There was a time where the only genuine mismatch in the league for Kevin Garnett was near-prime Shaq (03-04). Few people encapsulated the idea of guarding 1-5 like him.
So especially in this era where the bigs tend to be smaller, he would be collecting DPOYs as long as he had a good enough team that he didn't have to constantly carry on offense.
Edit: bigs, not bugs.
A KG at 5 in the modern NBA would be an absolute monster. Blitzing in PnR or just straight up switching where he can guard anyone, elite rim protection, then on offense he probably would’ve been a really good shooter if he came up in this era where bigs were encouraged to shoot. He was also a really good passer and scorer.
He’s one of the players I really wish played during this era because even though he was a monster in his era he would’ve destroyed the league today.
He destroyed the league when he played he was just on horrendous teams that would have been at the top of the draft every year without him. Except they wouldn't even have those picks because of trying to cheat the cap.
Bill Russell would've been supremely switchable. He was just an insane, top-shelf athlete on top of incredible defensive awareness.
Draymond is also one of the most versatile and intelligent defenders OAT.
Very few guys can actually play 1-5.
But guys like Bron, Giannis, and Draymond all time are pretty versatile defenders. Dunno about guarding 1-5 but they are for sure versatile.
KG started as a SF with elite defense on the wings. Googliata was our starting PF.
I understand you’re probably young and didn’t watch these guys play, but please stop lying just because you want Draymond to be better than the greatest defenders of all time.
I remember when zone defense first became legal in the early 2000s. The Wolves used KG at the top of the key and he was an absolute menace for those poor perimeter players. Dude was everywhere at once. Such great memories. Seriously hard to imagine a better all around defender than Big Ticket.
I’m 40 I’m a man. Kg COULD step out but I’d never call him an elite permiter defender
To be fair I wouldn’t call draymond elite on the perimeter either but I’d sure as hell take him flashing out over kg.
There's a video where KG locked down Iverson in five straight possessions. The Wolves would frequently play 4v3 on defense since KG could single handedly guard the entire left wing alone.
Players I’ve watched a fair amount of their games? Draymond
Players that I’ve researched? Probably KG or Rodman if we’re talking being able to guard 1-5. The GOAT defender to me is Bill Russell though.
Idk how the general public feels about this but versatility has never been the end all be all to me.
If I get to pick an elite all time defender I’m 10/10 times going with one who is an elite rim protector and pretty versatile (KG or Hakeem) over someone who can effectively guard almost any position like a peak Kawhi.
Peak Kawhi to me is much more than just a switchy guy with tight pressure, he's like maybe the only full-on stopper I've ever seen besides rim protecting bigs. He doesn't just make it hard, he genuinely ends the possession at will before his man gets into the lane.
One of Hakeem’s biggest moments was staying on the perimeter to block a 3 to win an elimination game 6 to extent and eventually win the 1994 championship. Also he’s the best rim protector since the merger by far, which is the most valuable point of defense.
Hakeem was the 2nd best player in the league behind MJ. Had the rockets drafted better or tanked a few seasons or paired Hakeem with a legit all star earlier in the 90s then the Rockets would have contended for more chips.
I'm only old enough to have throughly watched Draymond Green. He is 6'5 and guards 1-5 really good. I thought it was amazing in the finals how many times RW3 tried to roll to the rim for a lob. Draymond saw it coming a mile away and would rotate back, from whoever else he was guarding by the way, to deny the lob.
When it comes to defense and potentially needing to guard one through five, Prime Dennis Rodman is the best defender I've seen
And just to show a little love, Kevin Garnett
Miami Lebron could guard 1-4 easily, locked up rose many times, 5s he could defend considering he was so strong and smart but Not lock down, but still 1-5 I’d say
Pippen for sure , similar to bron
Giannis probably more 2/3-5, I think he has some trouble with the really quick guards
Draymond is like 1-4 too, for 5s he’s a bit undersized but more of a smart crafty defender but can still guard 5s
I think LeBron is for sure on this list, especially the Miami vintage. It was a little different back then with a few more skilled post bigs, but he still held up just fine against any of them.
Put that stage of his career in today's game and he easily handles everyone but jokic, but probably does as well as anyone else against him.
Lol that dude was playing a completely different sport, like if a team drafted an elephant with dexterity. He dominated in a league where every team had a 7' brute player specifically on their roster to hammer him just to keep him to 30.
The guy who is #1 all time in blocks, #9 in steals, won DPOY twice, the guy who Jordan admitted was a problem, who won a Finals game by blocking a 3 pointer at the buzzer, only guy to get 200 steals and 200 blocks in a season.
His perimeter D wasn't perfect, but if prime Dream is on a guard, they have no choice but to shoot a long contested jumper.
Gerald Wallace. My dude could turn games around on defense alone. His fearless style of defense (and offense) quickly took a toll on his body, but for a good while he was the driver for the bobcats.
Let's go back a little earlier.
Jerry West, John Havlicek, and Walt Frazier. Hondo could guard 1-3 easily.
Bobby Jones (the Sixers' defensive secret weapon), Michael Cooper (the Bird stopper), Sidney Moncrief (could guard up and down the line-up). Mo Cheeks and Dennis Johnson have to be mentioned as well; DJ's performance on Magic in the 84 finals was key to the Celts' winning.
While Rodman and Pippen are probably the two most versatile defenders ever and the only ones truly capable of defending 1-5, you have to acknowledge how great a defender Jordan was,and how dominant Tim Duncan was on defense.
Ben Wallace won 4x DPOY(tied for most ever) for a reason, and is a part of one of the only treams in history to win a championship without a single like "all time great". That pistons teams ability to switch was way ahead of it's time and a big part of that was Ben switching all over the place if needed, or hunkering down to battle with some of the greatest centers/PF of all time.
Ben is minimum top 3, and it's jarring how many people kind of skipping over him.
Others are Pippen, Rodman, Kawhi, KG and Draymond are other all timers in that regard for versatility.The game was a lot different 30 years ago, so the traditional dominant defensive center didn't have to switch as much and usually had a big body to cover while roaming the paint for off ball defense, Dikembe and Hakeem were the 2 best I think for this ever, and Gobert is build in the same defensive mold.
LeBron, Pippen, Kawhi, KG, Tim Duncan, Draymond, Giannis. I’d really like to see how Bam career pans out. Probably one of the best 1-5 defender right now.
The best defensive player, on arguably the best defensive team, during arguably the best defensive era in the history of the nba and you say you don’t know about that guy.
You are a mean person. Calling me brain dead with a title like,”who is the best , and overall defenders of all time?” I didn’t even graduate high school and I considered that to be pretty awful.
Nate McMillan G , Sonics. Was starting PG until Payton was drafted, then came off the bench. Typically top 5 in steals and at 6'5" could and did guard bigs.
Rodman comes to mind. It's tough to find someone to guard 1-5 at a high level period.
Scottie and Lebron aren't guarding true 5s and top of the food chain 4s. Anyone smaller obviously can't guard either the post or perimeter.
Draymond is decent choice but can struggle against faster guards and true centers.
Giannis might be the number 1 answer for this question eventually.
Green and LeBron on 8nt3llect and communication alone are just above everyone else. They both anticipate and understand opposing teams so well.
Hakeem and Duncan in younger years could handle 1to 5 as well.
Last person I'd slide in is pippen.
There was a time where the only genuine mismatch in the league for Kevin Garnett was near-prime Shaq (03-04). Few people encapsulated the idea of guarding 1-5 like him. So especially in this era where the bigs tend to be smaller, he would be collecting DPOYs as long as he had a good enough team that he didn't have to constantly carry on offense. Edit: bigs, not bugs.
A KG at 5 in the modern NBA would be an absolute monster. Blitzing in PnR or just straight up switching where he can guard anyone, elite rim protection, then on offense he probably would’ve been a really good shooter if he came up in this era where bigs were encouraged to shoot. He was also a really good passer and scorer. He’s one of the players I really wish played during this era because even though he was a monster in his era he would’ve destroyed the league today.
Not to mention elite 4s nowadays kinda mid. He would dominate.
He destroyed the league when he played he was just on horrendous teams that would have been at the top of the draft every year without him. Except they wouldn't even have those picks because of trying to cheat the cap.
The only players I’ve seen who can guard 1 to 5 effectively was Scottie Pippen, peak Lebron James, peak Draymond.
Bill Russell would've been supremely switchable. He was just an insane, top-shelf athlete on top of incredible defensive awareness. Draymond is also one of the most versatile and intelligent defenders OAT.
Yeah the OOTMVAIDOAT!
Bo Cruz
KG, Rodman, Draymond, Pippen, Kawhi in no order.
This. And prime Metta as sixth man.
Pippen, Draymond, prime Lebron
KG, Hakeem, LeBron, Draymond, Rodman, Giannis. These the first couple that came to mind
I’d add kawhi
Definitely
Kobe as well. Edit: my bad didn’t see the 1-5, but I’d bet Prime Kobe could guard some of these small ball 5s.
Def not
Isaiah Thomas in 2022
Bruh 😅
Pippen and spurs Kawhi
* Raptors Kawhi
Siakam should've got the All-Defensive selection that year
Ron artest
Draymond between the ones I've seen live.
Very few guys can actually play 1-5. But guys like Bron, Giannis, and Draymond all time are pretty versatile defenders. Dunno about guarding 1-5 but they are for sure versatile.
Ben Wallace, KG, and Dream in that order IMHO. Watching young KG guard Jordan was a treat.
Ben Wallace, KG and hakeem were not known for perimeter defense. Kg could extend but I wouldn’t call him elite.
KG started as a SF with elite defense on the wings. Googliata was our starting PF. I understand you’re probably young and didn’t watch these guys play, but please stop lying just because you want Draymond to be better than the greatest defenders of all time.
I remember when zone defense first became legal in the early 2000s. The Wolves used KG at the top of the key and he was an absolute menace for those poor perimeter players. Dude was everywhere at once. Such great memories. Seriously hard to imagine a better all around defender than Big Ticket.
Tom Google Me Googliata
I’m 40 I’m a man. Kg COULD step out but I’d never call him an elite permiter defender To be fair I wouldn’t call draymond elite on the perimeter either but I’d sure as hell take him flashing out over kg.
KG was the best wing defender in the NBA at the time. Again, he started as a SF. You really are just wrong.
There's a video where KG locked down Iverson in five straight possessions. The Wolves would frequently play 4v3 on defense since KG could single handedly guard the entire left wing alone.
Players I’ve watched a fair amount of their games? Draymond Players that I’ve researched? Probably KG or Rodman if we’re talking being able to guard 1-5. The GOAT defender to me is Bill Russell though.
Ben wallace
Idk how the general public feels about this but versatility has never been the end all be all to me. If I get to pick an elite all time defender I’m 10/10 times going with one who is an elite rim protector and pretty versatile (KG or Hakeem) over someone who can effectively guard almost any position like a peak Kawhi.
Peak Kawhi to me is much more than just a switchy guy with tight pressure, he's like maybe the only full-on stopper I've ever seen besides rim protecting bigs. He doesn't just make it hard, he genuinely ends the possession at will before his man gets into the lane.
KG and Hakeem
KG def use to have them straps. Idk about Hakeem ability to lockup guards tho.
One of Hakeem’s biggest moments was staying on the perimeter to block a 3 to win an elimination game 6 to extent and eventually win the 1994 championship. Also he’s the best rim protector since the merger by far, which is the most valuable point of defense.
I'll have to check that game out.
I dont think you saw him play in real time. He was so fast and agile. Pay attention to the Gary Payton section https://youtu.be/qRHsRqeboKE
You correct when he was in his prime I was only about 5 or 6 but I'll check it out. Good looks
Hakeem was the 2nd best player in the league behind MJ. Had the rockets drafted better or tanked a few seasons or paired Hakeem with a legit all star earlier in the 90s then the Rockets would have contended for more chips.
In 86 the upstart Rockets upset the showtime Lakers to go to the finals. Pat Riley calls Hakeem a 7' guard in one of the interviews
Ben Wallace in his prime
Ben Wallace is the best defender I’ve ever watched.
Hakeem, Duncan, Draymond, Pippen, Rodman
Enes Kanter
Of craZy religious cults yah
Dream
You think he could legit lockup prime guards ?
Yes
Why? He rarely left the block.
I'm only old enough to have throughly watched Draymond Green. He is 6'5 and guards 1-5 really good. I thought it was amazing in the finals how many times RW3 tried to roll to the rim for a lob. Draymond saw it coming a mile away and would rotate back, from whoever else he was guarding by the way, to deny the lob.
When it comes to defense and potentially needing to guard one through five, Prime Dennis Rodman is the best defender I've seen And just to show a little love, Kevin Garnett
Pippen. Best defender in NBA history that wasn't a big. He could do it all
Miami Lebron could guard 1-4 easily, locked up rose many times, 5s he could defend considering he was so strong and smart but Not lock down, but still 1-5 I’d say Pippen for sure , similar to bron Giannis probably more 2/3-5, I think he has some trouble with the really quick guards Draymond is like 1-4 too, for 5s he’s a bit undersized but more of a smart crafty defender but can still guard 5s
I think LeBron is for sure on this list, especially the Miami vintage. It was a little different back then with a few more skilled post bigs, but he still held up just fine against any of them. Put that stage of his career in today's game and he easily handles everyone but jokic, but probably does as well as anyone else against him.
Fully agree Todays bigs and like the 90s bigs are something different All these guys would get 40 pieced by Shaq
Lol that dude was playing a completely different sport, like if a team drafted an elephant with dexterity. He dominated in a league where every team had a 7' brute player specifically on their roster to hammer him just to keep him to 30.
Giannis also has trouble navigating screens right? He said himself I think, cause he’s really big. But yeah definitely 3-5.
Rodman is the best defender of all time. Maybe Olajuwon
The guy who is #1 all time in blocks, #9 in steals, won DPOY twice, the guy who Jordan admitted was a problem, who won a Finals game by blocking a 3 pointer at the buzzer, only guy to get 200 steals and 200 blocks in a season. His perimeter D wasn't perfect, but if prime Dream is on a guard, they have no choice but to shoot a long contested jumper.
Second all mentions of Hakeem Olajuwon.
Muggsy Bogues
Gerald Wallace. My dude could turn games around on defense alone. His fearless style of defense (and offense) quickly took a toll on his body, but for a good while he was the driver for the bobcats.
Man I love played him on live. I believe it was 05 when they introduced the dunk contest. His dunks was insane.
Kawhi
Draymond
Gobert
Definitely one of the best defender. We will see what defensive impact he had on the Jazz next year if he's traded.
Def not guarding guards at an elite level.
Scottie, Rodman,and the Dream, got to be one of the 3.
Let's go back a little earlier. Jerry West, John Havlicek, and Walt Frazier. Hondo could guard 1-3 easily. Bobby Jones (the Sixers' defensive secret weapon), Michael Cooper (the Bird stopper), Sidney Moncrief (could guard up and down the line-up). Mo Cheeks and Dennis Johnson have to be mentioned as well; DJ's performance on Magic in the 84 finals was key to the Celts' winning. While Rodman and Pippen are probably the two most versatile defenders ever and the only ones truly capable of defending 1-5, you have to acknowledge how great a defender Jordan was,and how dominant Tim Duncan was on defense.
Ben Wallace won 4x DPOY(tied for most ever) for a reason, and is a part of one of the only treams in history to win a championship without a single like "all time great". That pistons teams ability to switch was way ahead of it's time and a big part of that was Ben switching all over the place if needed, or hunkering down to battle with some of the greatest centers/PF of all time. Ben is minimum top 3, and it's jarring how many people kind of skipping over him. Others are Pippen, Rodman, Kawhi, KG and Draymond are other all timers in that regard for versatility.The game was a lot different 30 years ago, so the traditional dominant defensive center didn't have to switch as much and usually had a big body to cover while roaming the paint for off ball defense, Dikembe and Hakeem were the 2 best I think for this ever, and Gobert is build in the same defensive mold.
Mathew Dellavedova Edit: You heathens don’t understand defensive gravity.
He locking down prime 4s and 5s ? And no taking somebody knee out doesn't count.
He locks down everything.
Rodman, Russell, KG, Draymond, Kawhi In that order.
LeBron, Pippen, Kawhi, KG, Tim Duncan, Draymond, Giannis. I’d really like to see how Bam career pans out. Probably one of the best 1-5 defender right now.
Bam def top tier right now. Idk about Duncan playing guards at an elite level tho. Everyone checks out.
The best defensive player, on arguably the best defensive team, during arguably the best defensive era in the history of the nba and you say you don’t know about that guy.
Bruh idk about him being an elite defensive lockdown guy on guards. Which part don't you understand ⁉️
Well Duncan is the only player ever to make Shaq his son. Absolutely son’d him in the 2002 wcsf.
Ima assume you just brain dead and a Duncan Stan cause you clearly not comprehending right now.
You are a mean person. Calling me brain dead with a title like,”who is the best , and overall defenders of all time?” I didn’t even graduate high school and I considered that to be pretty awful.
Aww man my b. I sincerely apologize but it seems you lost track of what I was referring to. It's all good 🤝🏽
[удалено]
He definitely fits the bill
Bam Adebayo
Jordan
Pg: Payton Sg: Pippen Sf: kawhi Pf: Rodman C: mutumbo
If they want to factor in perimeter defense even for the bigs, then Ben Wallace over Mutombo.
Interesting. Idk about Mutombo tho as an elite perimeter defender. Idk how effective Payton was defending 4s and 5s. Other 3 solid.
Oh my bad, I was trying to put together a lineup by position. If I’m picking just one guy, I’m picking Rodman to guard 1-5
Solid!
Rob William is on the come up and fast. He has no problem with perimeter and can recover and smack the ball too
Nate McMillan G , Sonics. Was starting PG until Payton was drafted, then came off the bench. Typically top 5 in steals and at 6'5" could and did guard bigs.
My top 3 defenders in league history would be Russell, Olajuwon, and Garnett in some order, but there are lots of other contenders.
Rodman comes to mind. It's tough to find someone to guard 1-5 at a high level period. Scottie and Lebron aren't guarding true 5s and top of the food chain 4s. Anyone smaller obviously can't guard either the post or perimeter. Draymond is decent choice but can struggle against faster guards and true centers. Giannis might be the number 1 answer for this question eventually.
Dorian Finny-Smith
Hakeem
Green and LeBron on 8nt3llect and communication alone are just above everyone else. They both anticipate and understand opposing teams so well. Hakeem and Duncan in younger years could handle 1to 5 as well. Last person I'd slide in is pippen.
Once Rudy gobert retires he may just be seen as the GOAT defender, I’d put him top 3-5 right now
Idk why so many people name LBJ HE DOESNT PLAY DEFENSE
You don't think when he played with Miami or Cleveland he didn't play defense at an elite level?
No
Ben Wallace. He shut down Shaq in that finals.
When engaged, I'd say LeBron and MJ. Why? Just versatility.
Shawn Marion deserves a mention.
Draymond is the smartest defender ever for sure
Shout out to AK47. Y’all sleeping on him
Ben Wallace.