Editor’s note: In order for the list to not include include players whose prime occurred before the NBA Defensive Player of the Year was first awarded in ’82-’83, players must have received at least one DPOY vote in their career

1) Tim Duncan

Quantifying defensive ability is a tricky thing but most metrics would point to Duncan as the all-time greatest defender who never earned NBA Defensive Player of the Year. His length and athleticism were terrific assets but Duncan’s most advantageous attributes were his basketball IQ and instincts. Duncan was named to the NBA All-Defensive team a record 15 times (1st-Team eight times) in 19 seasons but never really came close to earning DPOY. His best voting finishes were a distant third place in ’00-’01 and in ’07-’08. Duncan also never led the league in blocks or rebounds but he’s fifth and sixth respectively on the all-time leaderboard in those categories. Befitting a man with five championships, Duncan is the all-time leader in career postseason blocks, well ahead of second place Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

2) Derek Harper

He never earned NBA Defensive Player of the Year but Harper had an arguably more distinguished commendation of his defensive ability. When the NBA announced stricter restrictions on hand-checking in 2001, TNT analyst and former Rockets star Kenny Smith dubbed it the “Derek Harper on Kenny Smith rule.” The name stuck (they dropped the “on Kenny Smith” part, it’s cleaner) because Harper was one of the most fierce and physical perimeter defenders of all time. His reputation peaked in the mid ’90s with the bully ball Knicks, including his infamous harassment of Smith during the 1994 NBA Finals. Despite his notoriety, Harper was named to the All-Defensive team just twice, and finished in the top five in DPOY voting only once, in ’89-’90.

3) Dennis Johnson

How good was Dennis Johnson? Just ask Magic Johnson, who once called his Sonics and Celtics nemesis the greatest defender he ever faced. A 6’4″ combo guard with length, Johnson put his unique style of play to optimal use on both ends of the floor. He was named to the All-Defensive team nine straight seasons starting in ’79-’80, despite never finishing top 10 in the league in steals or blocks. Johnson’s closest brush with Defensive Player of the Year honors came in ’83-’84, when he finished a close third behind Sidney Moncrief and Mark Eaton. Though his display case never included that Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy, Johnson did earn Finals MVP for the SuperSonics in 1979 and two more championships with the Celtics in 1984 and 1986.

4) Shane Battier

He was 2nd-Team All-Defensive only twice and never finished higher than third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, but there’s a reason Moneyball author Michael Lewis once labelled Battier as the “No Stats All-Star.” With his pro career coinciding with the advanced statistics and data tracking revolution, Battier embraced the burgeoning opportunity. Instead of focusing on traditional “shut down” defensive strategy or racking up steals and blocks, Battier would study analytics and scouting reports to tailor varying tactics to elite opposing scorers like Kobe Bryant. Battier’s signature innovation was using his hands to obstruct a jump shooter’s line of sight, rather than attempting a block, a now commonplace defensive strategy.

5) Jason Kidd

Never the most athletic player on the court, Kidd relied on his elite instincts on both ends of the floor, especially defensively. Kidd had a knack for anticipating opponent’s dribbling and passing lanes and compiled 2,684 career steals, good for third all time. He was recognized as such by the media, making the All-Defensive team nine straight seasons starting in ’98-’99. But while he came achingly close to earning league MVP in ’01-’02, Kidd fell well short of Defensive Player of the Year honors. He received just two total DPOY votes across his entire career, both of which likely came from a local Suns media member in ’99-’00 and ’00-’01. It’s no surprise that when Kidd finally won his first championship at age 37 in 2011, it was his NBA Finals defensive effort that made headlines.

6) Doug Christie

Becoming a defensive specialist was never the plan for Christie, who was a prolific scorer, apt play maker, and ferocious dunker at Pepperdine University and early in his NBA career. But when he was traded in 2000 to a Kings team already loaded with offensive options, Christie wisely shifted gears. In each of his first four seasons with Sacramento, Christie finished top five in the NBA in steals and was named All-Defensive. He picked up only a nominal amount of Defensive Player of the Year votes in ’00-’01 and ’02-’03, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. As a defensive nuisance, Christie was also at the center of the early ’00s Kings-Lakers rivalry, cresting in a 2002 on-court brawl with Rick Fox (which also included his wife Jackie).

7) Patrick Ewing

Defensive Player of the Year can be added to Ewing’s unfortunate career resume of never earning league MVP and never winning a title. How did a guy whose 493 career blocks at Georgetown are still fourth in NCAA history also never lead in the NBA in blocks per game? Like everything else for Ewing, it’s chalked up to the intensity of his competition, with a prime that coincided with DPOY centers Mark Eaton, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, and Dikembe Mutombo. Not only is Ewing arguably the greatest defensive center never to earn DPOY, he was never even named 1st-Team All-Defensive, making the 2nd-Team three times instead.

8) Jrue Holiday

Sidney Moncrief and Alvin Robertson earned three of the first four NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards but only two more guards have won it since: Gary Payton and Marcus Smart. In other words, odds were also stacked against the 6’4″ Holiday, who was nonetheless considered one of the league’s best defenders throughout his prime. Despite being named 1st-Team All-Defensive three times (and 2nd-Team three times), Holiday never finished higher than sixth in DPOY, in ’23-’24. Two things that Holiday did earn that season with the Celtics: His second championship, and the tongue-in-cheek Tenacious D MVP award, presented to him by the rock band in a garage-based ceremony.

9) Kobe Bryant

Of the four NBA players to be named 1st-Team All-Defensive nine times, Bryant is the only one without a Defensive Player of the Year trophy. In fact, Bryant never even came close to DPOY honors despite being considered one of the league’s pre-eminent defenders for over a decade,. His highest voting finish was third in ’01-’02 but that was with just one vote, as Ben Wallace hoarded 116 out of the available 120. Perhaps his fame overrated his defensive skill a bit, but it’s undeniable that Bryant out-defended most of the stars of his era, thanks largely to his relentless competitive drive.

10) Shawn Marion

Nicknamed “The Matrix” for his wide variety of skills and ability to defend any position, perhaps Marion’s “jack of all trades, master of none” approach cost him Defensive Player of the Year chances. Never flashy but always elite, Marion was an All-Star just four times, 3rd-Team All-NBA just twice, and never All-Defensive. But his reputation preceded him, especially in his years with the Suns, when Marion’s copious steals and blocks were regularly the kickstarter for the breakneck “seven seconds or less” offense. It was during those prime years with Phoenix when Marion had his best DPOY voting finishes, fifth in ’04-’05 and fourth in ’06-’07.

11) Theo Ratliff

He was the starting center on the East’s best team, leading the NBA in blocks per game, and about to make his All-Star debut when everything went wrong for Ratliff. After breaking his wrist in early February of 2001, Ratliff could only watch helplessly as the 76ers traded him for Dikembe Mutombo, who subsequently earned Defensive Player of the Year and helped Philly reach the NBA Finals. Despite playing in just 50 games that season Ratliff still earned DPOY votes thanks to his 3.7 blocks per game, the second highest single season average of this century. Ironically, the closest Ratliff came to DPOY was in ’03-’04, when he was traded mid-season again from the Hawks to the Blazers, led the league in blocks again, and finished third in voting, well behind winner Metta World Peace.

12) Kevin McHale

While Dennis Johnson was locking down the perimeter for the ’80s Celtics, McHale was just as crucial prowling the paint. In his first three seasons as a full-time starting power forward, McHale averaged 1.9 blocks per game and was named 1st-Team All-Defensive three times. He was also 2nd-Team All-Defensive in three other seasons but McHale got Defensive Player of the Year votes just once, finishing in fifth place in ’86-’87. In his later capacity as general manager of the Timberwolves, one of McHale’s first transactions was drafting future DPOY winner Kevin Garnett.

13) Tayshaun Prince

He was never an All-Star and never really close to Defensive Player of the Year but Prince’s defense was so renowned that he was selected for one of the greatest rosters ever, the 2008 U.S. Olympic “Redeem Team.” Consistently overshadowed by his Pistons teammate, four-time DPOY winner Ben Wallace, Prince was All-Defensive just four times, always 2nd-Team, and never finished higher than seventh in DPOY voting. But his length and lateral quickness were acclaimed traits, making him one of the elite defenders of his era.

14) Maurice Cheeks

A four-time All-Star and the engine of the ’82-’83 76ers title team, Cheeks was a threat all over the floor, including defensively. In the first three years that Defensive Player of the Year was awarded, Cheeks finished third, fourth, and fifth in voting, respectively. He later added a sixth place finish and an eighth place finish but that was that. 1st-Team All-Defensive four times and still in seventh place on the all-time steals leaderboard, Cheeks would have been by far the shortest recipient in the awards history, at 6’1″. When Alvin Robertson earned DPOY in ’85-’86, he settled for 2nd-Team All-Defensive behind Cheeks, who nonetheless received no DPOY votes.

15) Manute Bol

If just a few more votes had gone his way, Bol would have been the first and only rookie Defensive Player of the Year ever in ’84-’85. The second tallest player in NBA history at 7’7″ with the unofficial record for longest wingspan (8’6″), Bol was seemingly born to block shots and finished a close second in DPOY voting behind Alvin Robertson. His 5.0 blocks per game in ’85-’86 is the second highest single season average in NBA history, his 6.4 blocks per 36 minutes is the all-time record, and despite a career limited by injuries, Bol retired in seventh place on the NBA career blocks list.

16) Anthony Davis

His career parallels Patrick Ewing in numerous ways. First overall pick, college champ, Olympic champ, disruptive defensive force, no league MVPs, no Defensive Player of the Year honors. Of course, Davis does have that NBA title, won in 2020 when his defensive fortitude propelled the Lakers to a championship. One of two players to lead the NBA in blocks three times but never win DPOY (Theo Ratliff is the other), Davis finished top five in voting four times. He came closest in that ’19-’20 title season, finishing in second place behind Giannis Antetokounmpo.

17) John Stockton

Out of the five NBA players with 3,000+ career blocks, three of them (Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo, and Mark Eaton) won not just one Defensive Player of the Year award but multiple ones. But despite holding a seemingly insurmountable career steals record, Stockton never even came close to DPOY. He received votes just twice and by votes we mean vote, as Stockton was given a single vote in ’87-’88 and ’90-’91. Perhaps it was due to his reputation as one of the dirtiest players in NBA history, though Stockton did get named All-Defensive five times.

18) Eddie Jones

A lanky, 6’6″ wing man with explosive speed and quick hands, Jones was a threat to steal the ball on every possession. Even Michael Jordan admitted as such, once specifically praising Jones’s stealing prowess and calling him a premier defender of the ’90s. “Steady Eddie” led the NBA in steals per game for the Hornets in ’99-’00 and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, behind future Heat teammate Alonzo Mourning and former Lakers teammate Shaquille O’Neal. That was the closest Jones ever got, making the All-Defensive team three times but never otherwise garnering serious DPOY consideration.

19) LeBron James

Only Hakeem Olajuwon has won league MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in the same season, and it likely haunts James to this day how close he came to joining that club. James earned league and Finals MVP in ’12-’13 and came just a few votes short of DPOY, finishing a close second behind Marc Gasol. It was James’ second career second place finish, also falling just short behind Dwight Howard in ’08-’09. He finished top five in voting in three other seasons and was named 1st-Team All-Defensive five times. Though DPOY isn’t on James’ resume, he arguably owns the greatest block in NBA history, on Andre Iguodala in the 2016 Finals.

20) Mookie Blaylock

One of the most precise defensive point guards of all time, Blaylock averaged more career steals (2.3 per game) than personal fouls (1.9 per game), a rarity for a player of his size. Thanks to his lightning quick hands and preternatural instincts, Blaylock averaged two-plus steals per game in 11 of his 13 NBA seasons, and lead the league in the category twice. He was 1st-Team All-Defensive twice, 2nd-Team All-Defensive four times, and came relatively close to earning Defensive Player of the Year in ’96-’97, finishing third in voting. Only one other player in NBA history, Chris Paul, has averaged two-plus steals per game in 11 different seasons.

21) Joe Dumars

The defensive strategy may have been called the “Jordan Rules” but it was Dumars at the center, anchoring it. An incredibly thoughtful and studied defensive player, Dumars overcame his size deficiency (only 6’3″) to become one of the best perimeter defenders in NBA history. Michael Jordan begrudgingly credited Dumars’ implementation of the “Jordan Rules” defense for his vast early ’90s offensive improvement. 1st-Team All-Defensive four times, Dumars finished top five in DPOY voting three times, losing out twice to his Detroit teammate Dennis Rodman.

22) Bobby Jones

Already 31 years old by the time the NBA start awarding Defensive Player of the Year, Jones would almost certainly have won it at least once if it was extant before 1983. He finished third and fourth, respectively, in DPOY voting in its first two years of existence, while continuing his streak of 10 straight seasons getting named 1st-Team All-Defensive. Those first two designations happened for Jones in the ABA which, unfortunately for Jones, also never named a DPOY.

23) Scottie Pippen

An apex predator of NBA defenders, Pippen possessed the ideal size, speed, athleticism, wingspan, instincts, and hustle to thrive defensively. He was named 1st-Team All-Defensive eight times, led the league in steals once, and averaged two-plus steals and one-plus blocks per game in four different seasons, a career total that only three players have topped. But Defensive Player of the Year was another story, with Pippen having the unfortunate luck of his prime coinciding with those of Hakeem Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutombo, not to mention his own teammate Michael Jordan. He finished second in voting for two straight seasons, in ’94-’95 and ’95-’96.

24) Bruce Bowen

In addition to being one of the greatest defenders in NBA history, Bowen was also one of the all-time great pests. He had a penchant for borderline dirty play, often throwing elbows, pushing off, and undercutting shooters. That reputation likely didn’t help his Defensive Player of the Year cause, but coming as close as he did with the stats he had is incredible. In the five consecutive seasons in which he finished top five in DPOY voting, Bowen averaged just 0.8 steals, 0.4 blocks, and 3.2 rebounds per game. But his impact beyond the box score was well understood, helping the Spurs win three titles with his tenacious hounding of opposing superstars like Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, and LeBron James.

25) Chris Paul

No player shorter than 6’4″ has ever earned NBA Defensive Player of the Year, so the deck was always stacked against the 6’0″ Paul. But he’s inarguably one of the greatest defensive point guards in league history, using his elite speed and instincts to overcome any height disadvantages. Paul led the NBA in steals per game in six seasons, a feat no one other player accomplished more than three times, and is second on the all-time career leaderboard. He’s also been named 1st-Team All-Defensive seven times and holds the record with 11 seasons averaging two-plus steals per game. Paul received Defensive Player of the Year votes in eight different seasons but never came close to winning, finishing in the top 10 just twice and never higher than sixth.

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