The NBA, without a doubt, is the biggest and most popular basketball league. It is the dream of every basketball player to be a part of the NBA. It’s the league of great players. It requires talent, hard work, and dedication to stand out as the best among the bests of the NBA.
A saying goes that defense wins championships, and there is no denial to that. You need to score to win, but without a solid defense, you cannot win matches. Defense in Basketball is tougher than it looks. One needs to have quickness, footwork, athleticism, and a deep understanding of the fundamentals.
Over the years in the NBA, fans have witnessed the dominance of some of the greatest defensive players who were the pillars of their teams’ success. They were the guards of their winning. Here is the list of the ten best defensive NBA players of all time.
Best Defensive NBA Players of All Time
Many experts agree that defense in Basketball is harder than scoring. Restraining your opponents from scoring is a vital and difficult task, especially in the NBA, where the best offenses in the world play.
However, there have been some defensive players who established their dominance over the offense. They set the standards for the defensive players. They are legends of the game. Here are the 10 best defensive NBA players of all time who set the bar high for the position:
- Bill Russell (1956-1969)
- Hakeem Olajuwon (1984-2002)
- Dennis Rodman (1986-2000)
- Dikembe Mutombo (1991-2009)
- Tim Duncan (1997-2016)
- Ben Wallace (1996-2012)
- Scottie Pippen (1987-2008)
- Sidney Moncrief (1979-1991)
- Michael Jordan (1984-2003)
- Kevin Garnett (1995-2016)
Let’s see their legendary careers in brief. The career stats given for every player is of their average performance per game.
1. Bill Russell
| Full Name | William Felton Russell |
| Date of Birth | February 12, 1934 |
| Birth’s Place | Monroe, Louisiana, U.S |
| Height | 6 ft 10 in |
| Weight | 215 lb |
| NBA Draft | 1956 (Boston Celtics, Pick: 2) |
| Teams | Boston Celtics |
| Position | Center |
| NBA Champion | 11 times: 1957, 59, 1960, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69 |
| NBA Most Valuable Player | 5 times: 1958, 1961, 62, 63, 65 |
| Retirement | 1969 |
| Death | July 31, 2022 |
Bill Russell is the pioneer among the best defensive NBA players of all time. There was, is, or will never be anyone like him. He brought about a revolution in the game with his style. It was Russell who changed the concept of defense and made the role more important.
Russell showed extraordinary talent in his college career, which earned him the second pick in the 1956 draft when he was recruited by the Boston Celtics. Russell was the master of the blocked shot. In fact, he was so gracious in it that it became an art.
He could turn blocks into rebounding chances, which is, to date, one of the hardest things to do for defensive players. He was a lockdown defender with a high IQ, skills, athleticism, and great vision.
Russell played for the Celtics throughout his career, and his contribution was massive in making the Celtics the most dominant team in the NBA of that era. In his 14-year-long career, Russell won the NBA Championship 11 times and was a five-time MVP. His accolades are surely enough to make him the leader of the best defensive NBA players of all time.
He participated in 963 NBA games and scored 15.1 points per game, which is incredible for a defensive player, and he also had an average of 4.3 assists.
The 6 ft 10 inches tall legend was born in Louisiana in 1934. He retired from the NBA in 1969 and joined the class of Hall of Fame in 1975. The legend died in 2002. Russell has been an idol and inspiration for all next-generation players.
Career stats of Bill Russell:
| Games | Points (ppg) | TRB | Assists | Win Shares |
| 963 | 15.1 | 22.5 | 4.3 | 163.5 |
2. Hakeem Olajuwon
| Full Name | Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon |
| Date of Birth | January 21, 1963 |
| Birth’s Place | Lagos, Nigeria |
| Height | 7 ft 0 in |
| Weight | 255 lb |
| NBA Draft | 1984 (Houston Rockets, Pick: 1) |
| Teams | Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors |
| Position | Center |
| NBA Champion | 2 Times: 1994, 95 |
| NBA Finals MVP | 2 Times: 1994, 95 |
| NBA Most Valuable Player | 1994 |
| Retirement | 2002 |
Finding the right position for Hakeem Olajuwon in the list of the best defensive NBA players of all time is always a struggle. It is difficult not to choose him over Bill Russell. If you want Bill Russell in the number 1 spot, then Hakeem is obviously in the second position. No other position will do justice to the contribution of the legend.
Hakeem was the best off-ball defender, for sure. Seeing him play was a wonderful experience for fans as the 6 ft 11 inches giant could move nimbly like a 5-footer. He was so good at shutting down his opponent that he was called a shot-blocking machine.
After being the first pick in 1984’s draft, Hakeem showed his dominance in the 80s and 90s. Despite being the key defender for his teams, Hakeem has a scoring average of 21.8 points per game. Hakeem had a long career of almost two decades and has been an absolute legend of the game.
After playing for two teams in his long career, he retired in 2002 due to a back injury. By then, he had played more than twelve hundred matches and scored more than 26 thousand points! He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.
Career stats of Hakeem Olajuwon:
| Games | Points | TRB | Assists | Blocked Shots | Win Shares |
| 1238 | 21.8 | 11.1 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 162.8 |
3. Dennis Rodman
| Full Name | Dennis Keith Rodman |
| Date of Birth | May 13, 1961 |
| Birth’s Place | Trenton, New Jersey, U.S |
| Height | 6 ft 7 in |
| Weight | 228 lb |
| NBA Draft | 1986 (Detroit Pistons, Pick: 27) |
| Teams | Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks |
| Position | Power Forward/Small Forward |
| NBA Champion | 5 Times: 1989, 90, 96,97,98 |
| NBA All-Star | 2 Times: 1990, 92 |
| NBA Defensive Player of the Year | 2 Times: 1990, 91 |
| NBA Most Valuable Player | N/A |
| Retirement | 2000 |
The two-time NBA defensive player of the Year award winner Dennis Rodman had played for 5 NBA teams and 6 NBA minor league teams.
Rodman was crazy in his personal life. He would do crazy and weird stuff to get publicity, and many criticized him for this. However, as soon as he entered the court, he was a different person.
Rodman was drafted into the NBA in 1986. He started his NBA career with the Detroit Pistons and played for the team till 1993. During this time, he played a major role in the Pistons’ two NBA championship wins in 1989 and 1990.
Rodman played for four more teams in the NBA, but it was the Chicago Bulls where he found more success, becoming the NBA champion for three years in a row.
You can judge him on any parameter of defense, including: on the perimeter, in the post, and on his man, and Rodman will stand out in every skill. He is considered the most versatile defender in the history of the NBA.
In his 14-year career, he played over 900 games and had a scoring average of 7.3. Rodman’s NBA career ended in 2000. However, he did not retire till 2006. During this time, he would play in the NBA G league. To honor the contribution of Rodman, Pistons retired his jersey no.10 in 2011.
Career stats of Dennis Rodman:
| Games | Points | TRB | Assists | Steals | Win Shares |
| 911 | 7.3 | 13.1 | 1.8 | 89.8 |
4. Dikembe Mutombo
| Full Name | Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo |
| Date of Birth | June 25, 1966 |
| Birth’s Place | Kinshasa, Congo-Kinshas |
| Height | 7 ft 2 in |
| Weight | 260 lb |
| NBA Draft | 1991 (Denver Nuggets, Pick: 4) |
| NBA Rookie of the Year | N/A |
| Teams | Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, New Jersey Nets |
| Position | Center |
| NBA Champion | N/A |
| NBA Most Valuable Player | N/A |
| NBA All-Star | 8 Times: 1992, 95, 96, 97, 98, 2000, 01, 02 |
| NBA Defensive Player of the Year | 4 Times: 1995, 97, 98, 2001 |
| Retirement | 2009 |
Dikembe Mutombo was drafted into the NBA in 1991 when he was picked by the Denver Nuggets. Mutombo had the physical appearance of a defender with a 7 ft 2 inches height. He was fast, athletic, and skilled.
Mutombo retired in 2009 after playing for two decades. During this time, he represented six different teams and was a star player in all of them. Mutombo reached his peak in the late nineties when he was named the NBA Defensive player of the year three times, and one more time, he earned this feat in 2001.
Mutombo is one of the best shot blockers. Blocking the ball in the air duels was his specialty. As an interior stopper, Mutombo was so good that you can place him on the top of the list. Mutombo ranks at no.2 in most career blocks. No wonder he is counted as one of the best defensive NBA players of all time.
Career Stats of Dikembe Mutombo:
| Games | Points | TRB | Assists | Blocked Shots | Win Shares |
| 1196 | 9.8 | 10.3 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 117.0 |
5. Tim Duncan
| Full Name | Timothy Theodore Duncan |
| Date of Birth | April 25, 1976 |
| Birth’s Place | Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Height | 6 ft 11 in |
| Weight | 250 lb |
| NBA Draft | 1997 (San Antonio Spurs, Pick: 1) |
| NBA Rookie of the Year | 1998 |
| Teams | San Antonio Spurs |
| Position | Power forward/Center |
| NBA Champion | 5 Times: 1999, 2003, 05, 07, 14 |
| NBA Finals MVP | 3 Times: 1999, 2003, 05 |
| NBA Most Valuable Player | 2 Times: 2002, 03 |
| Retirement | 2016 |
Duncan is probably the smartest defender in NBA history and the finest of the modern era. Though many people call him boring as he does not perform unnecessary air matchups, when it comes to effectiveness, Duncan is incomparable.
Duncan has the size, speed, and IQ to outsmart his opponents, and many claim him to be the second-best to Russell in beating his opponents in the air. His presence of mind for not fouling the shooter and incredible timing makes him one of the best blockers of the modern era.
Duncan showed great talent in his college team, Wake Forest, which highly interested the San Antonio Spurs in him. As a result, Duncan was the first pick in the draft. Many sensed that the 6 ft 11 inches taller from the Virgin Islands would one day make his place among the best defensive NBA players of all time.
In his two-decade-long career, Duncan achieved everything the NBA has to offer. He is a five-time NBA champion, three times Finals MVPs, and back-to-back two-time NBA most valuable player. Duncan retired from the NBA in 2016 after having a mammoth successful career.
Career stats of Tim Duncan:
| Games | Points | TRB | Assists | Blocked Shots | Win Shares |
| 1392 | 19.0 | 10.8 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 206.4 |
6. Ben Wallace
| Full Name | Ben Camey Wallace |
| Date of Birth | September 10, 1974 |
| Birth’s Place | White Hall, Alabama, U.S |
| Height | 6 ft 9 in |
| Weight | 240 lb |
| Teams | Viola Reggio Calabria, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Washington Bullets/Wizards. |
| Position | Center |
| NBA Champion | 2004 |
| NBA Most Valuable Player | N/A |
| NBA All-Star | 4 times: 2003, 04, 05, 06 |
| NBA Defensive Player of the Year | 4 times: 2002, 03, 05, 06 |
| Retirement | 2012 |
Ben Wallace’s pro career began in the late nineties. Judging by his early career performance, it might seem surprising to have him in the midst of the best defensive NBA players of all time. However, Wallace reinvented himself in the early 2000s, and he became so good that you cannot make a list without him.
Wallace was born in 1974 in Alabama. He was initially undrafted in 1996 and was later recruited by the Washington Bullets. The turning point of Wallace’s career came in 2000 when he joined the Detroit Pistons.
Between 2000 and 2006, Wallace won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year a record four times. He played a key role in the Pistons’ 2004 NBA championship win. Wallace then also played for the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers. However, he returned to the Pistons squad again in 2009 and played for the side till his retirement.
Wallace retired from the NBA in 2012, and soon after that, the Pistons retired jersey no. 3 to honor and acknowledge the contribution of Ben Wallace.
Career stats of Ben Wallace:
| Games | Points | TRB | Assists | Blocks | Win Shares |
| 1088 | 5.7 | 9.6 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 93.5 |
7. Scottie Pippen
| Full Name | Scotty Maurice Pippen Sr |
| Date of Birth | September 25, 1965 |
| Birth’s Place | Hamburg, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 8 in |
| Weight | 228 lb |
| NBA Draft | 1987 (Seattle Super Sonics, Pick: 5) |
| NBA Rookie of the Year | N/A |
| Teams | Chicago Bulls, Portland Trail Blazers, Torpan Pojat, Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls, Sundsvall Dragons |
| Position | Small forward |
| NBA Champion | 6 times: 1991, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98 |
| NBA Finals MVP | N/A |
| 7× NBA All-Star | 1990, 92, 91, 94, 95, 96, 97 |
| Retirement | 2008 |
For 12 seasons, Scottie Pippen represented the Chicago Bulls and is one of the greatest defenders ever to play wearing the Bulls jersey. Pippen is one of the finest defensive players from the 90, though he is often overshadowed by another legend Michael Jordan.
No one could defend the perimeter like Pippen. With his quickness, skills, and athleticism, he excelled in this role. During his reign with the Chicago Bulls, the Bulls became NBA champion six times in twelve years. Pippen became a seven-time NBA all-star and the NBA steals leader in 1995.
Pippen was included in the NBA’s 50th and 75th-anniversary teams. He took a break in 2004 and announced his retirement in 2008.
Career stats of Scottie Pippen:
| Games | Points | TRB | Assists | Steals | Win Shares |
| 1178 | 16.1 | 6.4 | 5.2 | 2.0 | 125.1 |
8. Sidney Moncrief
| Full Name | Sidney Alvin Moncrief |
| Date of Birth | September 21, 1957 |
| Birth’s Place | Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in |
| Weight | 190 lb |
| NBA Draft | 1979 (Milwaukee Bucks, Pick: 5) |
| NBA Rookie of the Year | N/A |
| Teams | Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks |
| Position | Shooting Guard |
| NBA Champion | N/A |
| NBA Most Valuable Player | N/A |
| NBA Defensive Player of the Year | 2 Times: 1983, 84 |
| 5× NBA All-Star | 5 Times: 1982, 83, 84, 85, 86 |
| Retirement | 1991 |
Sidney Moncrief was not only a great defensive player, but he was also a complete package. His defensive abilities were remarkable. Moncrief could block the opponents from scoring, as well as score whenever he got the right opportunity.
Moncrief was named two times in a row as the NBA defensive player of the year and a five-time NBA all-star. Sadly the legend did not win the NBA title. However, that could not stop him from being acclaimed as one of the best defensive NBA players of all time.
Career stats of Sidney Moncrief:
| Games | Points | TRB | Assists | Win Shares |
| 767 | 15.6 | 4.7 | 3.6 | 90.3 |
9. Michael Jordan
| Full Name | Michael Jeffrey Jordan |
| Date of Birth | February 17, 1963 |
| Birth’s Place | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Basketball Player, Entrepreneur, and Spokesperson. |
| Height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Weight | 98 kg (216 lb) |
| NBA Draft | 1984 (Chicago Bulls, Pick: 3) |
| NBA Rookie of the Year | 1985 |
| Teams | Chicago Bulls |
| Position | Shooting Guard |
| NBA Champion | 6 Times: 1991, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98 |
| NBA Finals MVP | 6 Times: 1991, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98 |
| NBA Most Valuable Player | 5 Times: 1988, 1991, 92, 96, 98 |
| Retirement | 2003 |
If being great was a crime, Michael Jordan would have been the greatest criminal in the history of the NBA. There was never, or will ever be, someone like Jordan. Athletes like him are only born once in millennia. Jordan is known for his offensive playing, but he was equally good in defense.
Jordan was drafted into the NBA in 1984, and no surprise he was the third overall pick at the draft. His pro career started with the Chicago Bulls, and he played there until 1998. During the 90s, the Bulls became the most dominant and successful team, thanks to Michael Jordan and Pippen.
During the 90s, Chicago Bulls won the NBA championship six times; in all six finals, Jordan was the MVP. It’s a feat that no one had heard of before Jordan accomplished it. In 1988, Jordan was awarded the Defensive Player of the year award.
Jordan’s pro career began in 1984, and he became the rookie of the year in 1985. Jordan achieved everything there was to achieve, not just in the NBA but also in Basketball. He won four gold medals with USA Basketball which includes two gold Olympic gold medals.
Jordan was a perfect athlete with all the skills and charisma. He was so good on the court that he became a global icon. With so many accomplishments to his name, Jordan is not just one of the best defensive NBA players of all time; he is the best NBA player ever.
Career stats of Michael Jordan:
| Games | Points | TRB | Assists | Steals | Win Shares |
| 1072 | 30.1 | 6.2 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 214 |
10. Kevin Garnett
| Full Name | Kevin Maurice Garnett |
| Date of Birth | May 19, 1976 |
| Birth’s Place | Greenville, South Carolina |
| Height | 6 ft 11 in |
| Weight | 240 lb |
| NBA Draft | 1995 (Minnesota Timberwolves, Pick: 5) |
| NBA Rookie of the Year | N/A |
| Teams | Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics |
| Position | Power Forward |
| NBA Champion | 2008 |
| NBA Finals MVP | N/A |
| NBA Most Valuable Player | 2004 |
| 15× NBA All-Star | 15 Times: 1997, 98, 2000-11, 13 |
| Retirement | 2016 |
Garnett’s passion, intense athleticism, and dedication make him one of the finest defensive players in NBA history.
Garnett was drafted into the NBA in 1995 by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Garnett was in great form throughout his career and became a 15-time all-star. From 2000 to 2011, he never failed to make the all-star list.
Kevin Garnett was the 2004 NBA MVP and became an NBA Champion in 2008. In his twenty-year-long career, Garnett played 1462 games and had a scoring average of 17.8 points per game. Garnett announced his retirement in 2016.
Career stats of Kevin Jordan:
| Games | Points | TRB | Assists | Win Shares | Blocked Shots |
| 1462 | 17.8 | 10.0 | 3.7 | 191.4 | 1.5 |
Conclusion
People Also Read:
To shine as a defensive player in the NBA is challenging. But these players on the list have done it with perfection. They became idols for all upcoming young players. Because of their contribution, today, the NBA is so popular and prestigious. They will always be remembered as the best defensive NBA players of all time.
