In modern basketball, scoring rules over all. The NBA has become a three-dominated league, with teams focusing more and more on offense each season. Despite that, good defense is still an incredibly valuable skill.
Good teams play strong defense that allows them to adapt to strong offenses. That then enables them to control the pace of the game, neutralize opposing shooters, and control both sides of the ball. That’s why franchises put so much importance on tough defenders.
It’s not easy to see good defense, but there are several ways teams measure it. Overall defensive rating is critical, as are stats like rebounds, blocks, and steals. Breaking those down shows how well someone is at restricting an opponent’s points.
Best Defensive Players Based on Defensive Rating
The following athletes went above and beyond last season in terms of efficiency, rebounding, and blocks to make them the best NBA defensive players of the last season.
1. Rudy Gobert
There are many strong defenders in the NBA, but it should come as no surprise that Rudy Gobert ranks first among them. The 2024 Defensive Player of the Year had the best defensive rating (104.4) last season, and did so while putting up great stats.
He’s incredibly long, quick for his size, and does a great job of keeping shooters out of the paint. Those traits make him incredibly valuable at all stages of a game.
2. Victor Wembanyama
Wembanyama, like Gobert, is a big man with a lot of mobility. The French superstar can play big inside or slip out to the three line to contest a long-range shot. That’s a rare package, especially for someone as tall as the young center.
Last season he averaged a staggering 3.6 blocks per game on top of 1.2 steals and 10.6 rebounds. Add on his strong inside presence, and you have a well-rounded defender who can do it all.
3. Nikola Jokic
Another player lauded for his ability to space the floor, Jokic continues to be one of the strongest defenders in the NBA. While his rating (108.0) is a bit behind Wembanyama and Gobert, he’s still a big presence who knows where to be.
He pulled in 12.4 rebounds a game to pack up 1.4 steals and 0.9 blocks. He also has the size to muscle up just about any other big man while knowing how to switch off of screens and properly contest smaller players trying to drive to the basket.
4. Jesuf Nurkic
Another powerful big man, Nurkic is a wall in the paint who has the sheer size and strength to keep anyone away from the rim. His 7-foot frame allows him to go toe-to-toe with other bigs, and his lean frame enables him to keep up in today’s league.
He grabbed 11 rebounds a game in 2024, while also getting 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks each contest. The center might not be as well known as some of the other names on this list, but Nurkic’s presence and high basketball IQ both more than earn his defensive rating (108.2).
5. Chet Holmgren
While he might still be young, Holmgren is another big man who gets his strong defensive rating (108.4) from the fact that he combines sheer height with a relatively slim frame.
Last season he averaged an impressive 2.3 blocks per game to go with his 7.9 rebounds and 0.6 steals. Those stats might not be terribly impressive at first glance, but few centers are able to contest or force bad shots like Holmgren.
6. Bam Adebayo
Coming in right behind Holmgren with a defensive rating of 108.5, Bam Adebayo is a strong forward who moves quickly for his size. That allows him to play many roles on defensive, muscling up opposing centers and getting low against shooters and guards.
That combination is why he’s above most other players, and why he continues to take up the middle despite only measuring 6’9.
7. Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns has not always been a great defender, but in 2024 he put up a great effort to a rating of 108.7. That was mainly due to his presence, which allowed the Timberwolves to be stout against the top teams in the league.
Towns is not the best rebounder (8.3 per game) but his ability to move to the right spot at the right time is invaluable to his defense and a big reason Minnesota went so far.
8. Anthony Davis
Long, quick, and strong, Anthony David continued his quest as one of the best defenders in the league during the 2024 season. He did that by grabbing 12.6 rebounds per game, as well as averaging 1.2 steals and 2.3 blocks.
David has an incredibly wide wingspan, which also enables him to contest shots with ease. He’s not someone who does great when switched onto smaller players, but he still can lock down anyone who goes inside.
9. Anthony Edwards
Towns was a big reason Minnesota’s defense did so well in 2024, but the team would not be complete without Anthony Edwards. The shooting guard relied on unmatched athleticism last season and earned a defensive rating of 109.5.
What makes Edwards special is his raw strength and speed. He can move around the key with ease, and has enough power where opposing players can’t move him out of the way or blow past him.
10. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the only other player in the NBA who had a 2024 defensive rating lower than 110 (109.9). He earned that by matching up all over the court, and playing whatever position his team needed.
Gilgeous Alexander did not put up incredible stats (5.5 rebounds and 0.9 blocks) but his 2 steals per game puts him at the top of the league.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
There are many metrics used to measure defense, but nothing speaks quite as loud as the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. The title, which came about in 1982, is given to the best defensive player each season who stood out from the pack.
The player is chosen by a panel of 124 sports writers and broadcasters around the U.S. and Canada. Each voter ranks their top three choices, with five, three, or one point given to their first, second, and third place choices. Whoever has the most total votes after the tally wins.
Sidney Moncreif was the first player to ever take home a defensive player of the year. He won the first two, which is something quite a few great defenders both matched and surpassed.
Dwight Howard is the only player in NBA history to win three consecutive DPOYs, while Dikembe Mutombo, Ben Wallace, and Rudy Gobert are the only three to take home four. Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are the only ones to win both the MVP and DPOY at the same time.
While in the past many smaller positions won the award, that’s changed over the last few decades. Big men now almost exclusively win due to their propensity for blocks and rebounds. A few incredible defenders, however, have bucked that trend.
Michael Jordan, Gary Payton, Ron Artest, and Kawhi Leonard all won the award due to their ability to lock down some of the best shooters in the league from the outside. Marcus Smart also won in 2022.
However, as Jaren Jackson Jr. won it in 2023 and Rudy Gobert took home his fourth last year (2024) it seems big men will continue to win the award in the future. So much so that the trophy also has a new name, the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy, and is much harder to get.
New restrictions put in place by the CBA state that only players who appeared in 65 games where they played at least 20 minutes are eligible for the award. That means players cannot sit out too much and get credit for games where they only play every now and then.
Conclusion
It’s easy to overlook, but defense is a key part of basketball. Strong defenders are what often separate good teams from bad ones, especially during the end of the year or in the playoffs. That’s why the above players are so valuable.
Everyone in this article was a top defender in 2024. They all put up strong stats, shut down opposing players and, most importantly, didn’t let other teams score. Their team gave up less points with them on the court, which is all that matters in the end.
