The Detroit Pistons were undoubtedly one of the NBA's premier teams in the early-to-mid 2000's. Although their squad was loaded with All-Stars, it was big man Ben Wallace who served as the anchor of that lineup.
As an uncanny defender and ferocious shot-blocker, Wallace helped the Pistons to their first championship in over a decade. He was recently asked who his favorite players are to watch in today's NBA during an appearance on ESPN's The Jump to which the four-time Defensive Player of the Year gave a not-so-surprising answer:
“Of course the defensive player of the year, Draymond Green. Kawhi Leonard, what he brings on defense, I like watching him play. So those would be my top two. Jimmy Butler goes hard too.”
It should come as no surprise that Wallace would pick the league's best defenders. He came into the NBA as an undrafted free agent who signed with the then-Washington Bullets as a rookie. It was not long before he established himself as arguably the greatest defensive player of his generation with Detroit.
Wallace still holds more DPOY awards than both Green and Leonard combined — for now. It is possible that each may surpass him individually, assuming the two continue to share the title for years to come.
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