Offense wins games, defense wins championships. We’ve all heard the saying, and there is a reason for it. Its held true throughout the history of sports, including basketball. Who can lock an opponent down when it truly matters and the game is on the line? The NBA has seen its fair share of great defensive players, but who are the very best? Each season the NBA compiles and awards an All-NBA Defensive Team. Who would make an all-time team though? A team so great defensively that opponents would rather play defense than offense. Well, here is a group of five who would create a lot of problems for any offensive player.

Point Guard – Gary Payton

His nickname “The Glove” really says it all. He could just take an opposing guard out of the picture for the full 48 minutes. He made nine consecutive Defensive First Teams and averaged more than 2 steals per game in his 17-year career. His size at 6-foot-4 could really bother other point guards, making it difficult for them to get a clean shot off. What was Payton’s best defensive asset though? His mouth. The Oakland born guard could talk trash with the best of them, and found himself in the head of his opposing counterpart quite often.

Shooting Guard – Michael Jordan

Everyone knows Jordan is the best and it’s hard to argue against it. The six NBA championships, more than 32,000 career points, and the countless moments of pure greatness he gave us speaks for itself, but what pushed him to another level was his defense. He took both sides of the floor extremely serious, and could eliminate the other team’s best perimeter player, as evidenced by his nine Defensive First Team selections. His physical attributes, 6-foot-6 with speed and athleticism, coupled with his fierce competitive mentality made it a nightmare for anyone playing the Bulls.

Small Foward – LeBron James

It can easily be argued that Scottie Pippen should hold this spot, but James is a more physically gifted Pippen in my eyes. James has patented the chase down block and left offensive players fearful of a clear path to the rim, knowing he could be lurking behind them. He’s made four Defensive First Teams and surely has several more left before his career is finished. His physical nature takes its toll on players, just ask Paul Pierce. James has consistently averaged around two steals during his career and is yet to reach his basketball prime. As his mental approach to the game progresses, so will his defense too and that is a scary thought for Miami Heat opponents.

Power Forward – Dennis Rodman

Every team needs a little crazy, especially on defense, and Rodman provides plenty of it. Rodman was the ultimate defensive specialist and thrived in his enforcer role. Despite playing undersized at about 6-foot-7, he easily held his own against bigger players and created havoc in the lane. He’s 11th on the all-time career rebounds list, and made seven Defensive First Teams. Rodman once averaged 18.7 rebounds per game for a season. He would be sure to clean up any missed shots that were being forced on the outside by Payton, Jordan, and James.

Center – Bill Russell

With Rodman controlling the glass, Russell would be this team’s shot blocker. The Celtics’ great was so good at blocking shots, he mastered the art of tipping the ball to a teammate so they could gain possession. As mentioned before, defense wins championships and there is no better proof then Russell’s 11 rings. He is second in career rebounds with 21,620. His leadership qualities also deserve mention as he would be the perfect captain to anchor this defensive juggernaut.

Would YOU want this guy guarding you?

Every year the NBA awards an All Defensive team.  At Hardwood Houdini, we’ve taken it a step further to determine the best defensive team of All-Time.  It’s hard to narrow it down to five players, to say the least, so expect up-coming 2nd and 3rd All time defensive teams to follow this piece.  That said, here’s my First team:

G- Gary Payton

I have trouble ranking anyone higher as a guard defender than a guy who was nicknamed “The Glove,” a guy who could frustrate all offensive players, be it Michael Jordan, or any other shooting guard of his era. Payton averaged over two steals a game for seven consecutvie seasons with the Seattle Supersonics and along with Shawn Kemp, led the Supersonics to the Finals in 1995-96, where they were dispatched by Michael Jordan’s Bulls. Still, despite not winning a ring until hsi final year in the NBA playing an off the bench role with the Miami Heat, Payton was the best defender at the point guard in NBA history. Payton ranks #45 on my all time player list.

G- Michael Jordan

MJ was not only the best player ever, but also one of the best defenders ever. He’s not on this all defensive team because of his overall greatness, but truly because of his defensive greatness. Is there anyone today that can cover Kobe Bryant? No, not really. But MJ could have. MJ had the defensive footwork and talent to keep even Kobe in check. MJ’s rank on my all time list of players? Yeah, it’s just what you guessed.

F- Scottie Pippen

Pippen was, in my opinion, the best on ball defender of all time. He was nearly impossible for defenders to get by and could cover PGs, SGs, and SFs. Gifted with extremely long arms and an ability to move his hands quickly, Pippen played passing lanes and frustrated offensive players on a nightly basis, as he made the ball die in whomever’s hands it fell into. Pippen ranks #20 on my all time list of players.

F- Dennis Rodman

Pippen may have been the best on-ball defender of all time, but Rodman may be the greatest forward defender of all time. Rodman was able to cover every guy he ever faced in his career and was deceptively strong when it came to bodying up with the bigger guys in the post. His tightly wrapped muscular frame, not to mention his great defensive rebounding abilities, made him one of the few players who could change a game on the defensive end. Rodman ranks #34 on my all time list of NBA players.

C- Bill Russell

Russell was the best defensive center in NBA history by a good margin. He led the Celtics to 11 championships in 13 years, and ranked high on all of our All-Time lists we just completed here at Hardwood Houdini, going as high as second on two of the three lists (my own included). He blocked a ridiculous number of shots, but we have no idea how many, as blocks were not counted then. Moreover, and perhaps most importantly, he was the only player of his era capable of keeping Wilt Chamberlain in check. That means he could have covered any of today’s centers with acumen and grace. Russell is the 2nd greatest player ever by my personal reckoning.