks back when Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain were playing in the NBA, there are some tremendous stories circulating, among those who were fortunate enough to see them play live, that both giants blocked shots by the dozens. Although we have to take our elders word for it, they both did enough on defensive rebounds alone to land them on this list. Russell averaged 22.5 rebounds per game over the course of his career, which is more than 11 per game over the third all time on that list. The Celtics were a very tough team to score on in those days, and it all started and ended with Russell anchoring the paint.
7. John Stockton
Just on one factor alone you can put Stockton virtually anywhere on this list. Steals. The guy was the master of thievery. He has the NBA All-time record for steals at a mind-numbing 3,265 total steals over the course of his career. That is more than 700 more steals than MJ had in second place on that list. I wish there were more accurate numbers on charges taken by a guard as well. Because if there were, Stockton surely would be a top that list as well. The guy is the most unselfish player to ever grace a basketball court. Everyone knows this about his passing, but he would also sacrifice his body on countless plays to get a change in possession for his club. And given how long and healthy he was over the course of his career, talk about durable!
6. Dikembe Mutombo
If there was one prototype for a shot blocking machine, it would certainly look a lot like Dikembe Mutombo. He was built to block shots. His length, leaping ability, timing, and his wagging finger in the face of opponents after he shuts them down are what I always think about when people talk best shot blockers of all-time. Mutombo is second all-time on the total blocks list with 3,289, and has won the defensive player of the year award a record 4 times (tied with Ben Wallace). Mutombo led the league 5 times in total blocks, 4 times in total rebounds, and 2 times in defensive boards. Mutombo is certainly the scariest guy to be facing as an opposing guard driving into the paint. He has made a career of erasing the mistakes of his teammates at the rim.
5. Michael Jordan
MJ is definitely not the best defensive player to ever play the game. But given his will to win, and inability to accept losing, are probably the driving factors in his success as a defender. The intensity with which MJ played defense was motivating. He literally made playing defense and shutting down opponents ‘cool’ for guards. In the modern game, Josh Smith and Lebron James are often on highlight reels for hustling back on defense and erasing mistakes by blocking wide-open opposition lay-ups off the backboard. Well you can thank MJ for that, as he basically invented those highlights. MJ was the NBA’s defensive player of the year in 1988, and has the record 9 times on the NBA All-defensive First Team. Jordan is also second to only John Stockton on the All-time Steals list with 2,514 career steals.
4. Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt the stilt will probably be remembered for being the most dominant scorer the NBA has ever seen. His career and season per game averages in scoring are astounding. What people often forget is how much he changed the game defensively. He is the all-time leader in rebounds with a mind-blowing 23,924. They didn’t record blocks in his era, however rumor has it that Wilt would sometimes have upwards of 20 blocks in a single contest. The NBA didn’t start giving out the Defensive Player of the Year award until 1982, otherwise Wilt may have racked up quite a few of these to go along with his 4 NBA MVP awards.
3. Gary Payton
When this list was being constructed, the first players to come to mind were big men. The big fellas blocking shots and securing possessions with defensive rebounds are the first natural thoughts when talking about defense. But if there was one player that revolutionized the way we think about the top defensive players, it was Gary Payton. In fact he was even nicknamed ‘The Glove’ due to his ability to cover and wrap up opposing point guards like a baseball in a glove. A lot of guards will anticipate poor passes and fill the passing lanes for steals. Gary not only did that with great success, but where he differed from many guards was in his ability as an on-the-ball defender. He literally could shut down players at either the 1 or 2 position on any given night. Gary is third all-time on the NBA’s steals list with 2,445 career steals. Payton shares the record with Michael Jordan as the player with the most selections to the NBA’s all-defensive first team, at 9. Probably the most telling factor however for his dominance as a defender, Gary Payton is the only point guard in NBA history that has ever received the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabaar
Due to the fact that KAJ is the All-time leading NBA scorer, people sometimes forget about just how good he was at the other end of the court. Kareem was an animal on the glass, and could change shots with the best of them. He was super long and although not bulky could hold his ground and block shots against even the biggest of opposing centers. Until just recently Kareem Abdul-Jabaar was second all-time in blocks with 3,189 before being surpassed by Dikembe Mutumbo. Kareem is also third all-time in total rebounds, and secured more than 9,300 defensive rebounds during his career. For those that followed his career closely, they would recognize most his ability to turn it up in close games and basically shut down the opposition from scoring in the paint.
1. Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon finished his career as the NBA’s All-time leader in blocked shots with 3,830. That is almost 700 more blocked shots than the second place in total blocks, Dikembe Mutombo. That in itself would make Hakeem ‘The Dream’ worthy of our first spot as the best defensive basketball player of all-time. But there is something even more compelling about Olajuwon’s defensive abilities. He is 8th on the NBA’s All-time steals list, with 2,162 steals! That is very rare for a big man, in fact as evidence of this there is not even one other Center that has cracked the top 25 of the all-time steals list. Hakeem is also 11th on the All-time rebounds list. Between all the blocks, steals, and rebounds that Hakeem Olajuwon has logged think about how many ‘new’ possessions he has secured for his team without the opposition scoring! No wonder the Rockets won those NBA Championships.
how could you forget Rodman???
This list is woefully incomplete without DENNIS RODMAN!
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How can Dennis Rodman not be on this list, he was easily one of the best of all time.
Bruce Bowen?
Rebounding is a defensive statistic: Rodman is the greatest rebounder of his era. Rodman played on-the-ball defense at 4 positions. If Rodman aint on the list nobody should be on the list:
2-Time Defensive Player of the Year.
7-Time NBA All Defense First Team
7-Time NBA Rebounding Champ.
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I hear what you are saying about Rodman, and he did cross my mind as I looked at the stats of all of these cats. But the big question is, who on the current list would you remove to put Rodman into the Top 10.
Instead of just saying Rodman should be Top 10, make the case of who should be off the list instead of Rodman. It’s not as easy as it seems.
Doc J.
Where is joe dumars? and why is payton over mj? Mj has 2 season of 200+ steals and 100 +blocks… And Pippen does two. At their time they were considered the two best defenders in the league.
And where is Scottie Pippen, who was, in my opinion, better defender than MJ?
How about Alvin Robertson? With the exception of Wallace, you have a list of superstars. It’s like you didn’t think of anyone who wasn’t a HOF’er. Robertson was the best on-the-ball defender of the 80s, and one of the only men to record a quadruple double.
He is the only center i ever watched that could go out on the perimeter and guard point gaurds as effectively as he gaurded centers. anyone from gary payton to shaq.
John Stockton ranked ahead of Bill Russell? Are you out of your mind? Stockton got a load of steals but so did Allen Iverson. Does that make them great defenders? No, it makes them gamblers. Don’t get me wrong, Stockton could defend, but there’s no way in hell that he was a better defender than Bill Russell.
Also, Scottie Pippen is the best defensive small forward of all-time. Leaving him off the list is a huge mistake. Payton was awesome defensively but 3rd is far too high. Finally, David Robinson deserves at least a mention.
David Robinson anyone? He was a force on the defensive end and really doing it all – blocks, steals, rebounds…
Rodman should replace Stockton. Steals is the most overrated defensive statistic in basketball. Iverson led or finished near the top of the NBA in steals every year of his career. Nobody considers Iverson a great defender. He cheated off his man, played passing lanes, and got lots of steals. So did Stockton.
John Stockton better defender than Bill Russell?
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Feels like blocks are highly overrated in this list. Mourning and Mutumbo are great players, but really do not belong on a “Top 10 of All-time” list.
And apparently, the NBA is composed of solely guards and centers. Who knew?
Wasn’t Pippen a 10 time defensive all star pick??
In any case I’ll argue Pippen over Jordan in that position any day of the week.
No defensive list is complete without Rodman in the top 3…guy guared Centers for goodness sake. Best Rebounder of all time, best post defender of all time and he was what 6′7″ ? Total Joke not having him on here.
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Walt “Clyde” Frazier?
It’s a hard list only having ten. It’s not a bad one given that limitation. I would say that Rodman should be at 8 and Mourning should be knocked off. Mourning was good, but at D Rodman was definitely superior. Then Wallace should be knocked off by Pippen or Malone but that’s a real tough call. Ben has been a well deserved 4 time DPOY and he is fantastic, but I feel Pippen or Malone were better on D.
Certainly the guy several posts up who actually said Bruce Bowen is an idiot. Bruce Bowen is overrated trash. Sure he was…good at D. He was never as good as he was made out to be. He stood out during an interim period when D’s were very anemic in the league. Once defense picked back up in the NBA overall, oh gee look at that there goes Bowen’s relevance. Bowen being almost picked several times for the All Star team is just annoying. The dude isn’t deserving of the odd amount of praise he gets. He just isn’t that good. On a top D list there are so so many players who deserve to be ranked higher than Bowen.
Also as far as Robinson goes he was great but not better on D than any one of the ten guys named here so that was fair.
yeah u tripping im a die hard Chicago bulls fan and you not having pippen on jere is crazy. What were u watching you forgot pippen guarded the best offensive plyer or threat on the opposing team. From Magic to Stockton Barkley to Malone Kemp DOMINIQUE ISIAH man i could go on and on hes one of only 3 players in nba history with 200 steals and 100 blocks in a season man to man defender one of the best of all time and he caused havoc 11+ years straight you need to do your homework i need to be on espn cbs or something because some of you sports writers don’t know nothing about Basketball. Even Rodman Ron harper better defender than Stockton he just good a steals
You should have made room for Rodman and Pippen. You have to remember that Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman as a trio were a defensive force in ‘96 as they went on to win 72 games and litterly shut people down in the playoffs for a 15-1 record. Oh, and who did they play in the finals? The “GLOVE” Gary Payton. Remove the so-called Glove from the list and replace him with Pippen. Also toss out Ben Wallace and replace him with Dennis Rodman and his 7 straight years of leading the league in rebounds.
Wow, this list is pure garbage. No Rodman? No Pippen? Gary Payton #3? Are you crazy?!?
Rodman during his prime could guard positions 1-3, made life a living hell for offensive players and was one hell of a rebounder. During his older years he became a great post defender and could even defend centers when things got tough.
Pippen did EVERYTHING on defense. You name it he did it…steals, blocks, full court press, could guard positions 1-4, took charges. There’s not a single person on this crap list who did all that and did it as well or as consistently as Pippen. Dude was first team All defense NINE times and he’s not on this list? Just plain stupid.
Stockton and Payton are great defenders but NEITHER had as much impact on a game like Pippen or Rodman.
I would have to agree with most of the other people here, where is Rodman? He could shut down just about any player he was matched up against, he may not have the best attitude, but jesus, that guy could play some defense, alot of people will probably disagree with me on this, but Rodman was one of the main reasons the Bulls went 72-10, he brought rebounding and a big defensive presence to the Bulls, which is what they needed.
hows bill russel number 8??he should be number one and rodman should be in there to
dennis rodman and scottie pippen are better defensive players than kareem and stockton, im sorry
Even though MJ according to you isn’t the best at defense, He is the best player of ALL times with a lot more heart then the players now a days, I have not really seen any one that can play like he can, he’s had multiple awards and champianship rings then any one. Now a days players sprang a finger nail and they don’t want to play, It’s all about money. Which is a shame.