Who's the best defensive player in the NBA History?

Bill Russell; he was the innovator of defense, and with it the fast break outlet pass. One can only wonder had blocks been recorded, how many would have totaled.

As for most versatile defender; that honor goes to Scottie Pippen, who could guard anyone from a Point Guard to a Power Forward, and do it with shut down ease. It was Scottie, not Michael who always took defensive duties of the opposing team's best player (Magic, Drexler, etc)

Defensive Center/ PF Hakeem Olahuwon

Defensive Guard Michael Jordan

invoice Russell Russell is remembered for his place interior the Boston Celtics dynasty that gained 11 championships interior the 13 seasons that he performed. His significant contribution to the sport develop into raising protecting play to a sparkling point; he's often seen the terrific protecting center to ever play the sport. He develop into possibly the 1st to result the end results of video games entirely on the protecting end. His rebounding develop into 2d basically to Wilt Chamberlain, and he had a dozen consecutive seasons of a million,000 or greater rebounds. Blocks weren't recorded as an actual stat till seventy 3-seventy 4, yet he ought to swat with the terrific of 'em and he greater gave Wilt a run for his funds at basically 6' 9" & 235. i'd value MJ a sturdy 2d....

Each great defensive player brings a different dimension to the game so instead of picking the greatest defensive player, I'll just give you my starting 5 defensive player of All-Time.

PG - Gary Payton (Nicknamed "The Glove" for the way he keeps his opponents on a leash)

SG - Michael Jordan (It's rare that a shooting guard ever wins a defensive player of the year award)

SF - Bruce Bowen (The Spurs won a few titles because of his sheer ability to shut down the opposing team's star player)

PF - Dennis Rodman (Mentally, he could get into your head and the Rodman made it a nightmare matchup for any team's superstar)

C - Bill Russell (Have to give credit where credit is due and there are 11 great reasons give it to Bill, plus he had to consistently keep Wilt Chamberlin in check throughout his career)

I generally agree.

Bill Russell: kind of like saying Babe Ruth is the best baseball player of all time (played against little white guys)

Mutombo: for the modern era.

Dwight Howard gaining ground though.

Scottie Pippen

I give it to Dikembe. The man was crazy with his shot blocking. I've never seen someone with that kind of skill and timing before or since.

And Pippen on the perimeter.

bill russel heres why, hes such a versatile defender, not only could he guard the great wilt chamberlin but he was so quick and athletic that he could guards guards like jerry west, the closest comparision to him is kevin garnett and to those who saying he played against weaker compition or short white guys there were more 7 footers back then than there is now and shows how little respect you show to a great to this game

Interior defense: No one has touched Russell. Dwight has the athleticism but he needs to be smarter.

Perimeter defense: Gary Payton would be up there. So would John Starks.

obviously bill russel has the best deffensive stats out of anyone, but he was playing against inferior competition, Hakeem, is the best out of those guys, I would also second rodman