Who are some of the best on ball defenders in the league
As far as i can see up to this point : dyson daniels, og, lou dort, caruso, jaylen brown , Derrick white and the thompson twins are my picks. Who am I missing?
Cason Wallace is a demon
Castle is also elite. Hes just so strong that players struggle to get any separation even when they push off
Castle’s a demon, man gets hacked a lot too on offense.
Castle reminds me a lot of Jrue Holiday
arguably the best perimeter defender this season imo. insane core, ability to move his feet fast enough and has a great feel for passing lanes.
Your list is good for sure. Some more are Jaden McDaniels (Complete Fucking Menace), Cason Wallace, Jdub, Suggs, Aaron Nesmith, Herb Jones, Davion Mitchell (to less of a degree now with more offensive responsibility), Steph Castle, Scott Barnes, Ant when he wants to be,..
Scottie is great 2-5 and is one of the best help defenders in the nba.
He does struggle vs fast guards a bit. Still a great defender.
He does really well vs bigger Cs that arent that long.
holy mcdaniels snub
Stephon Castle.
Among the name you mentionned Derrick White isn’t THAT good on the ball, he’s like one of the best help defender as a guard in NBA history but on ball he can be had.
Among guys you didn’t mention (purely on ball) : Steph Castle, Scottie Pippen Jr., Anthony Black, Jaden McDaniels, Cason Wallace, Blake Wesley,
Feels to me like Jalen Suggs, Herb Jones, Nickeil Alexander Walker and Toumani Camara have all taken a small step back this season
Blake Wesley is a good shout, real miserable when he came off the bench and just hounded dudes 94 feet to start the season. Shame he broke his foot.
Rarely catch Magic games but Anthony Black always pops as Mad Athletic, he’s been better defender than Suggs this year?
Agree about Camara and NAW taking a step back this year (understandably for NAW with his offensive load)
Blake is an elite defensive pg. It’s just overshadowed by his horrendous offensive game lol I love Blake tho
Yeah there obviously other factors, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Portland’s defense has kinda fell apart after his injury.
Black vs Suggs on the ball is a bit tricky, feels like Black has been better vs Brunson, but maybe I underrate the fact that Suggs was slowed down by injuries AND that when Black is on Brunson it means Suggs, who is an awesome help defender, is then off the ball
Jrue Holiday, Mattisse Thybulle, and Blake Wesley are out. All 3 are defensive savants.
I haven’t seen Suggs play in about a month, but at the beginning of the season, when the Magic’s defense was struggling, he was the only one who seemed to be playing defense.
Oh when I meant slept a bit I meant on the ball, whenever I saw him he’s still an INSANE overall defender
The best thing about white playing on ball defense is that he rarely gambles to the point he burns his teammates, he’s a really reliable defender that rarely makes mistakes
Herb had a slow start ramping up from his shoulder injury last year but hes been playing very well as of late
agree with all this. this brother knows ball.
Herb was injured and slow to get rolling but now he is back on his bullshit. Just Got 8 steals a few games ago.
I’m glad you said STEPH Castle. Last night someone was bitching I said Steph instead of Stephon because “Steph” is for Steph Curry and “non spurs fans” don’t know who I’m talking about if I say Steph, even tho my message was literally about Steph Castle
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/D5dA1YZFzj
dont go about saying steph to mean castle tho lol. just say castle
Yall are weird bro lol
jaden mcdaniels,jalen clark are some forces you dont want to iso.ant can also clamp if he loves matchup
If it’s down to the end of the game and you need someone to guard a star for one possession, I don’t know that there’s anyone better than Ant for that. Over the course of a game though that’s a different story.
Ant is an iso demon when he wants to
Jaylen Wells is going to be an obvious pick for these lists in short time. Jaylen Clark is an under-the-radar player who has all-defensive potential.
trae young
The rim protector that ended ben simmons’ career
Trae is an elite rim protector
Brunson could use his help
👍
tbf if you’d stick him on half of his teammates he wouldn’t do a bad job, dyson daniels can’t shoot, luke kennard barely exists, and anyone not named NAW on their bench currently are barely NBA level players
I think we have two damn good on ball defenders. Steph Castle and Wemby. Even IF you beat Wemby off the dribble, which is still rare, he just reaches around and blocks you. He’s guarded Shai and KD with relative success. Most guys don’t even challenge him when he’s guarding them
Harper looks like he could be number 3
There was a great moment in the cup game where he stopped Jalen Brunson from getting the ball past half court
That was fantastic. Im trying to remember the exact sequence, but he had just done something else right before that. I think he had just nailed a 3 and didn’t celebrate, he just locked in and started defending like a fucking glove.
My favorite part about that sequence was Brunson’s face. I remember watching it back and seeing Brunson realizing he was in trouble. He tipped the ball and Brunson regained control. Then he tipped it again, and Brunson lost control. He was moving his feet and never letting Brunson get him out of position. Fantastic defense. That is when i knew Harper is a much better defender than i had thought.
Just wait until Carter develops his game. I’m so excited to have him.
I wish they’d send him to G-League, not because he isn’t good enough, but because we are super deep and i want him to see PT.
I guess i shouldn’t question their decision. They’re elite at player development - It just feels like he would benefit from the reps.
We’re so loaded lol hopefully he improves more than Sochan has. We had high hopes for Sochan as well
I still maintain that we dont utilize Sochan the right way, we constantly play him out of position, wrong rotation, not with effective consistent minutes. He was statistically one of the best on ball defenders up until this year
Well he’s been out with a calf strain so that undoubtedly limits his minutes. He would take Barnes minutes if he could actually stretch the floor, until he develops his 3 pt shot Barnes is gonna take his minutes
I am not sold on selling Sochan yet. He was of great service for the franchise and I believe he will be back to being at least a bench level player come Mid January.
I believe so too. We just need some spacing and Barnes provides that while also playing solid d. I suspect Barnes will lose a step next season and hopefully Sochan improves his shot in the off-season and I expect him to play a good amount. We’ll see tho
Yep. No doubt.
Suggs. Franz. McDaniels
Franz is a good defender for his offensive game but I’ve never been scared when one of my teams players was guarded by him
He’s best on small point guards and big wings. Nobody on your team fits that description for him to guard.
True still I’ve watched not a ton but a few Magic games and he never stood out as anything above an above average defender
If you’re going to be naming Magic players, it’s Suggs and Isaac.
Isaac is ass on defense. This ain’t 2024 anymore. He has long been passed by a ton of dudes on our team defensively like Anthony Black, Franz and Wendell.
Andrew Nembhard
Holiday
Jrue’s washed lol
Ant Man isn’t an all-defensive player due to consistency and off-ball, but when he’s locked in, he’s an elite on-ball defender.
Very similar to Jaylen Brown that way
Reminds me of Kobe
Jamal Shead
I don’t know how he plays against other teams, but I hate seeing him on the court against the Celtics… feels like constant pressure every possession
Shead is a pest in a complimentary sense.
Amen, Camara, Ausar, Ant, Cason, Off Day, Daniels, Suggs
Has toumani picked it back up? I remember him being ass to start the year and I have watched less blazer games as of recent.
Toumani is #1 in the league in offensive fouls drawn. He has 42. 2nd place has 25. That’s kind of his thing and he’s been great at stealing possessions in that way all season.
Gary Payton 2
My boy Toumani Camara
Jordan Walsh better than Dwhite and Brown
Walsh isn’t quite as good as JB, he would not have been able to lock down Luka in an NBA Finals series the way Brown did. I think Walsh just gets utilized more as the primary POA defender bc the Celtics don’t also need him to put up 30/6/5 every night.
Walsh is better than White for sure though, his strengths are primarily in help defense and defensive IQ.
Walsh is way way better at POA defense vs guards and slight frame wings. JB is awesome at using his strength and quickness vs slower guys like Luka. Different styles.
Super fun watching Jordan hound the best guy on the other team! Would love to see him make all defense some day!
Kris Dunn has maybe lost a half step, but he’s still really disruptive in general.
I’ve seen OG shutting down Giannis, it’s insane.
More insane is that he’ll shut down Giannis one night, then Donovan Mitchell the next. Nobody else can really guard every position like OG can. Bam is the only other guy that’s close.
Fun video of him against the Suns a few years ago clamping CP3, then Book, then Ayton on consecutive possessions.
A true unicorn on defense.
shut down is giving him too much credit. giannis has shot 72% in his matchups vs OG this season: https://www.nba.com/stats/player/203507/head-to-head?CF=MATCHUP_PLAYER_NAME*E*og&Matchup=Offense that said yes he’s one of the better giannis defenders
Rollins is a dog. And I will shout out Andre Jackson. He is a really good defender. Unfortunately he doesn’t do much else.
Dort and Caruso love to hack
Also makes them really “good” since the foul to foul called on them ratio is really low.
Jaylen Clark and Nickeil Alexander Walker
NAW actually hasn’t been an elite defender this season I think the workload he got on offense has harmed his defensive game
Oh okay that makes sense
Damn OG got no rep
Ausar
Ngl Ausar is a dog.
Brunson gave him a huge shoutout after the Detroit series.
It was a great matchup, it ended on JB’s favor but Ausar is just getting started.
Also, fuck the Pistons :)
I don’t think Dyson is that good pr great on ball. Neither is Derrick white. They’re better at defensive playmaking ( steals for Dyson rim protection for white) Caruso is good but not lockdown on ball just super smart and high motor activity he’s also more a defensive playmaker.
I think og announby is a guy who I’ve seen actually clamp stars on ball at times . Jadsn is good for his versatility on ball but not a clamp guy on most. Thompson twins are great on ball and off, mb my pick .
Anthony edwards when he locks in is actually insanely impressive on ball defensively. Other then kyrie I haven’t seen many cook him , he’s fast twitchy strong and good hands . But ofc he has a high load but I honestly seen him play some insane on ball D even if his overall defense is not that good this year.
Keegan Murray
Thank you! Took scrolling way too far down the thread to find anyone else who mentions him.
Herb Jones
Gary Payton II
Ron Holland is one of the best off the bench. If the pistons didn’t have the worst whistle in the league more folks would be talking about him.
Jonathan Isaac. He can defend any position on the floor and he does it incredibly well. Long, athletic, quick feet.
That was a couple years back, JI is okay but not great on defense anymore
Might get clowned for this take but for a brief period, Ben Simmons was incredible.
thanasis antetokumpo gives the most effort thats gotta count for something
Hugo Gonzalez already
Tomani Camara, Blake Weasley, Jhru Holiday, Honorable mention to sidy cissoko and deni avdija
Caruso and Derrick white are good on ball and and elite off of it
sam merrill
Davion Mitchell
Keegan Murray. 6’8” and can guard positions 1-5. Every game, he is asked to guard the opposing teams best player, regardless of position, and has held his own with players from Jokic to Curry. Get’s overlooked because he plays in Sacramento. If there’s any justice in the league, he’ll make an all defensive team this year.
Hasn’t he been injured most the year?
He was at the beginning of the year but he’s been back for quite a few games. Of course, if he doesn’t stay healthy, he won’t make all-defense.
Depends who is reffing
Jordan Walsh is coming into his own.
Kris Dunn
Timberwolves have some dawgs in McDaniels and Clark. Former Timberwolves player Alexander-Walker had the best defensive stance, active hands, and ability to slide his feet I have seen in quite a while.
I read too far without a mention of OG, still underrated even in NY
Davion Mitchell. Gary Payton 2. Cason Wallace. Mikal Bridges
Ausar Thompson. Will be even more of a demon once the refs actually let him play defense like other players too
M Bridges from Knicks is pretty good
Jordan Walsh has been really good
Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic
That’s the answer I was looking for
Austin reaves
You must be joking right? Reaves is one of the BEST defender, let along on ball.
Brooks, nembhard, Andrew Wiggins, Thompson twins
Curuso ?, when he isn’t holding on to players arms from dribbling or catching a pass. He literally wrapped up Jokic in the playoffs last year, yet the refs swallowed their whistles.
My glorious king Tatum fits the bill. Nobody has scored on him once this season! Jokes aside I do think he’s an underrated defender almost every year.
Sengun
No such thing anymore