78 greatest defensive NBA players ever: The HoopsHype list

At HoopsHype, we maintain multiple all-time rankings lists, including the HoopsHype 78 for top NBA players and the HoopsHype International 78 for foreign stars.

These lists are updated annually during the offseason, adding one player and adjusting rankings based on major achievements. You can be sure Nikola Jokic will move up in both rankings in a few months, which would then be the HoopsHype 79 and the HoopsHype International 79.

Today, we introduce the HoopsHype Defensive 78, ranking the greatest defenders in NBA history. As with the other rankings, we held a team vote with the opinions of multiple HoopsHype staff members, discarded the highest and lowest ranks for each player, and awarded points based on the remaining positions.

Please note that we factor longevity into these rankings to a big extent. For example, although Victor Wembanyama could very well one day top this list, we think his career simply hasn’t been long enough to warrant a spot in the rankings yet.

Now, let’s delve into the list.