Best overall defensive player of all time

 Bruce Bowen was dirty on the perimitter and Ben Wallace was great in the post, beat Shaq when they won the ship’

probably not the 2 best at that but i’m sendin them some love

 Bruce Bowen was dirty on the perimitter and Ben Wallace was great in the post, beat Shaq when they won the ship’

probably not the 2 best at that but i’m sendin them some love

 Bruce Bowen was dirty on the perimitter and Ben Wallace was great in the post, beat Shaq when they won the ship’

probably not the 2 best at that but i’m sendin them some love

 Bruce Bowen was dirty on the perimitter and Ben Wallace was great in the post, beat Shaq when they won the ship’

probably not the 2 best at that but i’m sendin them some love

If its all time Bill Russell has to be in the conversation at least. Grabbed 50 rebounds in 1 game and was a game changer on the defensive end.

If its all time Bill Russell has to be in the conversation at least. Grabbed 50 rebounds in 1 game and was a game changer on the defensive end.

bill russell was the best post defender and payton was the best perimeter defender…

bill russell was the best post defender and payton was the best perimeter defender…

pound for pound i’d give it to gp

pound for pound i’d give it to gp

 I think Hakeem should be metioned here, he’s the only one in history, who finished in the top 10 in blocks (number one) and steals (number 8). 

 I think Hakeem should be metioned here, he’s the only one in history, who finished in the top 10 in blocks (number one) and steals (number 8). 

 What about KG in his prime? He was able to defend in the post and go out to the perimeter to defend guards.

 What about KG in his prime? He was able to defend in the post and go out to the perimeter to defend guards.

some of the all time best include payton, olajuwon, mutombo, pippen, rodman, ben wallace. Cant go wrong with any of those guys. But i think its harder for a gaurd to do it which is why i might give it to the glove.

some of the all time best include payton, olajuwon, mutombo, pippen, rodman, ben wallace. Cant go wrong with any of those guys. But i think its harder for a gaurd to do it which is why i might give it to the glove.

Scottie is truly one of the top 3 or 4 defenders of all-time. I can give Scottie the best overall defensive player on the basis he was able to guard three to four positions effectively in his prime. Scottie was often give the task of defending the best player. In the 91 finals it was his defensive on Magic that really impacted the series. Against Orlando he really gave Penny Hardaway fits, made him look like he could not dribble. Scottie is definitely in the argument for greatest defender ever.

Scottie is truly one of the top 3 or 4 defenders of all-time. I can give Scottie the best overall defensive player on the basis he was able to guard three to four positions effectively in his prime. Scottie was often give the task of defending the best player. In the 91 finals it was his defensive on Magic that really impacted the series. Against Orlando he really gave Penny Hardaway fits, made him look like he could not dribble. Scottie is definitely in the argument for greatest defender ever.

It’s kinda hard to group all defenders together; I mean how can you compare what Pippin did to what Hakeem did? So different.

As far as best perimeter defenders I would have to put Pippin at number one. He was a great on the ball defender and help defender and absolutley lockdown. Gary Payton, Michael Cooper and Sidney Moncrief were incredible too. With Dennis Johnson, MJ, Dumars, Bowen, Artest and Kobe Bryant rounding out the top 10 of guys I’ve seen play.

Obviously other players like Walt Frazier, Bobby Jones and John Havlicek deserve credit as well but I never saw them play myself.

As far as interior defenders goes Bill Russell was considered the pinnacle for his day but as far as players that I’ve seen Hakeem was probably the best. Followed by David Robinson, Ben Wallace, Alonzo Mourning, Dwight Howard, Dikembe Mutombo and Mark Eaton.

At power forward Tim Duncan has been so consistant over the years, but Kevin Garnett has been so versatile and Dennis Rodman was absolutely incredible in his prime.

If I had to put together a team of all time great defenders it would probably look something like this:

PG Gary Payton/Walt Frazier

SG Sidney Moncrief/Michael Jordan

SF Scottie Pippin/Bobby Jones/Michael Cooper

PF Tim Duncan/Dennis Rodman

C Bill Russell/Hakeem Olajuwon/Ben Wallace

It’s kinda hard to group all defenders together; I mean how can you compare what Pippin did to what Hakeem did? So different.

As far as best perimeter defenders I would have to put Pippin at number one. He was a great on the ball defender and help defender and absolutley lockdown. Gary Payton, Michael Cooper and Sidney Moncrief were incredible too. With Dennis Johnson, MJ, Dumars, Bowen, Artest and Kobe Bryant rounding out the top 10 of guys I’ve seen play.

Obviously other players like Walt Frazier, Bobby Jones and John Havlicek deserve credit as well but I never saw them play myself.

As far as interior defenders goes Bill Russell was considered the pinnacle for his day but as far as players that I’ve seen Hakeem was probably the best. Followed by David Robinson, Ben Wallace, Alonzo Mourning, Dwight Howard, Dikembe Mutombo and Mark Eaton.

At power forward Tim Duncan has been so consistant over the years, but Kevin Garnett has been so versatile and Dennis Rodman was absolutely incredible in his prime.

If I had to put together a team of all time great defenders it would probably look something like this:

PG Gary Payton/Walt Frazier

SG Sidney Moncrief/Michael Jordan

SF Scottie Pippin/Bobby Jones/Michael Cooper

PF Tim Duncan/Dennis Rodman

C Bill Russell/Hakeem Olajuwon/Ben Wallace

ItsDwightHoward  i had to give you a point for mentioning Sidney Moncrief..Nobody on this site ever talks about him..I think he was 1 of the 5 best shooting guards in the league from 1981-1987….

ItsDwightHoward  i had to give you a point for mentioning Sidney Moncrief..Nobody on this site ever talks about him..I think he was 1 of the 5 best shooting guards in the league from 1981-1987….

For those of us who’ve been around a long time, the best defender of all time was Bill Russell.

The best perimeter defender was Walt "Clyde" Frazier or Gary Payton, take your choice.

As for Dwight Howard, he’s a fantastic weak side defender but he still doesn’t rate up as high as Russell in terms of guarding his opposing center.

For those of us who’ve been around a long time, the best defender of all time was Bill Russell.

The best perimeter defender was Walt "Clyde" Frazier or Gary Payton, take your choice.

As for Dwight Howard, he’s a fantastic weak side defender but he still doesn’t rate up as high as Russell in terms of guarding his opposing center.

That’s Dwight in a nutshell; gets lots of weak side blocks which look great in highlights, but isn’t really a superstar when it comes to defending his OWN man. This is why I’m not sure I like the fact that he got 2 straight DPoY awards, and is likely to get a third. Ah well.

As far as best defender; that clip of Pippen D was pretty darn impressive; I just watched a clip from the Scottie Pippen charity game and he held Jordan pretty damn well, which is more than most defenders can say.

While I’d give the gong to Pip, I’d have to give Payton second place given the amazing job he did in slowing down Jordan in the ’96 Finals.

That’s Dwight in a nutshell; gets lots of weak side blocks which look great in highlights, but isn’t really a superstar when it comes to defending his OWN man. This is why I’m not sure I like the fact that he got 2 straight DPoY awards, and is likely to get a third. Ah well.

As far as best defender; that clip of Pippen D was pretty darn impressive; I just watched a clip from the Scottie Pippen charity game and he held Jordan pretty damn well, which is more than most defenders can say.

While I’d give the gong to Pip, I’d have to give Payton second place given the amazing job he did in slowing down Jordan in the ’96 Finals.