Ranking the Top 30 NBA Defenders Ahead of 2026-27

Debating top-10-star status has become a rite of passage for NBA fandom.

But why stop there? Heading into the 2026-27 season, the B/R NBA staff is ready to litigate who's who among the Association's best—not only from an all-around perspective, but also in several skill categories.

Up next: the league's best defenders.

As in seasons past, we're not predicting where players will finish in April. This is a breakdown of where the league stands right now, meaning players set to start the year sidelined or buried in depth charts are excluded.

Read on to see how the list shook out.

Player summaries by Greg Swartz.

Also check out:
Ranking the 99 Best NBA Players (including our methodology)
Ranking the Top 30 NBA Shooters

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-4.3, Steals/G: 0.6, Blocks/G: 1.5

Honors: All-Defensive 2nd Team (2021-22)

Robert Williams III may be one of two players on this list not to be a full-time starter this season, speaking more so to the Portland Trail Blazers' depth at center rather than any weaknesses on Williams' end.

Injuries have limited the soon-to-be 29-year-old's time on the court throughout his career, although Williams is absolutely one of the best rim protectors in the NBA when healthy.

Of the 100 players who defended 168 shots or more at the rim last season, Williams ranked third in opponent shooting percentage (47.0), a mark even stingier than that of Victor Wembanyama.

Although he stands at just 6'9", Williams has a massive 7'6" wingspan that allows him to swat plenty of shots (3.0 per 36 minutes for his career) and deter even more. The Blazers handed Williams a new three-year, $43.5 million contract this offseason to keep him as a defensive anchor off the bench.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-9.2, Steals/G: 1.8, Blocks/G: 0.7

Honors: All-Defensive 2nd Team (2023-24)

Jalen Suggs is the new Derrick White, a combo guard who has some offensive chops but absolutely makes his living on the defensive side of the ball.

Suggs, 25, finished No. 4 overall in steal percentage this past season (3.2 percent), and only five qualified players topped his 1.8 swipes per game. He's nimble enough to play passing lanes and strong enough to get into the body of opposing guards, making them uncomfortable while forcing turnovers.

The Orlando Magic allowed a whopping 9.2 fewer points per 100 possessions with Suggs on the floor last season, a figure that ranked in the 97th percentile via Cleaning the Glass. Few elite rim protectors can make this kind of an impact, let alone guards.

Orlando certainly has its offensive woes, although having Suggs on the court has been the foundation of an elite defense.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-6.8, Steals/G: 1.4, Blocks/G: 1.8

Honors: N/A

The Los Angeles Lakers are betting big on Walker Kessler being their defensive anchor in the Luka Dončić era.

Big is also the best word to describe the 7'2", 245-pound center, who's one of the most intimidating figures in the NBA. The 25-year-old has averaged 3.4 blocks per 36 minutes in his career and held opponents to just 50.0 percent shooting at the rim in 2024-25, his last (mostly) healthy season.

Kessler is truly a defensive player worthy of game-planning around. Few players are backing him down given Kessler's size and strength, and he has enough mobility around the basket to make opponents think twice when they drive inside.

Health will be worth monitoring moving forward, as Kessler's total games have dropped every year since his rookie season, including just five contests last year before shoulder surgery.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-4.0, Steals/G: 1.1, Blocks/G: 1.4

Honors: Defensive Player of the Year (2022-23), All-Defensive 1st Team x 2 (2021-22, 2022-23), All-Defensive 2nd Team (2024-25), Block Champion x 2 (2021-22, 2022-23)

Is putting a recent Defensive Player of the Year and block champion this low an insult to Jaren Jackson Jr.? Or have others just surpassed the 27-year-old in recent seasons?

Jackson is still an awesome defender when healthy. His raw block stats aren't as gaudy as yesteryear, although the 6'10" big man still makes a huge impact around the rim (52.7 opponent field goal percentage).

He's not as mobile as players like Evan Mobley or Chet Holmgren, although Jackson has the right combination of size, strength and athleticism to be a defensive threat anywhere on the floor.

His lack of defensive rebounding certainly holds Jackson back (4.8 per game last season), and knee injuries have continued to pop up. If healthy, however, Jackson can be a defensive anchor for a Utah Jazz team looking to make a playoff push this season.

Defensive Swing Rating: plus-4.8, Steals/G: 0.9, Blocks/G: 0.4

Honors: All-Defensive 1st Team (2024-25)

Lu Dort served as the focal point of the Oklahoma City Thunder's defensive attack for years, finishing as high as fourth place for Defensive Player of the Year just two seasons ago.

His raw defensive numbers don't do Dort's brand of defense justice. Over the years, the 6'4", 220-pound wing has often been tasked to guard the opponent's best player, no matter their size or position. This included everyone from point guards to power forwards, as all had to battle their way out of the Dorture Chamber. Few have fared very well.

Now a member of the Atlanta Hawks due to OKC's financial constraints, the 27-year-old Dort should still be one of the best and most versatile defenders in the NBA.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-5.4, Steals/G: 1.2, Blocks/G: 0.7

Honors: All-Defensive 1st Team (2023-24), All-Defensive 2nd Team x 5 (2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2025-26)

A regular member of the All-Defensive teams over the past decade, Bam Adebayo is one of the most versatile big men in the NBA with his ability to defend one-on-one, play passing lanes and protect the rim.

The 29-year-old has registered a negative defensive swing rating in all nine of his professional seasons with the Miami Heat, with the last five all ranking in the 80th percentile or above via Cleaning the Glass. Adebayo moves well for someone his size (6'9", 255 pounds) and is able to effectively guard power forwards or centers.

A lack of elite shot blocking has probably cost Adebayo a Defensive Player of the Year trophy by now, although his impact is felt in other areas on the court.

Defensive Swing Rating: plus-0.4, Steals/G: 1.2, Blocks/G: 0.3

Honors: All-Defensive 2nd Team (2024-25)

One of the few players on this list whose offensive game is even better than his defensive one, a healthy Jalen Williams is one of the best young players in the NBA.

Defensively, Williams relies on his size (6'5", 211 pounds), wingspan (7'2") and excellent hands to thrive. He excels in one-on-one coverage, poking balls away in isolation situations that lead to steals either for himself or a teammate. His 1.6 steals per game were good for seventh overall in 2024-25.

Williams moves his feet well enough to keep opponents in front of him, interrupting potential drives and creation opportunities. He should have an even bigger defensive responsibility this season now that Lu Dort has been traded to the Atlanta Hawks.

Defensive Swing Rating: plus-1.0, Steals/G: 0.9, Blocks/G: 1.2

Honors: N/A

Few players look the part of "defensive anchor" more than Mitchell Robinson.

At 7'0" and 240 pounds with a 7'4" wingspan, Robinson is a classic rim protector who thrives on contesting shots all over the court. Opponents shot a measly 50.9 percent at the rim last season with Robinson defending, as the 28-year-old also racked up 1.7 steals, 2.1 blocks and 16.1 rebounds per 36 minutes of play.

His defense was a big reason for the New York Knicks' success in the playoffs, as Robinson did an admirable job on centers like Victor Wembanyama and Joel Embiid while breaking up passing lanes and denying would-be drivers at the rim.

With Robinson now in Boston, the Knicks defense is going to take a big hit this season.

Defensive Swing Rating: plus-0.2, Steals/G: 1.0, Blocks/G: 0.8

Honors: N/A

Jarrett Allen has been one of the NBA's most underrated defenders for years now, often sacrificing the spotlight to teammate Evan Mobley.

There's a reason why the Cleveland Cavaliers have refused to trade Allen and move Mobley to a full-time center position, however. Allen's ability to protect the rim, play passing lanes and defend outside of the paint all help Mobley serve as a free safety and keep him from guarding the more physical centers in the league.

Allen held opponents to worse shooting from all areas of the court last season (4.3 percentage points, according to NBA.com's tracking data), including a 9.5 point drop within six feet (down to 54.1 percent). There's essentially nothing Allen doesn't do defensively, as he's finished in the top 12 in Defensive Player of the Year voting three times in his career.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-4.7, Steals/G: 1.0, Blocks/G: 0.8

Honors: N/A

Isaiah Hartenstein plays a similar role to Jarrett Allen, as he provides the backbone of the defense so Chet Holmgren can focus on being a roaming defender and not have to guard more physical centers.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a defensive rating of 104.7 with Holmgren on the court without Hartenstein (still elite!), yet this number drops to 100.7 (100th percentile via Cleaning the Glass) when both big men share the floor.

Hartenstein is a big, strong 7-footer who can match up with nearly every center in the NBA. While not a premier shot-blocker like Holmgren, Hartenstein still held opponents to just 54.1 percent shooting at the rim and is one of the better rebounders in the NBA.

Defensive Swing Rating: plus-1.9, Steals/G: 1.1, Blocks/G: 1.7

Honors: All-Defensive 1st Team x 3 (2017-18, 2019-20, 2023-24), All-Defensive 2nd Team x 2 (2014-15, 2016-17), Block Champion x 3 (2013-14, 2014-15, 2017-18)

Anthony Davis is one of the most accomplished defenders on this list, finishing as high as No. 2 in Defensive Player of the Year voting and being voted in the top 10 a total of six times.

Davis is a few years removed from his prime, but can still be the anchor of a team when healthy. His 6'10", 253-pound frame and near 7'6" wingspan are built for not only protecting the rim but also racking up steals. 

Davis would have ranked in the top five in blocks per game and defensive rebounds (8.0) last season had he logged enough court time to qualify, as the 33-year-old is proving he can still produce at a high level when healthy.

This year will perhaps be the greatest challenge of Davis' career, as he's now tasked with turning around a Washington Wizards defense that ranked dead last in the NBA with a 122.7 rating.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-2.1, Steals/G: 0.9, Blocks/G: 0.6

Honors: Defensive Player of the Year (2016-17), All-Defensive 1st Team x 5, (2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2020-21, 2024-25), All-Defensive 2nd Team x 4 (2017-18, 2018-19, 2021-22, 2022-23), Steals Champion (2016-17)

Draymond Green hit his defensive peak about a decade ago, although the 36-year-old can still cause a lot of disruption for opposing offenses.

Green's primary strength has always been his versatility. He has enough size at 6'6" and 230 pounds to challenge big men inside, yet has been mobile enough to switch everything and stay in front of quicker guards. A 7'1" wingspan has helped as well.

A third-place finisher in Defensive Player of the Year just two seasons ago, Green could break a tie with players like Hakeem Olajuwon, Rudy Gobert, Michael Jordan and others if he is named to his 10th All-Defense team this year.

Defensive Swing Rating: plus-0.2, Steals/G: 0.6, Blocks/G: 1.7

Honors: N/A

Donovan Clingan is now the second Portland Trail Blazers center to make this list, and the combination of him and Robert Williams III will be a nightmare for opponents to drive inside against.

Clingan is a giant at 7'2" and 280 pounds, as his mere presence helps deter opponents from trying anything around the rim. The 22-year-old's 1.7 blocks per game ranked fifth-highest in the NBA while Clingan's 11.6 total rebounds per game were good for third.

The third-year pro isn't as mobile as some of the other elite rim protectors in the NBA. Still, Clingan is one of the youngest players included here, and he led the entire league in shots contested at the rim (470).

Defensive Swing Rating: plus-0.1, Steals/G: 1.1, Blocks/G: 1.0

Honors: All-Defensive 2nd Team (2023-24)

Stick Jaden McDaniels on a number of All-Star guards and wings and he'll make them look like a second-grader learning how to dribble. One of the premier defensive wings in the NBA at 6'9" and with a 7-foot wingspan, McDaniels has yet to meet a one-on-one assignment he couldn't handle.

The 26-year-old is exactly the type of defender who teams crave in the playoffs when the pace slows down and play becomes isolation-heavy. McDaniels can legitimately defend four different positions and was one of just eight players last season to average a full block and steal per game.

Adding muscle to his 185-pound frame would help McDaniels with some of the bigger wings in the NBA, although he's nimble enough now to stick to the quickest of guards.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-6.6, Steals/G: 1.9, Blocks/G: 0.6

Honors: Defensive Player of the Year x 2 (2014-15, 2015-16), All-Defensive 1st Team x 3 (2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17), All-Defensive 2nd Team x 4 (2013-14, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21), Steals Champion (2014-15)

Although he turned 35 this past summer, Kawhi Leonard is looking nearly as good as ever on both sides of the ball.

What Leonard has lost in quickness he's made up for in strength, as the two-time Finals MVP can still defend multiple positions with his 6'6" frame and massive 7'3" wingspan. His 1.9 steals per game ranked No. 4 overall in the NBA this past season.

Health will continue to be an issue, although Leonard is still an elite defender when he's on the floor. Last season was the fifth time in his career Leonard registered a defensive swing rating in the 90th percentile or better (93rd percentile, via Cleaning the Glass).

Swapping out Brandon Ingram for Leonard is a huge upgrade, especially on the defensive end.

Defensive Swing Rating: plus-0.4, Steals/G: 1.1, Blocks/G: 0.4

Honors: All-Defensive 2nd Team (2024-25)

Despite being the No. 52 overall pick in 2023, Toumani Camara became a full-time starter as a rookie because of his defensive prowess. With a backcourt of Ja Morant and 36-year-old Damian Lillard coming off a torn Achilles, the Portland Trail Blazers will need Camara now more than ever.

A 6'7", 230-pound wing, Camara can defend nearly everything and everyone. He's a taller version of Lu Dort and a stronger version of Jaden McDaniels who also played all 82 games last season.

Armed with a 7'1" wingspan, Camara held opponents to just 33.5 percent shooting on three-pointers last season, a full 3.1 percentage points below their average.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-4.6, Steals/G: 2.0, Blocks/G: 0.4

Honors: All-Defensive 1st Team (2024-25), All-Defensive 2nd Team (2025-26), Steals Champion (2024-25)

With Trae Young gone and Dyson Daniels holding down a backcourt spot, the Atlanta Hawks went from the NBA's worst point-of-attack defender to one of its best.

Daniels is a nightmare for opposing ball-handlers, as he's a huge guard (6'7", 6'10½" wingspan) who doesn't sacrifice mobility. He has some of the best hands and instincts in all of basketball, knowing the precise moment to go for a turnover and when to play it safe and stop a driving attempt instead.

Daniels finished just short of a second straight steals title this season (1.96 per game compared to Ausar Thompson's 2.0), a year after he led the NBA with a whopping 3.0 per contest. Only seven other players in the history of the league have averaged three or more steals over the course of a season, a list that includes Michael Jordan and John Stockton.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-9.6, Steals/G: 1.1, Blocks/G: 1.3

Honors: All-Defensive 1st Team (2025-26), All-Defensive 2nd Team x 2 (2022-23, 2023-24)

Although he turned 32 this past summer, Derrick White only seems to be getting better defensively with age.

White not only made his first All-Defensive first team this past year but also finished sixth overall in Defensive Player of the Year voting, the highest placing among all NBA guards.

Jaylen Brown deservedly got most of the credit for keeping the Boston Celtics at the top of the East without Jayson Tatum for the majority of the season, although White's defense was a huge part as well. Boston allowed nearly 10 fewer points per 100 possessions with White on the floor, good for the 97th percentile among all players per Cleaning the Glass.

White isn't your typical one-dimensional backcourt defender, as he's one of the best shot-blocking guards in NBA history and perhaps the best we've seen since Dwyane Wade. White's 1.3 blocks per game somehow ranked 15th overall in the NBA among all positions, topping even big men like Mitchell Robinson, Jalen Duren and Brook Lopez.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-3.0, Steals/G: 0.9, Blocks/G: 0.9

Honors: N/A

Collin Murray-Boyles is going to be a huge part of a ferocious Toronto Raptors defense for years to come.

Just a rookie last season, Murray-Boyles already showed off the entire defensive toolbox, especially in his first taste of the playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He's big enough to play both power forward and center and athletic enough to switch onto guards at the perimeter. Excellent hands accompany a near 7'1" wingspan, allowing Murray-Boyles to be one of the most versatile big-men defenders in the entire NBA already.

After coming into the league a little heavy at 245 pounds for his modest 6'7" frame, Murray-Boyles said he's lost a substantial amount of weight heading into Year 2, taking up distance running and embracing a healthier diet this offseason per TSN's Josh Lewenberg.

Still just 21, Murray-Boyles is going to become a household name very soon.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-7.0, Steals/G: 1.3, Blocks/G: 0.3

Honors: All-Defensive 1st Team (2022-23), All-Defensive 2nd Team (2023-24)

For those at home counting, this is the third current member of the Oklahoma City Thunder on this list, and we're not even close to being done.

Alex Caruso's role may have dipped on a loaded Thunder squad, although his individual and team defense remains elite. A 3.4 steal percentage would have ranked No. 3 overall in the NBA had Caruso logged enough court time to qualify, and the 32-year-old led the NBA in steal percentage during both of his All-Defensive seasons with the Chicago Bulls.

A defensive swing rating in the 94th percentile last season was the fifth time in nine seasons Caruso has ranked in the 90s or above, with eight of the nine coming in the 80th percentile or better, via Cleaning the Glass.

A bulldog of a ball-stopper, Caruso still isn't a top-two defender on his own team, however.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-5.7, Steals/G: 0.9, Blocks/G: 0.7

Honors: Defensive Player of the Year (2019-20), All-Defensive 1st Team x 4 (2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22), All-Defensive 2nd Team (2016-17)

Giannis Antetokounmpo's incredible offensive game will naturally garner most of the attention, although the 31-year-old has also become one of the premier defenders of the past decade.

Despite his mild block numbers, the 6'11" Antetokounmpo has long been a premier rim protector, holding opponents to just 51.5 percent shooting at the basket this past season. Few players have Antetokounmpo's combination of size and strength, as his body transformation since coming into the NBA as a lanky teenager has been incredible.

After years of getting to play alongside another elite defender in Brook Lopez, Antetokounmpo gets to join forces with Bam Adebayo in the Miami Heat frontcourt. Both can ease the pressure off the other and are able to take turns going to battle with the toughest of offensive opponents.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-3.5, Steals/G: 1.9, Blocks/G: 0.4

Honors: All-Defensive 2nd Team (2025-26)

Placing Cason Wallace in the top 10 at just 22 years old is a testament to his defensive work already and the projected increase in role with Lu Dort traded to the Atlanta Hawks.

Wallace ranked second in steal percentage (3.5 percent) and third in steals per game (1.9) this past season despite only starting 58 of his 77 games. In those 58 starts, Wallace racked up 2.1 steals per contest, which would have led the NBA.

Wallace will likely start this season in place of Dort, sliding between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. He'll continually draw the toughest backcourt assignment, helping to keep Gilgeous-Alexander fresh for another long playoff run.

A strong, quick guard with terrific hands, Wallace has been an elite defender from the day he stepped onto an NBA court. He finally gets the chance to prove it as a full-time starter for the first time in his four-year career.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-4.2, Steals/G: 0.7, Blocks/G: 1.7

Honors: Defensive Player of the Year (2024-25), All-Defensive 1st Team (2022-23, 2024-25)

Still just 25, Evan Mobley already has a DPOY trophy and a pair of All-Defensive first-team honors to his name. He somehow got snubbed for a team this past season, despite having more blocks per game and a better defensive swing rating than in his Defensive Player of the Year season.

Mobley's best defensive strength when entering the NBA was his switchability as a 6'11" big man out of USC. Now, he can still guard all five positions and some added muscle has turned him into an elite rim protector as well.

Mobley's 1.7 blocks per game ranked No. 4 overall in the NBA while his 48.7 percent opponent shooting at the rim was the second-lowest of the top-56 total shot contesters.

A monster in every area of the defensive end, Mobley is still getting better as he looks to fill up his trophy case.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-3.9, Steals/G: 1.6, Blocks/G: 0.7

Honors: All-Defensive 2nd Team x 2 (2022-23, 2025-26), Steals Champion (2022-23)

How do you build a strong defense around Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns? Fill in the gaps with elite wings like OG Anunoby.

The 29-year-old has been one of the premier defenders of this decade, using his 6'7" frame and 7'2" wingspan to shut down would-be drivers, play passing lanes and switch onto bigger opponents as needed.

Anunoby is excellent at playing individual and team defense, using his superb instincts to know when to slide over and help contest a shot.

One of the few defenders to hold his opponents to a lower field goal percentage from all areas of the court, Anunoby can truly guard every position and played a huge part in helping the Knicks win the 2026 title.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-3.8, Steals/G: 1.4, Blocks/G: 1.5

Honors: All-Defensive 2nd Team (2025-26)

Scottie Barnes is knocking on the door of NBA superstardom.

As good as the 25-year-old is on offense with his scoring and playmaking ability, Barnes may be even better defensively. Not only was Barnes the only player in the NBA to average at least 1.4 steals and blocks last season, he's the only one to do so in the past six seasons.

He's extremely dangerous as a help-side defender, coming over to erase shot attempts from all angles on a regular basis.

Barnes' athleticism at 6'8" and 237 pounds makes him look like a slightly shorter version of Giannis Antetokounmpo, a power forward who's able to cover a lot of ground while using his strength to handle opposing bigs one-on-one.

On a terrific Toronto Raptors team that's going to wreak havoc defensively with Kawhi Leonard and Collin Murray-Boyles, Barnes is the centerpiece and a future Defensive Player of the Year.

Defensive Swing Rating: plus-1.3, Steals/G: 1.5, Blocks/G: 0.6

Honors: All-Defensive 1st Team (2024-25)

Back-to-back top-8 finishes for Defensive Players of the Year are just the start for Amen Thompson, one of the most unique defenders the NBA has ever seen.

His 6'7", 200-pound frame is one of the most athletic in the NBA, as Thompson can fly around the court like a defensive tornado, disrupting everything in his path. His 1.5 steals per game were good for 10th overall in the NBA.

Perhaps the best evidence for Thompson's defensive prowess is the fact that the Houston Rockets finished sixth overall in defensive rating last season despite having Alperen Şengün at center, 37-year-old Kevin Durant playing big minutes and injuries to Steven Adams and Fred VanVleet. 

Thompson played a whopping 37.4 minutes per game (second-most in the NBA behind Tyrese Maxey) in his 79 contests, and his 2,953 total minutes were the most of any player. That's a ton of mileage for a player who was needed to defend nearly every position at times.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-8.7, Steals/G: 0.6, Blocks/G: 1.9

Honors: All-Defensive 1st Team (2025-26)

On a roster full of outstanding defenders, Chet Holmgren is the best of the bunch for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

He's one of the premier shot-blockers in the NBA, holding opponents to 46.4 percent shooting at the rim, the lowest mark of any of the top-56 shot contesters and even better than Victor Wembanyama. Holmgren's 1.9 blocks ranked second in the league as well.

A 7'1" frame and 7'6" wingspan can cover a lot of ground horizontally and air vertically, allowing Holmgren to contest everything inside the arc.

In a normal NBA era, we'd be talking about Holmgren as the next great defensive force. Thanks to the center in San Antonio, however, Holmgren finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and may have to stay in a very large shadow.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-11.8, Steals/G: 0.8, Blocks/G: 1.6

Honors: Defensive Player of the Year x 4 (2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2023-24), All-Defensive 1st Team x 8 (2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2023-24, 2025-26), All-Defensive 2nd Team (2024-25), Block Champion (2016-17)

Rudy Gobert will go down as one of the greatest defenders in NBA history and is tied with Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo for the most Defensive Player of the Year awards ever (four).

An elite rim protector and rebounder, Gobert has anchored Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves teams for the past 13 years. He's led the NBA in blocks once and defensive rebounding twice.

Remarkably, Gobert has ranked in the 94th percentile or better in defensive swing rating in 10 of his 13 seasons, and isn't slowing down. His minus-11.8 rating ranked in the 98th percentile last year, the second-best mark of his career.

With nine total All-Defensive teams to his name, Gobert can move into a tie with Scottie Pippen for sixth place on the all-time list following another big year.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-1.2, Steals/G: 2.0, Blocks/G: 0.9

Honors: All-Defensive 1st Team (2025-26), Steals Champion (2025-26)

Amen Thompson may be the bigger offensive threat, although Ausar is the better defender and second-best defensive player overall in the NBA today.

No player can turn an opponent's water off like Thompson, who led the NBA in steals despite playing a modest 26.0 minutes a game. His steal rate of 3.7 percent also led the league.

In the last 17 years, only Draymond Green, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and now Thompson have averaged at least 2.0 steals and 0.9 blocks over a full season, speaking to their unique blend of defensive contributions.

Defensive Swing Rating: minus-12.3, Steals/G: 1.0, Blocks/G: 3.1

Honors: Defensive Player of the Year (2025-26), All-Defensive 1st Team x 2 (2023-24, 2025-26), Block Champion x 3 (2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26)

Was there ever a doubt?

Victor Wembanyama is this generation's greatest defender and could go down as the best ever by the time his career is over. If not for a deep vein thrombosis suffered during his sophomore season, the 22-year-old would be coming off back-to-back DPOYs.

A 7'4" frame, eight-foot wingspan and 9'7" standing reach means Wembanyama can contest shots without even fully raising his arms, giving the San Antonio Spurs the ultimate NBA cheat code. Wembanyama's 3.5 blocks per game for his career are tied with Mark Eaton for the highest in league history.

Teams have to completely game-plan around Wembanyama's presence, as he can switch onto guards on the wing while making other 7-footers appear small inside.

No disrespect to the rest of the field, but the entire NBA is playing for second place when it comes to Defensive Player of the Year as long as Wembanyama is in the league.

Arguably the most unique talent in the history of the league, Wembanyama is easily the NBA's best defensive player.