Greatest NBA Defenders of All Time Part 1
09/17/2012 19:47
For today I will be writing about the 5 greatest defenders
at each position. I will give their SPG, BPG, their All NBA Defensive Team
selections, their career defensive win share, and if they've won the Defender Player
of the Year award. I will give a little explanation for each but not much. So
if you disagree with any of my picks please comment and explain. Here are the
greatest defenders of all time. Follow me on twitter @CJ_H_12.
Point Guards:
1. Gary Payton - SPG: 1.8 BPG: 0.2 Selections: 9 Defensive First Team: 9 Defensive second team: 0 Career Defensive Win Share: 48.9 (44th all time) Defensive Player of the Year Award: 1
Gary, The Glove, Payton was so good they nicknamed him the Glove. It's like how a baseball glove smothers the baseball. That's how good he was. Some people could put Walt
Frazier and I can't disagree, I admit this is a little biased because I see
more highlights of Payton than Frazier. I would choose those two over anybody
at the point guard position.
2. Walt Frazier - SPG: 1.9 BPG: 0.2 Defensive First Team: 7 Defensive second team: 0 Career
Defensive Win Share: 44.5 (57th all time) Defensive Player of the
Year Award: 0 (Didn't Exist until 1983)
Walt Frazier had one of the quickest hands of all time. Just ask Jerry West who faced
him 3 times in the NBA Finals. Walt would use the crowd to his advantage by
making the crowd non-stop cheering. Then Walt would see the frustration and
devastation in his opponent's eyes and attack even harder. That's what made
Walt so great.
3. Dennis Johnson - SPG: 1.3 BPG: 0.6 Defensive First Team: 6 Defensive second team: 2 Career Defensive Win Share: 42.7 (69th all time) Defensive Player of the Year Award: 0
DJ was known for his defense in the backcourt. Just ask Magic Johnson who said
Dennis Johnson was the best back court defender of all time. Think about this
too, Magic faced great defenders like: Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Maurice
Cheeks, Alvin Robertson, Sidney Moncrief, Michael Ray Richardson, Michael
Jordan, and Scottie Pippen. That's just how great DJ really was.
4. Jason Kidd - SPG: 1.9 BPG: 0.3 Defensive First Team: 4 Defensive Second Team: 5 Career
Defensive Win Share: 72.3 (13th of all time) Defensive Player of the Year Award: 0
Jason Kidd is 6 foot 4 inches and 205 LBS. With that body you can go up against point
guards, shooting guards, and small forwards. Jason Kidd has even guarded greats
like Kobe Bryant and Lebron James. Today, Kidd is slower but in his prime he
was one of the strongest and the fastest out of everyone in the league. Jason
Kidd also has one of the greatest basketball IQ's ever.
5. John Stockton - SPG: 2.2 BPG: 0.2 Defensive First Team: 0 Defensive Second Team: 5 Career Defensive Win Share: 64.9 (18th of all time) Defensive Player of the
Year Award: 0
Many people say John Stockton was dirty. Gary Payton and I disagree with people who
say that. Stockton was chippy and got the job done. When you're dirty you try
to injure somebody. Stockton might've threw elbows but never tried to injure
somebody. He also was one of the toughest players of all time. Just ask David
Robinson who got shoved to the ground by Stockton. Stockton is also the
all-time leader in steals.
Shooting Guards:
1. Michael Jordan - SPG: 2.3 BPG: 0.8 Defensive First Team: 9 Defensive Second Team: 0 Career Defensive Win Share: 64.1 (19th of all time) Defensive Player of the Year Award: 1
Michael Jordan strived to be the best at everything. He did this on offense and
defense. To me I really shouldn't have to put an explanation but I will.
Michael Jordan was on the defensive first team 9 times in 9 straight years
(excluding his first retirement.) That's so good, only 3 other players have
been on the first team 9 times (Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Gary Payton).
Michael Jordan strived to be the best. He definitely did this on defense.
2. Sidney Moncrief - SPG: 1.2 BPG: 0.3 Defensive First Team: 4 Defensive Second Team: 1 Career Defensive Win Share: 28.93 (191th of all time) Defensive Player of the Year Award: 2
Michael Jordan is the greatest scorer at the guard/forward position of all time. He
once said, "When you play against Moncrief, you're in for a night of
all-around basketball. He'll hound you everywhere you go, both ends of the
court. You just expect it." Sidney Moncrief also won the first two Defensive Player of the Year of the Awards.
3. Michael Cooper - SPG: 1.2 BPG: 0.6 Defensive First Team: 5 Defensive Second Team: 3 Career Defensive Win Share: (Not in top 250 of all time) Defensive Player of the Year
Award: 1
Michael Cooper's defense is summed up by Larry Bird saying Michael Cooper was the
toughest defender he ever faced. He's faced James Worthy, Sidney Moncrief, and
many others. Yet, Michael Cooper's defense was the best. Michael Cooper also
won the defensive player of the year award which is outstanding for a guard.
4. John Havlicek - SPG: (only recorded last 5 years of his career): 1.2 BPG: (only recorded last 5 years of his career): 0.3 Defensive First Team: 5 Defensive Second Team: 3
Career Defensive Win Share: 74.1 (11th of all time) Defensive Player
of the Year Award: (Didn't exist until 1983)
John Havlicek was an underrated defender. I believe his SPG would've been a lot
higher if they had recorded SPG. Havlicek was known for his tenacious defense and
smart play. One famous line gives an example of what I'm saying: "Havlicek stole
the ball! It's all over! Havlicek stole the ball!
5. Kobe Bryant - SPG: 1.5 BPG: 0.5 Defensive First Team: 9 Defensive Second Team: 2 Career
Defensive Win Share: 46.9 (52th of all time) Defensive Player of the Year Award: 0
Kobe Bryant is an all around great player, great scorer and defender. I had to decide between Kobe and Dumars here. I know a lot of people won't like it that I put Kobe over
Dumars but I believe Kobe is better. Kobe has a better SPG, defensive win
share, and defensive first team and second team selections. I had to go with
what I believe. Either way, I could see Dumars or Kobe being here.
