We've all heard the saying: Defense wins championships. Basketball is a sport where fans often gravitate to spectacular offensive highlights. Defense is often neglected and isn't featured as much in your 10-minute full-game highlights on Youtube. However, defense is arguably the most important part of the game (specifically in the NBA Playoffs) as many coaches would argue. In a league filled with many offensive stars, some have made their mark on the other side of the floor. Here is a list of the top defenders at each position:
Point Guard: BEN SIMMONS, Philadelphia 76ers
Some might argue that Ben Simmons doesn't count as a point guard. But officially, that's the position he plays for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Prior to his concerning back issue before the NBA season's suspension, Simmons established himself as one of the best and most versatile defenders in the entire NBA. With his 6-foot-10, 230-lb. frame, the former Rookie of the Year can defend multiple positions given his unique mix of size and speed.
Known for his incredible athletic ability, dynamic offensive game in the open floor, and lack of a working jump shot, Simmons made a commitment to become the best version of himself on the defensive end. This season, that by leading the NBA in steals, averaging 2.1 per game.
Shooting Guard: JRUE HOLIDAY
The New Orleans Pelicans are nowhere near the top of the league standings. In fact, right before the season's hiatus, the Pelicans were falling off the race for the final playoff spot out West. Nevertheless, it's hard to discount Jrue Holiday's standing as the best defender at the two-guard spot.
Holiday's numbers don't jump out the page, and his advanced defensive metrics aren't near the top in the league, either. However, there is more to defense than the stats suggest and the 29-year old represents that.
Holiday is a pest defensively and moves his feet well to stay in front of his man. And more often than not, his man is the opposing team's best offensive player. In certain situations, the 6-foot-3 veteran also takes it upon himself to defend bigger players on other teams, such as Kevin Durant or LeBron James, despite giving up a lot in height.
Sure, Holiday doesn't carry the household name that the other defensive stars in this list possess. But certainly, the underrated Pelicans combo guard deserves recognition as one of the elite defenders in the NBA.
Small Forward: KAWHI LEONARD
This shouldn't even be a debate. Kawhi Leonard is the best lockdown perimeter defender in the NBA. While the Los Angeles Clippers have not been consistent all season long, especially with their energy on defense, it's been the two-time Finals MVP who has been anchoring their defense.
Leonard is capable of shutting down anyone on the perimeter and also has the muscle mass and strength to defend bigger players on the post. Some might argue that he may have taken a step back defensively this season. But if you need to call on one player to make a season-saving stop, the unanimous top choice would still be Kawhi Leonard.
It's hard to ignore The Klaw on this one, especially after his special 2019 postseason run. Not only did he have a massive load to carry offensively for the Toronto Raptors, he also took it upon himself to defend the other team's best offensive player on every single possession.
He went toe-to-toe with Jimmy Butler in the second round before bouncing in the “shot heard around the world” to eliminate the Philadelphia 76ers. Leonard also locked down league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to help the Raptors erase a 2-0 deficit and eventually take the series in six games to advance to the NBA Finals.
Leonard's masterclass offensive stretch certainly helped the Raptors capture their first title in franchise history. But nobody can deny the kind of impact he had defensively, especially in their series against the Sixers and Bucks, to gift Toronto the Larry O.B.
Power Forward: GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO
Now, before any Lakers fans sour on this, I placed your boy Anthony Davis at the center spot (spoiler alert).
But even if Davis didn't count as a center, I still would have placed Giannis Antetokounmpo as the top defensive power forward in the NBA. The Greek Freak is anchoring a Milwaukee Bucks defense that tops the NBA in defensive rating by a mile.
The reigning league MVP also leads the league in every relevant advanced defensive metric there is. You name it, defensive win shares, defensive rating, defensive box plus-minus, Antetokounmpo tops in every single category.
Given his numbers alone, Giannis should be the de facto 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year. Then again, the narrative – and the fact that he could win his second consecutive MVP trophy – might not reward him for his massive impact for the league-leading Bucks defensively.
Center: ANTHONY DAVIS
Apologies need to be given to Utah Jazz fans on this, as well. Yes, your two-time reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year is not on this list. Though Rudy Gobert just won the last two DPOYs, Anthony Davis takes this one for his massive impact defensively for the Los Angeles Lakers this season.
Davis has anchored the Purple and Gold to the third best defense in the entire league in terms of Defensive Win Shares. Certainly, this has played a major part in giving the Lakers the best record in the Western Conference.
Despite nursing nagging injuries from game-to-game, The Brow continues to play at a high level on both ends of the floor. Davis ranks third in blocks, averaging 2.4 a night to go along with 1.5 steals. Even though he's 6-foot-10, Davis doesn't have much of a problem staying in front of perimeter players when he gets switched on to them in pick-and-roll situations.
The Hollywood exposure has definitely given Davis a brighter spotlight than he had in New Orleans. His arrival in Los Angeles has definitely turned them into legitimate championship favorites. And with the narratives affecting votes for Defensive Player of the Year, Davis is probably the front-runner to win the award this season.
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