Top 30 Best Defenders in NBA History

9. Ben Wallace

Ben Wallace’s defense was a huge reason for the Detroit Pistons improbable run to winning the 2004 NBA Finals. Wallace averaged 1.3 steals and two blocks per game across his 15-year career and was named to six NBA All-Defensive Teams. Wallace was the league’s best defensive player in the early 2000s, winning four out five Defensive Player of the Year Awards from 2002 through 2006.