Our Top 10 NBA Best Defensive Centers To Ever Play The Game
Our top 10 NBA best defensive centers list ranks an elite group of players who have excelled as defensive anchors at the center position, showcasing their prowess in protecting the paint, altering shots, and anchoring their team’s defense. This article aims to highlight the 10 best defensive centers in NBA history, recognizing their remarkable impact on the game through their defensive dominance.
In evaluating these exceptional players, we took into account various accolades and accomplishments, including Defensive Player of the Year awards, All-Defensive Team selections, defensive contributions during championship-winning seasons, Hall of Fame recognition, and their standing as all-time statistical leaders in defensive categories. These factors collectively paint a comprehensive picture of their defensive brilliance and lasting impact on the sport.
Who are our Top 10 NBA Best Defensive Centers to ever play the game?
The NBA has had many really good defensive centers who made a big impact on the game. Players like Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Hakeem Olajuwon were not just good at scoring but also great at defending.
Other players like Ben Wallace, Dikembe Mutombo, Mark Eaton and Alonzo Mourning were famous for their stingy defense and blocking shots. And even today, we see players like Joel Embiid, Rudy Gobert, and Jaren Jackson Jr. who are keeping up the tradition of great defensive play, making it hard for opponents to score points.
Let’s take a closer look at the elite group of centers who defined what it means to be a true defensive anchor.
10 (T). Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal, known as Shaq, was a giant player who dominated the game on both offense and defense. At 7’1″ and over 300 pounds, he was an unstoppable force in the paint.
Shaq was a 15-time All-Star, won 4 NBA championships, and received many awards like 3 All-Defensive Team selections and 3 Finals MVPs. He was also a 2-time scoring champion and made the All-NBA team 14 times. Shaq was special because he could put a lot of points on the boards, control the glass, while also blocking shots and protecting the paint on defense.
His career averages were 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. When Shaq teamed up with Kobe Bryant, one of the best defensive shooting guards of all time, they won 3 straight titles with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2000 to 2002.
Shaq was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 after a 19-year career. Making it an easy decision to include him on our list of the 10 NBA best defensive centers to ever play the game.
10 (T). Alonzo Mourning
Alonzo Mourning was a fierce defender and shot-blocking specialist during his 15-year NBA career. He was a 7-time All-Star and 2-time Defensive Player of the Year, showcasing his elite rim protection skills. Mourning was also a 2-time All-NBA selection and made the All-Defensive First Team twice. He led the league in blocks per game in back-to-back seasons (1999, 2000), cementing his reputation as an elite shot blocker.
Despite battling kidney disease midway through his career, Mourning persevered and captured an NBA championship with the Miami Heat in 2006. His defensive prowess and determination earned him induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 2014.
Mourning’s ability to alter shots and anchor his team’s defense made him one of the premier defensive centers of his era and one of the 10 NBA best defensive centers in history.
9. Artis Gilmore
Artis Gilmore was a defensive force during his 17-year basketball career in the ABA and NBA. He was an 11-time All-Star and made the All-Defensive Team 5 times, showing his great rim protection skills.
In 1971-72, Gilmore was the ABA Rookie of the Year and MVP. He won an ABA championship with the Kentucky Colonels in 1975 and was a 5-time All-ABA selection. Gilmore was also the 1974 All-Star Game MVP. After joining the NBA, he continued to excel defensively.
Gilmore’s incredible defense and overall impact earned him induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. His ability to control the paint and anchor defenses made him one of the 10 NBA best defensive centers in the history of the game.
8. Mark Eaton
Mark Eaton was an extremely tall player at 7’4″ who was one of the best defensive centers ever. He made only one All-Star team, but his true strength was defense. Eaton was selected to the All-Defensive Team 5 times and won Defensive Player of the Year twice. What made him special was his incredible shot-blocking ability – he led the league in blocks per game for 4 seasons.
When Eaton teamed up with John Stockton, one of the best defensive point guards of all time, the Utah Jazz became a playoff team for 10 straight years from 1984 to 1993. Eaton’s defense and protecting the rim was a huge reason for their success. Despite not winning many awards, Eaton’s 11-year career showed he was an elite defender and one of the greatest shot-blockers in NBA history.
7. Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard was a dominant defensive force and one of the best centers in the NBA during his prime years. He received numerous accolades that highlight his defensive prowess, including 3 Defensive Player of the Year awards, 5 selections to the All-Defensive First Team, and 1 selection to the All-Defensive Second Team. Howard was also an 8-time All-Star, showcasing his overall skill and impact on the game.
In addition to his All-Defensive Team accomplishments, he was a 5-time rebounding champion, 2-time blocks champion and led the league in field goal percentage (2009-10), further emphasizing his abilities on both ends of the court. Howard was a key contributor to the 2020 Los Angeles Lakers championship team, finally capturing an NBA title after a long and successful career.
He is likely a future Hall of Famer, having spent 18 years in the league and earning 8 All-NBA selections. With a career like Howard’s it was hard to keep him off of our 10 NBA best defensive centers to ever play the game list.
6. David Robinson
David Robinson was a dominant two-way force and one of the greatest centers in NBA history. He accumulated impressive defensive accolades, including the 1991-92 Defensive Player of the Year award, 4 selections to the All-Defensive First Team, and 4 selections to the All-Defensive Second Team. Robinson was a 10-time All-Star and earned 10 All-NBA selections, cementing his status as an elite player.
In 1994-95, he was named MVP. Robinson won two championships – one in 1999 and the second one four years later in 2003 when he teamed up with Tim Duncan, one of the best defensive power forwards of all time. Robinson’s well-rounded game was further highlighted by winning the rebounding title in 1990-91 and the blocks title in 1990-91.
He was the 1989-90 Rookie of the Year and received the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 2000-01. After a 14-year career, Robinson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. It was a no-brainer to rank him among our 10 NBA best defensive centers to ever play the game.
5. Rudy Gobert
Rudy Gobert is one of the premier defensive players in the NBA, known for his elite rim protection and ability to anchor a team’s defense. His defensive accolades and accomplishments are truly impressive, highlighted by winning the Defensive Player of the Year award an incredible 3 times. Gobert has also been selected to the All-Defensive First Team 6 times, cementing his status as an elite defender.
In addition to his defensive prowess, Gobert has been named an All-Star 3 times, showcasing his overall impact on the game. He has led the league in rebounds for the 2021-22 season and in blocks for the 2016-17 season, further demonstrating his defensive dominance. Gobert has earned 4 All-NBA selections throughout his 10-year career, which is still ongoing.
While he has not yet achieved Hall of Fame status, his defensive excellence and continued high-level play could potentially put him in consideration for future induction. Ranking him among our 10 NBA best defensive centers in history was an easy choice.
4. Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo was an elite defensive force and one of the greatest shot blockers in NBA history. His defensive dominance is highlighted by winning an incredible 4 Defensive Player of the Year awards and being selected to the All-Defensive First Team 3 times and the All-Defensive Second Team 3 times (6 total All-Defensive Team selections).
Mutombo was also an 8-time All-Star, showcasing his overall impact on the game. He led the league in rebounding twice and in blocks 3 times, further cementing his status as a premier defender and rebounder. Mutombo earned 3 All-NBA selections throughout his 18-year career. His defensive excellence and longevity were rewarded with induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.
Mutombo’s signature finger wag after blocking shots became an iconic celebration, symbolizing his fearsome presence on the defensive end of the court. Placing him on our list of the 10 NBA best defensive centers to ever play the game was a forgone conclusion.
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is considered one of the greatest and most accomplished players in NBA history. His defensive prowess is highlighted by being selected to the All-Defensive team a remarkable 11 times, including 5 times on the First Team. Abdul-Jabbar was a 19-time All-Star, because of his overall impact on the game, not just offense.
He was a 6-time NBA champion, 2-time scoring champion, 1975-76 rebounding champion, and 4-time blocks leader. His individual accolades are staggering – 6 MVP awards, 2 Finals MVPs, 15 All-NBA selections, and the 1969-70 Rookie of the Year. Abdul-Jabbar’s greatness and longevity are further cemented by his 20-year career and induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995 after his retirement.
Abdul-Jabbar is widely considered one of the best defensive players and overall players in NBA history due to his sustained excellence and incredible statistical achievements. It would be an injustice to not recognize him as one of the 10 NBA best defensive centers in the history of the game.
2. Ben Wallace
Ben Wallace was an undersized but ferocious defensive force who overcame the odds to become one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history. His defensive excellence is highlighted by winning an incredible 4 Defensive Player of the Year awards and being selected to the All-Defensive First Team 5 times.
Despite standing only 6’9″, Wallace was a dominant rebounder, leading the league in rebounds twice. He also led the league in blocks during the 2001-02 NBA season. Wallace made 4 All-Star appearances and earned 5 All-NBA selections, showcasing his overall impact.
Wallace helped lead the Detroit Pistons to an NBA championship in 2004 as the anchor of their stifling defense. After a 16-year career, Wallace’s relentless effort and defensive brilliance were rewarded with induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
His journey from being undrafted to becoming a defensive stalwart is truly remarkable and makes him one of the 10 NBA best defensive centers to ever.
1. Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon was a dominant two-way force and one of the greatest centers in NBA history. His defensive impact was immense, highlighted by winning 2 Defensive Player of the Year awards, being selected to the All-Defensive First Team 5 times and the Second Team 4 times. Olajuwon is the NBA’s all-time leader in blocked shots with 3,830, solidifying his status as an elite rim protector. On top of his defensive prowess, he was a 12-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA selection, and led the league in rebounding twice and blocks 3 times.
Olajuwon guided the Houston Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995, winning Finals MVP both times. He was also named the 1993-94 regular season MVP. After an 18-year Hall of Fame career, Olajuwon was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 in recognition of his incredible all-around game and achievements.
Our Honorary Picks
Bill Russell
Bill Russell was a revolutionary defensive force and one of the most dominant players in NBA history. Though defensive statistics and accolades were not as comprehensively tracked during his era, Russell’s impact on that end of the court was undeniable and a major catalyst for his incredible 11 NBA championships with the Boston Celtics.
His team success was bolstered by his elite rebounding, having led the league 4 times, and his unmatched defensive intensity that demoralized opponents. Russell teamed up with John Havlicek, one of the best defensive small forwards of all time, to win championships in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, and 1969.
An all-around great, Russell was a 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA selection, 5-time MVP, and made the All-Defensive team in its inaugural 1968-69 season. Russell’s legacy as an unparalleled champion and defensive anchor was cemented with inductions into the Basketball Hall of Fame, solidifying his status among the 10 NBA best defensive centers the game has ever seen.
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain was a once-in-a-generation athletic specimen and one of the most dominant players in NBA history. While defensive stats and accolades were not fully tracked during most of his era, Chamberlain’s sheer size, strength and athleticism made him an imposing defensive force. At 7’1″ and incredibly mobile, he deterred opponents from attacking the rim and was an elite shot-blocker and rebounder.
His offensive dominance and defense was key to winning 2 NBA championships, and he was named Finals MVP in 1972. Beyond his shot blocking abilities, he exhibited an all-around brilliance. Plus, his defensive prowess contributed significantly to his sustained individual success – 13 All-Star selections, 7 scoring titles, an incredible 11 rebounding titles, 4 MVP awards, and 10 All-NBA selections.
Though formal defensive honors were limited for most of his career, Chamberlain made the All-Defensive First Team twice. After a 14-year career of rewriting record books, his legacy as an unstoppable two-way force was solidified with induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979. He’s also stands among the 10 NBA best defensive centers to ever play the game.
The Giants That Paved The Way
Our top 10 NBA best defensive centers list featured here truly exemplify the impact an elite rim protector can have on the game of basketball. From Dikembe Mutombo’s finger wags to Hakeem Olajuwon’s shot-blocking prowess and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s longevity as a defensive anchor, these players redefined what it means to dominate on that end of the floor.
As these legendary defensive stalwarts demonstrate, elite defense is a hallmark of basketball greatness and championship pedigree. Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain’s defensive dominance paved the way for future generations. While statistics don’t fully capture their brilliance, these giants are undoubtedly among the best defensive players in NBA history.
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