Originally by Ranker NBAList RulesVote up the best defenders in the league today.
Who are the best defenders currently in the NBA? Certainly, this list includes some of the best defensive players playing right now, and potentially some of the top NBA players of all time. Check out these lists of best current shot blockers and best current scorers, along with the best (worst) NBA floppers playing today. Having a lockdown defender gives any NBA team a huge advantage.
The top defensive players who are currently playing in the NBA are certainly among the current NBA players with top overall ratings, too (Draymond Green, Rudy Gobert, Kawhi Leonard, and LeBron James come to mind immediately).
The highly skilled NBA players on this list can make or break a team's performance on the court. They are hustle players who lock down their man outside the perimeter and inside the paint. These DPOY candidates are experts at stealing the ball and drawing charges.
Vote for the current great players who you think are the most important on defense, key players for their respective teams, and if your favorite player isn't part of these rankings, add him. You can also re-rank this list of NBA defenders in any order you want.
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4,0171,460Kawhi Leonard
Los Angeles ClippersPosition: Shooting guard, Small forward
Kawhi Anthony Leonard (, born June 29, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for... more on Wikipedia2
2,021810Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee BucksPosition: Small forward, Point forward
Giannis Antetokounmpo (born December 6, 1994) is a Greek professional basketball player for... more on Wikipedia3
2,4921,298Anthony Davis
Los Angeles LakersPosition: Power forward, Center
Anthony Marshon Davis Jr. (born March 11, 1993) is an American professional basketball player... more on Wikipedia4
2,4751,351Rudy Gobert
Utah JazzPosition: Center
Rudy Gobert-Bourgarel (born June 26, 1992) is a French professional basketball player for the... more on Wikipedia5
1,863997Marcus Smart
Boston CelticsPosition: Guard
Marcus Osmond Smart (born March 6, 1994) is an American professional basketball player who... more on Wikipedia6
564187Ben Simmons
Philadelphia 76ersPosition: Point guard/forward
Benjamin David Simmons (born 20 July 1996) is an Australian professional basketball player for... more on Wikipedia7
1,269642Jrue Holiday
New Orleans PelicansPosition: Point guard, Shooting guard
Jrue Randall Holiday (; born June 12, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for... more on Wikipedia8
2,1871,234Paul George
Los Angeles ClippersPosition: Shooting guard, Small forward
Paul Cliftonantho George (born May 2, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for... more on Wikipedia9
1,8431,032Jimmy Butler
Miami HeatPosition: Shooting guard / Small forward
Jimmy Butler III (born September 14, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for... more on Wikipedia10
31792Jonathan Isaac
Orlando MagicPosition: Small forward / Power forward
Jonathan Judah Isaac (born October 3, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for... more on Wikipedia11
1,199724Joel Embiid
Philadelphia 76ersPosition: Center
Joel Hans Embiid (born 16 March 1994) is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the... more on Wikipedia12
688337Pascal Siakam
Toronto RaptorsPosition: Power forward
Pascal Siakam (born April 2, 1994) is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the... more on Wikipedia13
1,118705Robert Covington
Portland Trail BlazersPosition: Power forward, Small forward
Robert Covington (born December 14, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for... more on Wikipedia14
1,482993Klay Thompson
Golden State WarriorsPosition: Shooting guard
Klay Alexander Thompson (born February 8, 1990) is an American professional basketball player... more on Wikipedia15
1,395907Patrick Beverley
Los Angeles ClippersPosition: Point guard
Patrick Beverley (born July 12, 1988) is an American professional basketball player who is... more on Wikipedia16
19277Jaylen Brown
Boston CelticsPosition: Small forward / Shooting guard
Jaylen Brown (born October 24, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the... more on Wikipedia17
2,2191,592Draymond Green
Golden State WarriorsPosition: Power forward
Draymond Jamal Green Sr. (born March 4, 1990) is an American professional basketball player... more on Wikipedia18
22588Matisse Thybulle
Philadelphia 76ersPosition: Shooting guard
Matisse Thybulle (born March 4, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the... more on Wikipedia19
305160Serge Ibaka
Toronto RaptorsPosition: Power forward, Center
Serge Jonas Ibaka Ngobila (; born 18 September 1989) is a Congolese-Spanish professional... more on Wikipedia20
295146Jarrett Allen
Cleveland CavaliersPosition: Center
Jarrett Allen (born April 21, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for the... more on Wikipedia21
947621Victor Oladipo
Houston RocketsPosition: Point guard, Shooting guard
Kehinde Babatunde Victor Oladipo (born May 4, 1992) is an American professional basketball... more on Wikipedia22
968714Andre Iguodala
Memphis GrizzliesPosition: Small forward
Andre Tyler Iguodala ( ig-wə-DAH-lə; born January 28, 1984) is an American professional... more on Wikipedia23
20896Mitchell Robinson
New York KnicksPosition: Center
Mitchell Robinson (born April 1, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for the... more on Wikipedia24
512336P. J. Tucker
Houston RocketsPosition: Small forward
Anthony Leon "P. J." Tucker Jr. (born May 5, 1985) is an American professional basketball... more on Wikipedia25
349200Dejounte Murray
San Antonio SpursPosition: Point guard
Dejounte Dashaun Murray (born September 19, 1996) is an American professional basketball... more on Wikipedia
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