The NBA is a league where offense is king, and every fan loves to see players flying on the court and scoring earth-shattering scores. However, offense is not the only factor in winning a game, and defense is just as important, if not more so. A player's defensive ability often determines his success or failure in the regular season and playoffs.
Each year, the NBA presents the Defensive Player of the Year award to players who excel on the defensive end. Not only do these players have excellent individual qualities, but they can also drive the defensive atmosphere of the whole team and make opponents fearful. They're the best defensive players in NBA history, how many do you know?
Today, we're going to take a look at the 10 players who have earned this honor over the past decade, looking at their defensive stats and on-court performances, and how they rank them.
10th place: Tyson Chandler 2011-12 season
Tyson Chandler, the 2012 Defensive Player of the Year, is a tall, powerful center who is adept at protecting the basket under the basket and putting pressure on opponents. He had a good defensive efficiency and plus/minus that season, contributing 2.2 blocks and 1.4 steals per 100 possessions, and was consistent on the defensive end.
In 2011-12, Chandler was the centerpiece of the New York Knicks' defense on the defensive end, helping the team to rank fifth in the league with a 101.0 defensive efficiency and a 54-28 record. He narrowly defeated Serge Ibaka by a narrow margin, earning only four more first-place votes to win the award, which was controversial but not a bad recognition.
Although Chandler didn't reach the top level in all his defensive stats, his defensive performance that season was still quite good and consistent. Meanwhile, Ibaka averaged nearly two more blocks per game than Chandler, but the Defensive Player of the Year award isn't just based on stats. Therefore, at the time, the results of this award may have sparked some controversy and different opinions.
9th place: Marc Gasol 2012-13 season
Marc Gasol was the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year and he was a very well-rounded center forward who not only played on the offensive end, but also locked down opponents on the defensive end. He led the league in defensive win points that season with a whopping 5.4. He also has good steal and block stats and can cause problems for opponents every game.
Marc Gasol's defensive performance helped the Memphis Grizzlies achieve a 56-26 record, which ranks second in the league. He won the award by beating out strong contenders such as LeBron James, Serge Ibaka and Joakim Noah.
Eighth place: Joakim Noah 2013-14 season
Joaquin Noah is a passionate player who always gives his all, both defensively and offensively. He was the league's best in defensive win and defensive efficiency in 2013-14, averaging 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, while leading the league with 6.6 defensive wins and 95.8 defensive efficiency.
Noah led the Chicago Bulls on the defensive end, ranking second in the league in defensive efficiency and effective shooting percentage, as well as leading in defensive rebounding percentage and turnovers. He also became one of only four players in history to average at least 12 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block per game.
Seventh place: Marcus Smart 2021-22 season
Marcus Smart is a very tenacious defender who always gives his all and is not afraid of any challenge. He is the first guard to win the award since Gary Payton in 1996, which is a remarkable achievement in itself. He was the second-best defender in both defensive plus/minus and defensive win contribution that season.
Marcus Smart's defensive play has made him an important addition to the Boston Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies, and he can guard players from any position and leave opponents at a loss. His stats aren't the most prominent, but his value is clear, and he's a true defensive stalwort.
Sixth place: Jalen Jackson II 2022-23 season
Jaren Jackson is a young and promising center with amazing physicality and blocking ability. Jaren Jackson won the DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year) award last season, beating Brook Lopez and Evan Mobley in the polls.
As a key member of the team, Jackson played a key role in the Grizzlies' stellar 51-31 record. He averaged a staggering 3.0 blocks per game and a 9.6 block percentage, both of which are among the best in the league, while his defensive efficiency was a staggering 105.3.
Jaren Jackson's defensive performance has made him a future star for the Grizzlies, and he has formed a young and dynamic core with Ja Morant and Desmond Bane, making the Grizzlies a powerhouse in the West. Last season, with Jackson's help, the Grizzlies had the fourth-most wins in franchise history and ranked third in the league with a defensive efficiency of 110.7.
While Jackson is the youngest winner on this list, his influence is no less than that of the other players.
5th place: Giannis Antetokounmpo 2019-20 season
In the 2019-20 season, Antetokounmpo proved himself to be the NBA's best defensive player, with the league's highest defensive plus/minus per game, 1 block and 1 steal per game, and a high defensive efficiency, being a pillar on the defensive end of the Bucks.
In addition to winning the DPOY award, Antetokounmpo also earned MVP honors that season, joining Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan as the only three players to win both awards in the same season.
His defensive performance has made him one of the strongest defenders in the league, not only protecting his own basket under the basket, but also defending opponents' shots from the outside, making the opponent's offense weak. He won the regular season MVP and Finals MVP honors in 2020 and 2021 two consecutive years, with his defense largely due. He's a true defensive myth.
Fourth place: Draymond Green 2016-17 season
After losing to Leonard in two consecutive seasons, in 2017, Draymond Green finally got his wish to win the DPOY award. The addition of Durant has made the Golden State Warriors more reliant on Green's defense to contain the opponent's offense.
That season, Green topped the league with two steals per game, 1.4 blocks per game, and a defensive efficiency of 99.1, second only to Andre Drummond. However, the stats don't fully reveal Green's true strength on the defensive end.
Any player playing against Green knows they are going to face a tough game. Green is relentless when defending, always effective at containing opponents who try to break through him. Despite not being tall, he excelled in the fight for rebounds. Although Green is not as intimidating as it used to be, there are still no players willing to take the initiative to play against him.
Overall, Green has been impressive on the defensive end. His steals, blocks, and defensive efficiency are testament to the fact that he is an outstanding defensive player. Although his deterrence may have waned somewhat, his defensive skills and awareness still make opponents feel difficult to deal with.
3rd place: Kawhi Leonard 2014-15, 2015-16
After winning the NBA Finals MVP in 2014, Leonard didn't stop there, but showed even more potential. Over the next two seasons, he fully demonstrated the importance of his long-term plans for the San Antonio Spurs, winning back-to-back DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year) awards.
For the first time, he had a fierce competition with Draymond Green. Although Green won more first-place votes, Leonard won by a narrow margin of 16 votes. On the second occasion, the difference in votes between him and second-place Green was much larger.
Kawhi Leonard's defensive play has made him one of the most formidable players in the league, not only defending players in any position, but also making decisive defenses in crunch time to make opponents despair. He led the Toronto Raptors to a championship in 2019, and his defense was instrumental. He's a real defensive genius.
After joining the Los Angeles Clippers, even with injuries, Leonard's defensive strength has not declined significantly. This season has proven that even as he enters the age of 35, he can maintain a ferocious defensive style.
Second place: Rudy Gobert 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons
Rudy Gobert is one of the strongest centers in NBA history, and with his incredible height and reach, he has become a mountain under the basket. He has won the Defensive Player of the Year award three times, each time by a landslide. In all three seasons, he averaged more than two blocks per game and kept his defensive efficiency below 100, which is the soul of the Utah Jazz on the defensive end.
Rudy Gobert's defensive performance has made him one of the most respected players in the league, not only protecting his own baskets, but also helping his teammates improve their defenses and making it difficult for opponents to attack.
Gobert's contribution on the offensive end is limited, but his value on the defensive end is irreplaceable, and he is a true defensive behemoth. This season, Gobert is back to his peak and could even win his fourth DPOY award.
1st place: Dwight Howard 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons
In the late 2000s, any player trying to break down the Orlando Magic's interior was at great risk. This is because Howard the Warcraft has a tall stature and an innate ability to block hats.
In his career, Howard averaged 1.8 blocks per game, which made it extremely difficult for many teams, including James' Cleveland Cavaliers, to score inside the Magic.
Howard's outstanding performance on the defensive end has earned him three DPOY awards in three consecutive seasons, and each time he has received a very high percentage of votes. In these three selections, he received an average of more than 94% of the first-place votes.
In the three seasons Howard won the DPOY, not only did he lead the league in blocks and rebounds, but he also contributed an astonishing amount to defensive victories, which is a testament to his immense value to the team.
Although Howard didn't stand out on the offensive end, his defensive prowess was good enough to make him a dominator on the court. In fact, since then, no other player has come close to him in terms of defensive win contributions. With his superior defensive talents, Howard has created an impregnable interior barrier for the Orlando Magic.
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