List Rules Only current NBA Defenders. No retired or collegiate players.
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 overall top current NBA players 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 defensive players that you think are the most important, key players for their respective teams, and if your favorite player isn't listed, add him. You can also re-rank this list of NBA defenders in any order you want.
list ordered by
1
1,372 446
Kawhi LeonardToronto Raptors Kawhi Anthony Leonard is an American professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association. Leonard, a 6-ft 7-in, 230-lb small forward, played college ...more
2
812 411
Anthony DavisNew Orleans Pelicans Anthony Marshon Davis, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association. He plays the power forward and ...more
3
803 412
Rudy GobertUtah Jazz Rudy Gobert is a French professional basketball player who currently plays for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association. He also represents the French national basketball team in the ...more
4
615 314
markmoran added Paul GeorgeIndiana Pacers Paul Clifton Anthony George is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association. George played high school ...more
5
896 549
Draymond GreenGolden State Warriors Draymond Jamal Green Sr. is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Green, who plays primarily at the power forward ...more
6
610 351
Jimmy ButlerPhiladelphia 76ers Jimmy Butler III is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After playing one year of college basketball for Tyler ...more
7
524 307
bkapels483 added Andre RobersonOklahoma City Thunder André Lee Roberson is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball for ...more
8
523 333
Brendon C. Moore added Marcus SmartBoston Celtics Marcus Osmond Smart is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball for Oklahoma ...more
9
340 190
Robert CovingtonMinnesota Timberwolves Robert Covington is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The small forward played college basketball for the ...more
10
266 155
Jrue HolidayNew Orleans Pelicans Jrue Randall Holiday is an American professional basketball player who currently for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball for one season ...more
11
284 183
Victor OladipoIndiana Pacers Kehinde Babatunde Victor Oladipo is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association. Oladipo played college ...more
12
490 411
Klay ThompsonGolden State Warriors Klay Alexander Thompson is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association. Listed at 6'7", he plays ...more
13
514 443
Tom Amey added LeBron JamesLos Angeles Lakers LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Standing at 6 ft 8 in and weighing 250 lbs., he has started ...more
14
303 246
Andre IguodalaGolden State Warriors Andre Tyler Iguodala is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association. He was an NBA All-Star in 2012 and ...more
15
399 343
Kevin DurantGolden State Warriors Kevin Wayne Durant is an American professional basketball player who plays with the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association. Standing at 6 ft 9 in and weighing 240 pounds, ...more
16
143 88
SanctumGamingQ added Avery BradleyBoston Celtics Avery Antonio Bradley, Jr. is an American professional basketball guard with the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball for Texas before being ...more
17
220 168
Danny GreenSan Antonio Spurs Daniel Richard "Danny" Green, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association. He is a 6 ft 6 in, ...more
18
367 320
Chris PaulHouston Rockets Christopher Emmanuel Paul (born May 6, 1985) is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has won the NBA Rookie of the ...more
19
339 364
Russell WestbrookOklahoma City Thunder Russell Westbrook Jr. is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association. Westbrook played college basketball ...more
20
41 9
Connor Norton added Joel EmbiidPhiladelphia 76ers Joel-Hans Embiid is a Cameroonian professional basketball player who plays for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association. The 76ers drafted Embiid third overall in the 2014 ...more
21
180 186
Oscar7736 added John WallWashington Wizards Johnathan Hildred Wall, Jr. is an American professional basketball point guard for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association. A Raleigh, North Carolina native, Wall was ...more
22
136 145
arnas added Luc Mbah a MouteLos Angeles Clippers Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (born 9 September 1986) is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Mbah a Moute also ...more
23
129 163
Kyle LowryToronto Raptors Kyle Lowry is an American professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association. He attended Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philadelphia and declared ...more
24
77 91
dasd added Josh RichardsonMiami Heat Joshua Michael Richardson (born September 15, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball ...more
25
111 155
Paul MillsapDenver Nuggets Paul Millsap is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association. As a 6'8", 253 pound power forward from ...more
not on the list? add item #36
List Rules: Only current NBA Defenders. No retired or collegiate players.
