The defense is usually undermined by the fans as we only want to see points being scored but an ideal follower of the game will approve the importance of defense and how a defensive lapse costs a team, the game.
Defensive rebounds, blocks, and steals are all important features of a good defensive player. We as fans want to witness a good competition on the court that involves good defensive plays.There have been players who have been consistent on both sides of the court. ‘The two-way players’ as they call them.
They are the team’s most treasured assets. Here is a list of the five best defenders to have excelled in the NBA:
#5 Michael Jordan
Considered to be the greatest basketball player of all-time. Michael Jordan was equipped all-around skills that enabled him to control the game along the 94-by-50 feet court. Jordan along with his impressive scoring abilities was also a great defensive player. He wouldn’t let the opponents get easy points
He is the third overall on NBA All-Time Steals leaders averaging 2.3 steals per game for his career and was the steals leader in 1988, 1990 and 1993. He was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1988 and also received an All-Defensive NBA first team selection nine times.
#4 Ben Wallace
He shares the record of most number of NBA Defensive Player of the Year with four awards in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006. Starting his career with Washington Bullets(later Wizards) in 1996 as an undrafted free-agent, he became a dominant force after his move to Detroit Pistons in 2000. He improved as a defensive player at Detroit with impressive rebounding and shot-blocking skills leading the Pistons to the NBA championship in 2004 beating the Los Angeles Lakers in the best of seven Finals series.
In the final game, he produced his best performance with 22 rebounds and 18 points. To be able to defend the Lakers comprising Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal speaks the volume of Wallace’s defending abilities. He was picked five times in the NBA All-Defensive First Team along with being two times NBA Rebounding leader and one time NBA blocks leader.
#3 Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo, one of the greatest to have never won the championship. A four-time NBA Defensive Player of the year, a record he shares with Ben Wallace, Mutombo is regarded as one of the best shot blockers of all time. He is listed second in the NBA All-Time blocks registering 3289 over the course of his 18-year career.
Using his tall stature to his advantage, he was consistent with his blocks and rebounding. He averaged 2.8 blocks and 10.3 rebounds per game during his career.
Mutombo’s celebration after each successful block became infamous as he would taunt his opponent with the index finger like a parent disapproving their child’s act of disobedience. His long elbows also caused injuries to players both opponents and teammates. He was picked three times for the NBA All-Defensive first team along with being three-time NBA block leader and two-time NBA Rebounding leader.
#2 Bill Russell
An eleven-time NBA championship winner, Bill Russel is considered as one of the best defenders of all time. Some pundits claim that he would have topped all defensive records if they were recorded during his time. Having a prestigious career with the Boston Celtics between 1956 and 1969, he was a 5 time NBA Most Valuable Player(MVP) and a 12 time NBA All-Star.
Though not famous for his offensive game, he was able to notch 14,522 career points and had 4,100 assists to his name. His rebounding skills were exceptional, with a total of 21,620 rebounds he is second only to Wilt Chamberlain on the All-Time list. He was four-time NBA rebounding champion and is the only one of the two players(other being Chamberlain) to grab 50 or more rebounds in a single game. He used his 6'10" tall stature to good use in defending his basket and was well-known for his shot blocks and man-to-man marking. He doesn’t hold any blocking records as they were not recorded in those times.
#1 Hakeem Olajuwon
A highly skilled two-way player, Olajuwon led the Houston Rockets to win back-to-back NBA championship in 1994 and 1995. He was known for his defensive skills. The 7 feet tall center was an amazing shot blocker.
Olajuwon is the only player in NBA history to record more than 200 blocks and 200 steals in the same season. He averaged 3.09 blocks and 1.75 steals per game for his career. He was a two time NBA defensive player of the year and Five-time NBA All-Defensive first team selection. ‘The Dream’, as he was known for his dunking abilities, is considered to be among the greatest to have played the game. He leads the NBA All-Time blocks leaders list, and is the only player to retire in the top 10 of all four categories including scoring, rebounding and steals. He was inducted into both the Basketball and FIBA Hall of Fame.
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