1. Isiah Thomas
   Earvin "Magic" Johnson
2. Oscar Robertson
   Gary Payton

Gary Payton had the responsibility of guarding Michael Jordan in the 1996 NBA Finals. Even though Jordan scored 27 points per game, it was his worst Finals performance, and every point he did score was hard earned.

1. Wilt Chamberlain
   Bill Russell
2. Hakeem Olajuwon
   Tim Duncan

In his final season in the NBA, Bill Russell was named to the first-ever NBA All-Defensive First Team. Russell's offense had fallen off by then, but he was still putting up nearly 20 boards per game and managed to top off his NBA career with an 11th NBA title.

1. John Stockton
   Jason Kidd
2. Walt Frazier
   Alvin Robertson

Since he wasn't the largest player in the league, John Stockton had to rely on his wit to make an impact on the defensive side of the ball. The 19-year veteran did just that, leading the league in steals twice, with his best total coming in the 1988-89 season when he pulled in 3.2 steals per game.

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
   Hakeem Olajuwon
2. Dikembe Mutombo
   Ben Wallace

No player has been honored with more Defensive Player of the Year awards than Dikembe Mutombo, who finished his career with four. He won his first of those awards in the 1994-95 season when he was holding up the middle for the Denver Nuggets.

1. Scottie Pippen
   Dennis Rodman
2. James Worthy
   LeBron James

Unlike most NBA players, Dennis Rodman rarely focused on the offensive side of the court, averaging more than 10 points per game only once in his career. However, Rodman was a rebounding machine, leading the league in that category for seven straight seasons.

1. Artis Gilmore
   Moses Malone
2. Robert Parish
   Karl Malone

Artis Gilmore started his professional career in the ABA, where he was named the Rookie of the Year after a stellar first season. His rookie season saw the legendary center put up 17.8 rebounds and five blocks per game while leading his team to a playoff berth.

1. Derrick Fisher
   Ray Allen
2. Manu Ginobili
   Anthony Varejao

Playing for Gregg Popovich is not always an easy job, but coaching Manu Ginobili might be just as difficult. When these two came together in 2002, it took a while for them to figure each other out, but after four championships, one could say they made it work.

1. Tim Duncan
   David Robinson
2. Scottie Pippen
   Hakeem Olajuwon

When it comes to a player's all-around defensive game, no one really compares to Hakeem Olajuwon. With both size and athleticism, Olajuwon could block shots despite being out of position and guard both players on the pick and roll, making him a lethal force against opposing offenses.

1. Ben Wallace
   Willis Reed
2. Kevin Garnett
   Michael Jordan

You know you have a special defender when he can single-handedly turn around a defense by joining the team. That's exactly what Kevin Garnett did for the Boston Celtics when he was traded there in 2007, earning Defensive Player of the Year in his first season with the team.

1. Michael Jordan
   Sidney Moncrief
2. Joe Dumars
   Kobe Bryant

Sidney Moncrief was relentless on the defensive side of the ball, using his insane jumping ability to make up for his size when it came to blocking shots. Moncrief was particularly known for applying constant pressure, as he never wanted to be viewed as weak.

1. Scottie Pippen
   Michael Jordan
2. James Worthy
   Ron Artest

When commentators talk about Scottie Pippen, he always gets the credit he deserves for his defensive skills. However, Pippen could put the ball in the hole as well. If you need an example, look at his 1997 game against the Denver Nuggets when Pippen put up a career-high 47 points.

1. Robert Parish
   Wilt Chamberlain
2. David Robinson
   Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan was cool, calm and collected on the court, but he wasn't one to let anybody show him up. DeMarcus Cousins learned this when he tried to bully Duncan only to have his shot blocked before getting scored on at the other end.

1. Joe Dumars
   Michael Jordan
2. Isiah Thomas
   James Worthy

Michael Jordan once called Joe Dumars the toughest opponent he's ever faced from a defensive standpoint. Since Dumars played some of the best man to man defense in the league, it's no wonder why "His Airness" heaped such praise upon him.

1. Dennis Johnson
   Elvin Hayes
2. Walt Frazier
   David Robinson

David Robinson played in an era where monster centers like Shaquille O'Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon dominated in the post. Robinson was always up for the defensive challenge, blocking these players' shots like the NBA was going out of business.

1. Walt Frazier
   Bobby Jones
2. Jason Kidd
   Willis Reed

Any point guard who faced Jason Kidd knew they were in for a rough night. Kidd had one of the most complete games in the NBA for a perimeter player. He could score points, grab boards and dish out passes on offense, while also holding his own on the defensive side.

1. Dennis Johnson
   Ben Wallace
2. Wilt Chamberlain
   Robert Parish

Ben Wallace was the defensive anchor for a Detroit Pistons team that defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals when they were loaded with players like Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Throughout the series, the Lakers never scored over 100 points.

1. Ron Artest
   LeBron James
2. Michael Jordan
   Bruce Bowen

No player has ever imposed their will on opposing teams quite like Michael Jordan. From tip off until the final buzzer sounded, Jordan made sure everyone knew who the best player on the court was.

1. Marc Gasol
   Bill Walton
2. Larry Bird
   Dave DeBusschere

Proof of Dave DeBusschere's defensive ability can be traced to his incredible playoff performances where he not only defended at a high level but also pulled down an incredible number of rebounds for a forward. Throughout his playoff career, he averaged 12 rebounds per game.

1. Walt Frazier
   James Worthy
2. Allen Iverson
   Ron Artest

Walt Frazier was a thief on the court who could stay in front of offensive players while also applying pressure for a steal. These skills earned Frazier seven straight NBA All-Defensive First Team honors.

1. Isiah Thomas
   James Worthy
2. Bobby Jones
   Derrick Fisher

James Worthy was more known for his playoff performances than for his regular season production. In the playoffs, Worthy averaged three more points per game than in the regular season and was one of the team's best defenders in big moments.

1. Wilt Chamberlain
   Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
2. Alvin Robertson
   Elvin Hayes

There's only one thing you can say about Wilt Chamberlain: He was a force in the NBA. For all the records he holds, one of his greatest accomplishments was his durability, only missing significant time in three of his 15 NBA seasons.

1. LeBron James
   Bruce Bowen
2. Ron Artest
   Bobby Jones

For an undrafted player, Bruce Bowen proved that hard work and hustle could pay off if an athlete was willing to dedicate himself to aspects of the game other than scoring. Bowen displayed this philosophy by winning three NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs, while only averaging six points in the playoffs.

1. Chauncey Billups
   Dwyane Wade
2. Isiah Thomas
   Dennis Johnson

Playing beside legends like Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, it's easy for a player to get lost in the annals of history. Dennis Johnson has been cursed by this, but that doesn't take away from how important he was in the Celtics' last two championships, particularly as a defender.

1. Kobe Bryant
   Marc Gasol
2. LeBron James
   Chris Paul

LeBron James has often been criticized for not taking the toughest defensive matchups on the court. However, James is more about team defense and has proven that he's one of the best off-ball defenders the game has ever seen.

1. Ron Artest
   Elvin Hayes
2. Kobe Bryant
   Bobby Jones

Elvin Hayes put up the best stats of his career with the San Diego Rockets, but he wouldn't find playoff success until he joined the Washington Bullets, where he won a title in 1978. For his contributions, the Bullets retired Hayes No. 11 jersey.

1. Willis Reed
   Patrick Ewing
2. Nate Thurmond
   Robert Parish

No one played more regular season games than Robert Parish, a testament to his consistency on both ends of the court. Nicknamed "The Chief," Parish might have been quiet on the court, but he was also dominant.

1. Kawhi Leonard
   Patrick Beverly
2. Joel Embiid
   Anthony Davis

Still a young player in the league, Kawhi Leonard had the almost impossible task of guarding LeBron James in the 2014 NBA Finals. James still got his numbers, but Leonard's defense was good enough to win the title as well as the Finals MVP.

1. Ron Artest
   Derrick Fisher
2. Kobe Bryant
   Allen Iverson

Kobe Bryant was often described for his "Mamba Mentality," which was a reference to his fierce nature at the end of games. This fierceness was usually ascribed to his offensive abilities, but he was just as good on defense when it came to closing out a game.

1. Shane Battier
   Bill Walton
2. Isiah Thomas
   Nate Thurmond

Nate Thurmond was part of a San Francisco Warriors team that reached the NBA Finals in 1967. They went up against the Philadelphia 76ers, and Thurmond was pitted against Wilt Chamberlain in the matchup. After six games, the 76ers walked away with the title.

1. Andre Iguodala
   Ron Artest
2. Klay Thompson
   Steph Curry

Since Andre Iguodala plays beside the "Splash Brothers," his importance on the Golden State Warriors is often dismissed. However, Iguodala has been responsible for guarding the best player on opposing teams, making him a valuable part of their three titles.

1. Patrick Ewing
   Bill Walton
2. Willis Reed
   Michael Cooper

Willis Reed made seven NBA All Star Games, but he put on a show in the 1970 All Star Game. Playing against stars like Elvin Hayes and Elgin Baylor, Reed scored 21 points while also grabbing 11 rebounds to win the game's MVP award.

1. Shawn Kemp
   Patrick Ewing
2. Dwight Howard
   Alonzo Mourning

Patrick Ewing was never afraid to go for a big block against the best offensive dunkers. However, this decision sometimes backfired for the big man, as he was posterized on several occasions.

1. Tyson Chandler
   Alonzo Mourning
2. Dwight Howard
   Bill Walton

Alonzo Mourning's biggest fault on the court was his ability to stay healthy for a full season. In 16 NBA seasons, he never once played an entire regular season, though he did play at least 70 games six different years.

1. Ron Artest
   Michael Cooper
2. Mark Eaton
   Marcus Camby

Despite his defensive prowess, Ron Artest was not an offensive star by any means. However, in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, he hit the biggest shot of the game when he made a three-point shot with only a minute left to give the Los Angles Lakers a six-point lead.

1. Michael Cooper
   Draymond Green
2. Dwight Howard
   Mark Eaton

Mark Eaton was a ball-swatting machine during his 11-year career, all spent with the Utah Jazz. Eaton was so good at blocking shots that he finished his career as the NBA all-time leader in career blocks per game.

1. Alvin Robertson
   Bill Walton
2. Dwight Howard
   Bobby Jones

Dwight Howard won three straight Defensive Player of the Year awards, but two years after his third award, he was clearly not the same player anymore. He still put up decent numbers but struggled to stay healthy, while watching the league change to a three-point-driven style that didn't compliment him anymore.

1. Alvin Robertson
   Michael Cooper
2. Marcus Camby
   Shane Battier

Shane Battier's strong defensive play can be traced all the way back to his time in college, where he played at Duke University. In his senior season at Duke, Battier not only won an NCAA championship, but he was also named the Naismith College Player of the Year and earned the Final Four Most Outstanding Player award.

1. Isiah Thomas
   Allen Iverson
2. Dwyane Wade
   Chris Paul

Dwyane Wade completed his professional career at the end of the 2019 NBA season, where the Miami Heat barely missed the playoffs. During his farewell tour, Wade traded jerseys with players across the league who wanted to honor his time in the NBA.

1. Chris Paul
   Patrick Beverly
2. Alvin Robertson
   Derrick Fisher

Chris Paul's physical play on both sides of the court has earned him a reputation across the league and not always a positive one. He's been known for starting confrontations with other players, sometimes players from the same team.

1. Michael Cooper
   Bill Walton
2. Alvin Robertson
   Tyson Chandler

Few players worked as hard on the court as Bill Walton, whose hustle led to an injury-plagued career. That takes nothing away from his ability, however, as Walton proved a challenge against any offense he faced.