This is the best defensive lineup in NBA history

“Defense wins championships” is a very popular phrase used by players and coaches to emphasize the need to contain the other team in order to win a title. There is more meaning behind this phrase than meets the eye.

Of course you need to play well defensively to stand a chance of going the distance. Opposing teams will run riot against you if you aren’t organized defensively, but also need to be able to score to win games as well. There’s no point being great defensively but then not being able to score.

The difference between the offense-first approach and the defense-first approach is in the mentality of the players. Scoring in basketball is flashy, it’s where the majority of the highlights come from. Defense is not flashy, it doesn’t sell tickets like offense does. Defense requires toughest, will, tenacity and grit. This is why “defense wins championships”; because when you play good defense you are playing hard and with heart and these are the things you really need to win it all.

The NBA has seen some unbelievable defenders in its time, guys that will make it their personal mission to stop their opponent from scoring at all. These guys hated it when they were scored on because they were beaten personally and their egos took a hit. 

I have put together the best defensive starting 5 that NBA history has to offer. I cannot imagine anyone being able to play well against these guys, check it out:

Point Guard – Gary Payton

Gary Payton was one of the nastiest players around during his time in the NBA. At 6’4” he would shut down the opposing team’s best guard and was an absolute nightmare to go up against. He earned his nickname “The Glove” because he closed himself around players, not allowing them to do anything.

Payton is a 9x All-Defensive Team member, the 1996 Defensive Player of the Year and the head of the “Sonic Boom” Sonics in the late 90s that managed to push the 96 Bulls to 6 games in the NBA Finals.

There’s a reason why Michael Jordan had his worst NBA Finals performance in 96; because Gary Payton was guarding him.

Shooting Guard – Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan is easily the greatest shooting guard defender of all time. Not only did he have the raw talent for playing defense, but he had the greatest will to win the world has ever known. Somehow Jordan was able to carry his team offensively whilst simultaneously guarding the opposition’s best guard as well.

Jordan was a 3x Steals Champion, a 9x All-Defensive Team ember and the 1988 Defensive Player of the Year. When Jordan wanted to shut you down, he shut you down. He would do whatever it took to win and if they meant completely taking you out of a game he would do exactly that and humiliate you in the process.

Small Forward – Scottie Pippen

I have always said that Scottie Pippen is the greatest perimeter defender the game of basketball has ever produced. Pippen was 6’8”, 210lbs and had a 7’3” wingspan. He could guard positions 1 through 4 and was incredible at coming from the weak-side to interrupt passing lanes.

Pippen, playing behind Michael Jordan, was 1x Steal Champion and 10x All-Defensive Team member. He had very quick feet for a forward, great hands for stripping players and a quiet will that he imposed upon his opponents.

Ask Magic Johnson what happened in the 1991 Finals when Scottie was switched onto him after the Lakers won game 1. He’ll tell you just how good Pippen was.

Power Forward – Kevin Garnett

I could have gone with Tim Duncan or Ben Wallace at the PF spot, but I decided to go with KG for his team defense. Playing good defense isn’t just about stopping the guy that’s in front of you. It’s also about working together as a unit with your teammates. This means calling out screens, switching well and identifying what your opponent is trying to do.

Garnett was the ultimate team defender, especially with the Boston Celtics. He was the defensive anchor that made his teams so feared. Garnett (like Michael Jordan) was also ruthless with his teammates and forced them to be their best or walk out the door.

KG was a 12x All-Defensive Team member and the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year winner. 

Center – Bill Russell

There have been so many great defensive centers in the NBA because the center is the best defensive position. Centers are usually the tallest guys on the floor and they are generally closest to the rim. They are the quintessential defensive players. Guys like Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson and Dwight Howard are just some of the names that deserve recognition for their defensive prowess.

However, there is 1 player that rises above them all; Bill Russell. 

The NBA didn’t start recording blocked shots as a stat until the 1973-74 season but an analysis of more than 100 of Bill Russell’s games estimates that Russell was blocking more than 8 shots a game. 

It was Russell that was charged with guarding the great Wilt Chamberlain in all of their legendary matchups. Russell was the biggest reason why the Celtics won 11 titles in 13 seasons. His 6’10” frame and 7’4” wingspan solidified the Celtics as the league’s best team for the entirety of the 1960s.