Ranking the NBA’s Top 100 Defensemen (10-1): Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo battle for the top spot on the 2024-25 list

The first part of my ranking of the 100 best defenders has already been published and lists players 11-100. Now we get to the tricky part – the ten best defenders in the NBA.

There has long been a complaint about players not playing defense anymore. Focus on any of these 10 and you will immediately see that this criticism is refuted. Their defensive abilities are as good or better than anything we’ve seen in the other eras of the NBA.

Here are the NBA’s 10 best defenders heading into the 2024-25 season.

NBA POSITION RANKING: PG | SG | SF | PF | C

The NBA’s best defenders: 1-10

rank	player
1.	Victor Wembanyama
2.	Rudy Gobert
3.	Bam Adebayo
4.	Anthony Davis
5.	Draymond Green
6.	Jonathan Isaac
7.	Alex Caruso
8.	Herbert Jones
9.	Giannis Antetokounmpo
10.	Jrue holiday

1. Victor Wembanyama

20-year-old rookies aren’t expected to be good at defense. They aren’t expected to finish second to Rudy Gobert in the Defensive Player of the Year voting, but Wembanyama is exceeding all expectations. He could be the best defensive player of all time.

Wembanyama’s 8-foot wingspan makes him an absolute terror near the basket. Last season he led the league by far with 3.6 blocks per game, and the players were stupid enough to challenge him. He also led the league in Todd Whitehead’s HELLNAH statistic, which measures when players simply turn around and back away rather than attempt a layup. He scares everyone away just by standing in the paint.

Wembanyama is capable of doing things no other player in the league can. His block on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s dunk last season was the type of play we never normally see. He can snatch the ball out of nowhere, using the long reach to make his steals look like he’s taking candy from a baby. And unlike other giant rim protectors, it can reliably protect the perimeter.

Spurs’ defense wasn’t great last year, but when Wemby was on the field they were noticeably better. He joined the worst defense in NBA history and took them to 21st. They will be much better this year.

MORE: Victor Wembanyama could be this generation’s Wilt Chamberlain

2. Rudy Gobert

Gobert joined Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo as the only four-time winners of the Defensive Player of the Year award last season. He has been a top-10 defenseman in eight of the last nine seasons, including the league’s best defense in the 2023-24 season.

Gobert is often criticized for what he can’t do. His perimeter defense regularly comes under fire in the playoffs – he allowed a game-winning three-pointer to Luka Doncic in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, which drew the same criticisms that seem to come up again and again. However, no one could stop Doncic in this series, and these handful of viral highlights diminish what Gobert is doing at an elite level.

Gobert’s rim protection is from another planet and even better than Wembanyama’s last season. According to Crafted NBA, opponents shot 13.8 percent worse within six feet of the basket when he anchored the paint, ranking in the 98th percentile of players. When he’s on the floor, teams are much more likely to shoot from mid-range instead of trying to shoot over him.

Gobert is statistically one of the best isolation defenders in the league (also supported by film), although he has been roasted in some high-profile situations. He was also in the 90th percentile in post-defense.

Beyond the numbers, the highlights speak for themselves. He may not be the most agile athlete, but the sheer length of his 7-9 wingspan makes it extremely difficult to land a good shot.

3. Bam Adebayo

Adebayo’s nomination to the First Team All-Defense last season marked the fifth consecutive time he made one of those teams.

Adebayo is widely regarded as a defensive expert due to his versatility. He anchors Miami’s fearsome zone defense from the middle and acts as a quarterback for teammates. He is very capable of switching to the guards on the perimeter or playing closer to the basket in a drop defense. He flies all over the place. He is also an excellent defensive rebounder and had the league’s 10th-highest overall rebounding rating last season.

The Heat have been a top-10 defense for most of Adebayo’s career. Aside from Jimmy Butler, they had no outstanding talent in this area. Adebayo is the one who makes magic happen. Nobody plays 2-on-1 situations better than him, where he manages to fend off lobs and slow down the defense at the same time.

Adebayo doesn’t get the credit he deserves, but he’s a lockdown defender for all types of NBA superstars and a master at making up for his teammates’ mistakes.

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4. Anthony Davis

Davis’ 178 blocks last season were the fourth-highest number in the league. His timing, jumps, and 7-6 wingspan mean he protects the paint better than anyone else.

He’s also better than most of the Lakers’ guards when it comes to guarding in space. He moves his hips and feet well, mirroring the best perimeter scorers in the league. He has eliminated the mistakes of weaker Lakers teammates all season long. And he’s a great defensive rebounder, ranking third in the league in that stat last year.

Although Davis has never been named Defensive Player of the Year, he is widely considered one of the NBA’s best defenders and even received Adebayo’s vote for the award last season. He does it all on that end of the floor and serves as an elite pick-and-roll defender.

5. Draymond Green

Green is still one of the best defenders in the league when he can stay on the court. That was his biggest problem and the reason he slipped from No. 1 on the list last year.

The Warriors are a different team with him. His footwork, hands and knowledge of where the ball is going are unmatched in the league. He is one of the smartest defenders in league history, making his teammates much better, communicating at an elite level and protecting everyone on the field. His timing on swipe-down steals and pass-deflecting ability consistently get layups off the board, and he’s the best ever at stopping fast breaks all by himself.

6. Jonathan Isaac

If Isaac hadn’t had recurring injury problems, he would have won the Defensive Player of the Year award by now. He has the size and agility to be a terror on the floor, transitioning seamlessly and popping up at the rim at the last second to take away layups. If he comes from the weak side, there is no chance of overtaking him.

Isaac is one of the most skilled defenders in the league. He can swallow guards at the rim, hold on with elite wings, and strike from deep with post-up threats. The area he covers is unique and makes him a special defender.

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7. Alex Caruso

It’s difficult for a 6-4 guard to break into the top 10. Caruso does this by guarding players who are much taller than him. He will start games with strong power forwards or shifty guards. For example, he regularly guards Julius Randle and does an excellent job of adapting Randle’s physicality.

Caruso completely shuts down everyone in one-on-one situations. His hands are lightning fast. He is a savant who calls out an opponent’s moves before he sees his coach’s signal. It’s impossible to check him. Try it, and you’ll likely claim an offensive foul as he fearlessly runs through the tightest of gaps at full speed.

What makes Caruso so special is his innate talent for making impulsive defensive plays in crucial moments without taking the kind of risks that lead to points the other way. He is the best defensive player the league has seen in years.

8. Herbert Jones

Jones must be the first player to receive a tag named after him for his defense. May 28 will forever be known as “Not on Herb” Day in Louisiana after Gov. Jeff Landry made it official last year. He deserves this iconic nickname. Thanks to his stifling wing defense, he made his first All-Defensive team – a long overdue honor.

Jones is full of activity and ready to cover anyone and every part of the court. His length surprises players and allows him to block a lot of jump shots. He’s a cohesive one-on-one defender, is great as a last-line helper, closes gaps with his length as well as anyone and gives great effort.

Jones is the reason the Pelicans fielded the league’s sixth-ranked defense last season.

9. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Milwaukee’s defense struggled last season and Antetokounmpo failed to garner any defensive accolades. Without him, however, the Bucks would have ended up at the bottom of the league. He’s not quite at the Defensive Player of the Year level he was in 2020, but he doesn’t get nearly as much praise for his defense as he should these days.

The same insane athletic ability that is often highlighted on offense makes Antetokounmpo a special defender. His speed, jumping ability and 7:3 wingspan make him one of the best relievers in the league. His rim defense is spectacular – last season, opponents within two meters of the basket shot 9.4 percent worse against him. In recent years he has been tasked more with playing center, but he can guard anyone.

MORE: Joel Embiid sends shot to Bucks over Jrue Holiday trade

10th Jrue Holiday

Holiday was named to the All-Defensive team for the sixth time last season and played a crucial role on Boston’s second-ranked defense. He’s literally capable of guarding every single player in the league – last year he was placed on centers like Joel Embiid for parts of games. He is able to do this because of his incredible lower body strength. He is one of the few guards who anchors a zone defense, and he does it well.

Holiday has perfected the defensive technique of reaching across a player’s body to kick the ball loose. And when he starts chasing the guards, it’s difficult for them to even get the ball, let alone get a good shot.

Holiday is one of the most tenacious defenders in the league and a great one-on-one stopper.