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BR's 99 best defenders in NBA history: How many played for OKC Thunder?
It doesn't generate the same buzz or is viewed as flashy as the opposite side, but defense is half the battle in basketball. If you can shut down your opponent on their end of the floor, then you're halfway there to sustainable success.
In the NBA's history, it's filled with plenty of top defenders. Whether it's at the perimeter or at the rim. Some are sharp at the point of attack. While others serve as a safety blanket by excelling in the help. Both sides of the court are complementary to each other. Can't be too one-sided.
As the calendar is about to flip to August, Bleacher Report ranked the 99 best defenders in NBA history. The Oklahoma City Thunder had five representatives. Let's take a look at what their NBA writing staff had to say about each:
No. 84: Chet Holmgren
What B/R said: "Even with his 7'1", 208-pound frame that looks like it could be folded by most NBA wings, Chet Holmgren has been one of the league's best rim protectors from the moment he entered it...
"And in his last two campaigns with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he's ranked in the 97th and 99th percentile, respectively, in defensive rating (the team's points allowed per 100 possessions when a given player is on the floor)."
No. 75: Alex Caruso
What B/R said: "Caruso is one of the game's best examples of the 'refs can't call everything' mentality. From the moment he enters the game to the last time he leaves it, his hands are all over the opponent. He pushes, grabs, pulls, bodies and otherwise pushes the envelope as far as he can.
"And the approach absolutely works for him. Officials, as it turns out, can't call everything. And Caruso's overly physical defense rattles opponents and has been a crucial element of two different championship teams."
No. 72: Paul George
What B/R said: "Paul George rose to superstar status for much of his career, thanks in large part to his offense. But his versatility on the defensive end made him unique among the other volume-scoring wings of his era.
"George is 6'8", but at his peak, he moved like a guard. That combination of size and lateral explosiveness helped him cover tons of ground on the defensive end."
No. 64: Serge Ibaka
What B/R said: "In the early part of Serge Ibaka's NBA career, he was one of the most prolific shot-blockers we've ever seen. In his first six seasons, he averaged 2.6 blocks per game, but that doesn't really tell the whole story.
"In 2011-12, he averaged 3.7...in just 27.2 minutes. There are only five players in league history who had seasons with more blocks per 75 possessions than the 5.2 Ibaka averaged that year."
No. 29: Chris Paul
What B/R said: "He used foot speed to stay in front of bigger players and strength to stand up smaller ones. And when an opponent was remotely careless with the ball, CP3 was often able to take advantage.
"He averaged 2.0 steals for his career and led the league in that category in six of his first nine seasons."
TOP 99 DEFENDERS EVER 🔒🚨 94) Ben Simmons 71) Shaquille O'Neal 36) Victor Wembanyama 22) LeBron James 3) Kevin Garnett Full list here: https://t.co/RNZEt3ZxRp pic.twitter.com/krKakqlzqm
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 21, 2026 This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: BR's 99 best defenders in NBA history: How many played for OKC Thunder?
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