This list should be renamed: who was the best superstar defender of all time? Because that's all it is. It's hero worship at it's core. I've never seen any player be more dominate defensively than Mutombo against the Sonics in that 1-8 matchup. There is absolutely no justification for Lebron on the list over guys that are better defensively than he is in the current NBA: Tony Allen, Marc Gasol, Noah. There is no justification to have MJ over Pippen or Gary Payton except hero worship. Hakeem is not better than Duncan or Mutombo. Charles Oakley was a GREAT defender. Rick Mahorn was a legendary defender, but these guys will never get the nod over the flash players.
I think you're flat-out wrong about Hakeem. And I don't think you're going to win a lot of support for that position here.
I just watched some tape on hakeem against the knicks in the finals, and what impressed me was how FAST he was offensively. There is nobody in this nba that was or is even in Hakeem's stratosphere for first step moves. I mean hakeem would get the ball and before the defensive guy would blink good the ball was in the ball of the net. He was unreal. There was only 1 guy that could even try to get to hakeem's level that he was at back then offensively and that's kd, but even kd isn't nearly as fast as hakeem was. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SeN34AZExv4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I think Lebron is one of of the most versatile defenders of all time. Most of the time his teams were among the best defensive teams in the league with him being the anchor.
You are aware versatility as a defender is something that is extremely valuable right. Peak Lebron (his years in Miami) was dominant defensively as you can see how they are now. They dominated defensively without a legit big man nor any interior presence. He anchored a dominant defensive team as a perimeter player. When do you ever see that? I've never seen it. And we might never see it. That guy literally defended every position when he was in Miami. That was unheard of. Tony Allen/Gasol/Noah are great defenders, but for their positions. And they're dominant at it. But Allen doesn't anchor a defense. Noah doesn't anchor a defense (it's more scheme of Thibs than Noah's greatness defensively). Hakeem? Versatility again. Jordan and Pippen over Payton? Versatility again. However, I do admit Mutombo should be higher. That guy was a BEAST defensively and anchored a great defense for Houston even at the latter stages of his career.
1. Hakeem Olajuwon 2. Bill Russell 3. Dikembe Mutumbo 4. Ben Wallace 5. Sidney Moncrief 6. Dennis Rodman 7. Gary Payton 8. Michael Jordan 9. Dwight Howard 10. Alvin Robertson Honorable mention: Mark Eaton, Michael Cooper, Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Joe Dumars, Alonzo Mourning, Kevin Garnett, Ron Artest, Scottie Pippen, Mookie Blaylock, Bruce Bowen and Tony Allen.
Did he ever anchor the Knicks' defense? No. Lebron anchored a championship team's defense. There's your answer.
I didn't say that. Just to point out why peak Lebron deserves to be on that list. I don't think we can name a perimeter player who anchored a championship team defensively.
You just have to know the difference between defensive specialists and defensive anchors. Big difference. This also applies on offense by the way.
1. Hakeem 2. Pippen 3. Mutombo 4. Payton 5. Duncan 6. Wallace 7. Rodman 8. Dwight 9. Robinson 10. Jordan
Also that those Heat teams really didn't have many paint protectors. Lebron you can argue was the main paint protector. I mean they had guys like Haslem/Joel Anthony/Old Birdman being their big men of the paint.
