The Best Defenders in NBA History

From Bill Russell to Kawhi Leonard these are the best defenders in NBA history

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time. He was a ten-time NBA All-Star six-Ime Nba champion, and five-time NBA MVP Jordan was also a two-time Olympic gold medalist.

During his time with the Chicago Bulls Jordan established himself as one of the best players in the league. He was known for his scoring ability, but he was also an excellent defender. In fact, Jordan was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team nine times.

Jordan was such a good defender that he was often able to shut down opposing players. He had a reputation for being especially tough on All-Stars, and he often limited them to below their season averages.

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant is widely considered one of the greatest players in NBA history He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five NBA championships He was a 15-time All-Star, an 18-time member of the All-NBA team and a 12-time member of the All-Defensive team He was also the 2007-08 NBA MVP and he led the league in scoring twice.

Bryant was an outstanding defender, using his quickness and agility to guard both perimeter players and post players He was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team nine times, and he is one of only four players in NBA history to be named to both the All-NBA First Team and the All-Defensive First Team in the same season (2006-07).

Bryant’s combination of skill, tenacity, and determination made him one of the best defenders in NBA history

LeBron James

Most people would put Lebron James as the best player in NBA history But, is he the best defender? In this article, we will take a look at LeBron’s defensive numbers and see how they compare to some of the other great defenders in NBA history

LeBron James is widely considered to be one of the best basketball players of all time. He has won three NBA Championships four MVP Awards and three Finals MVP Awards He is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist. In addition to his many accomplishments, LeBron is also an excellent defender.

LeBron’s career defensive numbers are very good. He has averaged 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. He has also been named to the All-Defensive first team eight times in his career. In comparison, Michael Jordan who is widely considered to be the greatest player of all time, was only named to the All-Defensive first team nine times in his career.

There are other players who have better defensive numbers than Lebron James but when you factor in his size and strength, it is clear that he is one of the best defenders in NBA history

Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson is considered by many to be one of the best defenders in NBA history A 6’9″ point guard he was able to use his size and strength to guard players much larger than him. He was a ten-time All-Defensive First Team selection and a five-time All-Star. He is also one of only two players in NBA History to average at least 8 assists and 2 steals per game for their career.

Bill Russell

Bill Russell is widely considered one of the best defenders in NBA history Standing at 6-foot-10, he used his exceptional athleticism and long arms to his advantage, averaging 5.3 blocks per game throughout his career. A five-time NBA MVP and 12-time All-Star, Bill Russell was theanchor of the Boston Celtics’ dynasty that won 11 championships in 13 seasons.

Wilt Chamberlain

In his 14-year Hall of Fame career, Wilt Chamberlain was one of the most dominating players the game has ever seen. The 7-foot-1 center was a force on both ends of the floor, averaging 22.9 points, 18.2 rebounds, and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 54.0 percent from the field. Chamberlain is the only player in NBA history to average at least 22 points, 18 rebounds, and 4 blocks per game for his career, and he did it in an era when defense was not as highly valued as it is today. He is also the only player in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 20 rebounds, and 5 blocks per game in a season, which he did four times. In addition to his incredible statistical accomplishments, Chamberlain was also an excellent Defensive Player He was named to the All-Defensive First Team five times and the All-Defensive Second Team three times, and he led the league in blocked shots four times. He is widely considered to be one of the best defenders in NBA history

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is widely considered one of the best defenders in NBA history He was a 7-time NBA All-Defensive first teamer, and was named Defensive Player of the Year in the 1974-75 season. Abdul-Jabbar was an incredibly versatile defender, capable of guarding all five positions on the court. He used his size and strength to his advantage, and was known for being a very tough player.

Larry Bird

Regarded as one of the best players in NBA history Bird was a 12-time NBA All-Star and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) three consecutive times (1984–1986). He played his entire professional career for the Boston Celtics winning three NBA championships and two NBA Finals MVP Awards

Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan is widely considered to be one of the best defenders in NBA history He was a part of the San Antonio Spurs’ “Big Three” that won five NBA championships together. Duncan was a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the All-Defensive first team 10 times. He was also a 15-time All-Star and is one of only four players to win an NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP in the same season.

Hakeem Olajuwon

Hakeem Olajuwon is widely considered one of the best defenders in NBA history He was a two-time defensive player of the Year and a four-time blocks leader. Olajuwon is the only player in NBA history to win both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year Award in the same season. He was also a nine-time All-Star and a two-time NBA Champion