21 players the NBA repeatedly snubbed for Defensive Player of the Year

The 2022–23 season will mark the 42nd year that the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award will be handed out. Over that time, we have seen some truly great defenders, including the likes of Ben Wallace, Dikembe Mutombo, Dwight Howard, David Robinson, and Hakeem Olajuwon. However, with so many repeat award winners, only a select few have actually received Defensive Player of the Year honors.

In fact, there have been 10 multi-time winners who have combined to win 19 times, meaning only 32 players have ever actually won the award. While that makes winning the award all the more impressive, it is perhaps too exclusive. As a result, that has led to some pretty big snubs over the years, some of which are so egregious that they undermine the stated goal of giving out the award to the best defensive player in the NBA each season.

Historically, centers have usually dominated the award, which has often resulted in guards and forwards not receiving the recognition that they deserve. With that being said, let’s take a look at the 20 players who should have won Defensive Player of the Year but ultimately never did. Let’s get started!

Snubbed Defensive Player #21: DeAndre Jordan

Along with players like Dwight Howard, Serge Ibaka, and Tyson Chandler, DeAndre Jordan helped transform the center position. Previously, height was the primary requirement for playing center, but the likes of Jordan helped encourage teams to prioritize big men who also had athleticism and mobility.

At his best, Jordan was certainly that, and despite being a late second-round pick, he quickly made a name for himself on the defensive end. Once Chris Paul joined the Los Angeles Clippers, the team became a title contender, and Jordan began receiving increased attention for his defense.

Despite being hyped up by his former coach, Doc Rivers, Jordan wasn’t quite the defensive player that he appeared to be for most of his Lob City days. Jordan often bit hard on pump fakes and focused too much on blocking shots rather than protecting the rim (which isn’t necessarily the same thing). He was also known to chase defensive rebounds to pad his stats.

To Jordan’s credit, he did learn from his mistakes and become a better defender as a result, but he came up just short in the Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2013-14. Still, at his best, he was an athletic freak who could swat shots with the best of them.

Snubbed Defensive Player #20: LeBron James

Ever since entering the NBA, LeBron James has been a do-it-all type of player, though it did take time for his defense to come around. By the end of his first Cleveland Cavalier run, James was a good defender, but it wasn’t until he joined the Miami Heat that he became a great one.

Once the Heat moved to a small-ball lineup that featured Chris Bosh at center, the team began employing an aggressive blitzing defense that would often trap the ballhandler in pick-and-roll situations. That forced the playmaker to quickly give up the ball, putting pressure on the screener to make a quick-second play or lose the offensive advantage and waste seconds on the shot clock. It worked like a charm, and the Heat were able to force turnovers and get out in transition, thanks in large part to James.

The Heat often played lineups that featured positional size, which allowed them to switch and meant that James would occasionally find himself defending point guards like Tony Parker and big men like Tim Duncan or Pau Gasol. His length, size, and mobility made it difficult for guards to gain separation, while his strength made him hard to bully on the low block.

In addition to occasionally guarding on the block, James was also able to help protect the basket by providing weakside help and chasing down opponents in transition (i.e., Andre Iguodala).

Fortunately, while James never received a DPOY, he was rewarded with back-to-back league MVPs as well as back-to-back Finals MVPs during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons when Miami’s defense was at its best.

Still, James’ defensive versatility at his peak helped usher in a new era of NBA basketball that relied less on height and more on length and athleticism.

Snubbed Defensive Player #19: Tayshaun Prince

During his time in Detroit, Tayshaun Prince was an undervalued member of the Pistons teams that went to six straight Eastern Conference Finals. At 6’9″ with a 7-2 wingspan, Prince was able to effectively guard some of the opposing team’s best players despite having a relatively thin frame. But, unlike many of the other players on this list, Prince failed to put up big defensive stats.

In fact, he never averaged even a block or a steal per game in each of his fourteen seasons. That definitely hurt his DPOY candidacy, but it’s hard to argue with team results. Prince was the Pistons’ ironman and didn’t miss a single game over seven straight seasons starting for Detroit. During that time they ranked in the top five in defensive rating five times and he became known for making huge plays.

Later in his career, Prince was traded to the Grit and Grind Grizzlies. He helped them reach the Western Conference Finals after helping hold a normally super-efficient Kevin Durant to just 42.3% shooting from the field by matching up well against KD’s height.

As mentioned before, Prince never put up big defensive numbers and also played most of his career before other defensive metrics such as Defensive Real Plus-Minus came along. Despite that, he did make the All-Defensive Second Team four straight seasons as a member of the Pistons, proving his place on the list.

Snubbed Defensive Player #18: Andre Iguodala

38-year-old, small forward Andre Iguodala is in the final stage of a long NBA career. At this point, he is likely far more concerned with winning another championship than winning a Defensive Player of the Year award, but during his prime, he was certainly deserving of one.

Iguodala started his career in Philadelphia and was considered the heir apparent to Allen Iverson, but he wasn’t cut out to be a team’s primary scoring option. Instead, he became a jack-of-all-trades star who was particularly effective on the defensive end.

At 6’6, with long arms and impressive athleticism, Iguodala served as an archetype for the perfect defensive wing. At his best, he could check multiple positions and became known for his uncanny ability to strip defenders mid-drive.

That seemingly simple skill often resulted in turnovers and was the product of him shuffling his feet to keep pace with his opponent while using terrific timing to avoid reach-in fouls. He put that skill to the test when he was tasked with guarding all-time leading scorer LeBron James in the 2015 NBA Finals.

Iguodala managed to force James to become a volume scorer rather than his typical, super-efficient self. It slowed James down enough to help the Warriors win their first championship in more than forty years, and Iguodala was rewarded with the NBA Finals MVP, primarily for his defensive effort.

Actually, that could also be considered a make-up for him never winning DPOY. After all, he was often overlooked prior to joining the Warriors.

Snubbed Defensive Player #17: Shane Battier

Shane Battier was taken sixth overall in the 2001 NBA draft, and while he wouldn’t go on to become a star like top-10 picks occasionally do, he did have a solid career. Battier built that long career by being a defensive standout and relying more on his high basketball IQ than just physical tools alone to get the job done. Factor in that he was a solid shooter, and he became known as one of the best 3-and-D players in the NBA during the 2000s and early 2010s, and it’s no coincidence that teams with Battier on them often overachieved.

He was a key member of the 2003-04 Memphis Grizzlies, who won 50 games for the first time in their existence thanks to their reliance on defense, and Battier certainly had a hand in that. He later helped the Houston Rockets go toe-to-toe with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2009 Western Conference Finals by helping slow down Kobe Bryant. Battier later joined the Miami Heat and was instrumental in their success playing small ball.

Battier’s move to power forward enabled Chris Bosh to slide up to center and LeBron James to stay at small forward and avoid having to guard bigger players. Battier’s willingness to do the dirty work helped the Heat win back-to-back championships and make a third NBA Finals.

Alas, despite his reputation as a terrific defender, Battier never won the Defensive Player of the Year award. While he was widely regarded on that end of the floor, he didn’t stand out enough from some of his contemporaries like Bruce Bowen, Shawn Marion, and Andrei Kirilenko, each of whom was arguably a better on-ball defender.

He also played in an era where big men like Wallace and Howard dominated the awards. To Battier’s credit, however, he was voted to two All-Defensive Second Teams, solidifying his reputation.

Snubbed Defensive Player #16: Tony Allen

Defensive ace Tony Allen spent most of his career playing for the Memphis Grizzlies and was instrumental in helping the team find its identity. Nicknamed the Grindfather, Allen’s toughness as a defender and hustle made him a key part of the Grizzlies’ success. Despite only being 6’4, Allen would often be tasked with guarding wings bigger than him, and he relentlessly hassled them.

So, why did Allen never win DPOY if he was such a good defender? Ironically, part of the reason was his offense—or lack thereof. Allen was a shaky offensive player who struggled to space the floor and even finish shots in the paint. That left a Memphis team that often struggled to score efficiently, to limit Allen’s minutes in favor of getting more shooting on the floor.

His best defensive season saw him average a stellar 2.0 steals, but he only averaged 26.2 minutes per game despite being a starter due to his offensive issues. Perhaps if he had played at least 30 minutes per game, he might’ve had a stronger case, though he may have still lost to the eventual winner, Kawhi Leonard, who led the NBA in steals.

Even without a DPOY award, Allen is remembered as a great defender, having been named to three NBA All-Defensive First Team and three NBA All-Defensive Second Team squads while with the Grizzlies.

Snubbed Defensive Player #15: Shawn Marion

Hall of Famer Shawn Marion is often remembered for his odd-looking jumper and quick-leaping ability, but defense was his bread and butter. At 6’7, Marion had the size to guard power forwards and undersized centers and the mobility to defend guards and wings.

In today’s game, that’s rare, but back in the 2000s and 2010s, it was almost unheard of.

Marion was drafted by the Phoenix Suns, and his career took off when the team brought back point guard Steve Nash. The “Seven Seconds or Less” Suns were an explosive offensive team, but defense was their clear weakness. He was tasked to be the team’s defensive stopper, and he did make a clear impact.

The 2005 Suns made it to the Western Conference Finals, and Marion was tasked with guarding Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Tim Duncan at various points in the series. He did an admirable job of defending three Hall of Famers in their primes. So why didn’t he win a DPOY?

The Nash Suns teams were often slightly below-average defenses in terms of defensive rating but were also usually near the bottom of the NBA in points allowed. Voters simply weren’t going to recognize a player on teams that technically gave up among the most points in the NBA, albeit because they played so much faster than everyone else.

He was also overshadowed by other players on this list during his prime years, so the stars never fully aligned for the Matrix. Still, people who watched him play know his defensive versatility was well ahead of its time.

Snubbed Defensive Player #14: Jrue Holiday

Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Jrue Holiday has long been considered one of the best defensive guards in the NBA. Despite his reputation, Holiday has never won Defensive Player of the Year. Part of the reason could be that the award often goes to centers. But as the league has become increasingly perimeter-oriented, guards and wings should dominate the award going forward.

While Celtics guard Marcus Smart did win DPOY last season, Ryan Holiday’s defensive contributions have continued to fly relatively under the radar compared to teammates Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo. They are both deserving of praise, but so is Holiday, who has been a consistently strong defender for at least a decade now.

What makes Holiday so good at guarding opponents is his impeccable timing. He is a master at providing timely help, particularly at the top of the key, where he is often able to strip the ball from the ballhandler while still paying close attention to his primary defensive assignment.

In those instances, he’s effectively guarding two players without breaking a sweat. Even better, those forced turnovers often lead to fast-break opportunities for the Bucks.

Holiday can also wreak havoc on the ball and is almost impossible to shake given his ability to fight over screens. His defensive success, while not resulting in any DPOY awards thus far in his career, has resulted in two All-Defensive first-team selections as well as two All-Defensive second-team selections. That is a great start, but he deserves more recognition in the form of some hardware.

Snubbed Defensive Player #13: Anthony Davis

Throughout his now 11-year NBA career, Anthony Davis has proven to be a highly skilled defender. Surprisingly, however, he has yet to win a Defensive Player of the Year award. Davis has led the NBA in blocks per game three times and has averaged at least 1 steal per game every season of his career, a rarity for power forwards and centers.

His best defensive seasons came during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, when he averaged 4.1 stocks (steals plus blocks) and 4.4 stocks respectively. Unfortunately, his defensive impact was lost on the New Orleans Pelicans, who ranked 27th and 22nd, respectively, negatively affecting his candidacy. Years later, Davis is still making an impact.

During the 2022–23 season, Davis has contested nearly 18 shots per game and held opponents to just 43.9% shooting. He is also averaging an impressive 2.1 blocks and one steal per game, helping anchor an above-average Los Angeles Lakers defense.

Ultimately, perhaps the biggest reason Davis hasn’t won a DPOY award thus far has a lot to do with his health. On average, he has missed at least 20 games per season over his career. That makes it harder for voters to reward his defensive contributions when there are healthier options. That being said, Davis still has time and the ability to win the award before he retires.

Snubbed Defensive Player #12: Andrei Kirilenko

Aside from having quite possibly the coolest nickname of the 2000s, AK-47, Andrei Kirilenko was known for his unique defensive ability. At 6’9, Kirilenko could do it all on the defensive end, including shutting down the opposing team’s primary ball handler, defending off-ball, or even protecting the basket.

That’s evident by his racking up an amazing number of stocks over the course of his career. In fact, he is only one of 18 players who have ever averaged at least 3.2 stocks per game, putting him in the same company as Mutombo, Michael Jordan, and Wallace, who combined to win 8 DPOY awards.

During his prime, he was selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2006 and two All-Defensive Second Teams in 2004 and 2006, not to mention he led the league in blocks in 2005. Unfortunately for Kirilenko, the era he played in had a slew of other great defenders, and despite those accolades, he never quite stood out enough to win DPOY consideration.

Much like Marion, Kirilenko could have made a similar defensive impact in today’s game, which is a testament to how ahead of his time he was as a defender.

Snubbed Defensive Player #11: Roy Hibbert

Despite Roy Hibbert not having the staying power of other players on this list, his defensive impact on the NBA is still impressive. At 7’2, Hibbert was one of the tallest players in the NBA during his career, and he put that height to great use by helping popularize verticality. Verticality is essentially jumping straight up with your arms raised to maximize a player’s size while also avoiding shooting fouls at the basket.

As a member of the Indiana Pacers, Hibbert perfected that skill and anchored their elite defense.

The Pacers had four consecutive top-10 finishes in defensive rating with Hibbert patrolling the paint, including the top-ranked defense in 2012-13 and 2013-14. Hibbert finished fifth in defensive win shares and fourth in blocks per game both seasons. He also finished second in DPOY voting behind Tyson Chandler in 2013–14.

As a result, Indiana went to the Eastern Conference Finals both seasons and faced the Miami Heat. They lost both times but pushed the super team further than any other team in the East did. Hibbert’s elite rim protection eventually lost most of its luster once teams began playing smaller and prioritizing spacing.

He simply couldn’t defend away from the basket, and he eventually settled into a role as a backup center before retiring a few seasons later. Regardless, Hibbert’s play at his peak was unquestionably Defensive Player of the Year-worthy.

Snubbed Defensive Player #10: Danny Green

After being cut three times by the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs, Danny Green finally managed to carve out a role with the Spurs. He did so by playing defense and knocking down open threes. While players such as Kawhi Leonard and Tim Duncan get credit for helping revitalize the Spurs’ defense and getting them back into title contention, Green was equally as important.

Playing alongside Leonard, the two formed “Wingstop” with Green often tasked with defending opposing point guards or shooting guards while Leonard took on bigger wings. Green’s length and size proved bothersome, and he often put the clamps on top-tier guards, helping the Spurs outlast their opponents.

Coach Gregg Popovich famously switched Green onto Steph Curry during the 2013 Western Conference semifinals after he had two sizzling performances. Green immediately slowed him down, helping take away those pull-up threes. That defensive performance wasn’t an outlier, however; in the NBA Finals that year, he toggled between guard Dwayne Wade and LeBron James.

He did an impressive job, helping give the Spurs a chance to pull off an upset. Green routinely prevented guards and even wings from going off against the Spurs. He even proved to be an effective rim protector, ranking 8th all-time in blocks by a guard.

Unfortunately for him, his defensive mastery was simply overshadowed by Leonard and Duncan, and he was never seriously considered for the DPOY award. On a positive note, Green would go on to win two more championships with the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers while providing that same caliber of defense.

Snubbed Defensive Player #9: Bruce Bowen

If you watched NBA basketball in the mid-2000s and your team had a high-scoring guard or wing, odds are Bruce Bowen guarded them and shut them down at some point during his time with the San Antonio Spurs. Bowen was an undrafted journeyman when he joined the Spurs in 2001, but he carved out a role as a defensive pit bull and corner 3-point shooter on three championship teams.

Bowen’s size at 6’7 and his physical, irritating style of defense often made it hard to shake him. In fact, he was known for using his hands as well as dirty tactics to get under his opponent’s skin, such as sliding a foot out when his opponent attempted a jumper in his face. During the Spurs’ many deep playoff runs, he guarded the likes of Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, Steve Nash, LeBron James, Rip Hamilton, Kobe Bryant, and Ray Allen.

His defense helped keep them in check while the Spurs’ big three did work on the offensive end. The fact that he never won Defensive Player of the Year is surprising but could be explained by him never putting up big blocks or steals numbers and playing alongside Duncan, who was an all-time defender in his own right. Even then, he was certainly worthy of the honor.

Snubbed Defensive Player #8: Serge Ibaka

At his peak, Serge Ibaka was one of the most dominant rim protectors of the 2010s, yet, surprisingly, he never won a Defensive Player of the Year trophy. He technically still has time and is one of a couple of active players on this list, but he’s obviously not at the same level he was during his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ibaka spent seven seasons with the Thunder and led the NBA in total blocks for five straight years.

His mobility, leaping ability, and timing allowed the Thunder to play an aggressive style of defense where they often packed the paint and utilized their length and athleticism to close out on shooters.

Ibaka was the linchpin of their defensive attack since he could rotate over to the weak side and swat shots when opposing players got into the lane. Ibaka was particularly effective against Oklahoma City’s rivals, the San Antonio Spurs. He faced them three times in the playoffs and proved crucial in toppling them twice by shutting down the paint and limiting Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan’s effectiveness, resulting in the Thunder making the NBA Finals in 2012.

While Ibaka ultimately never won a DVOP, he did finish a close second in the 2012–13 season behind Chandler. Still, at his best, Ibaka was a game-changing defender who helped a then-young Thunder team excel on the defensive end.

Snubbed Defensive Player #7: John Stockton

Stockton’s name is almost never mentioned in discussions of the greatest defensive players of all time. This despite him having the all-time record for total steals with 3,265. That is nearly 600 more steals than the second-placed Jason Kidd and 1,000 more than LeBron James. The sheer number of takeaways should at least put him in the conversation, but he never won Defensive Player of the Year in 19 seasons.

While Stockton was a capable on-ball defender, he was best known for his off-ball defense. He would often strip big men, either by providing double teams in the post or by intercepting passes and getting out in transition. Still, there is a myriad of reasons why he didn’t win a DPOY. One is that point guards simply don’t win the award very often.

Actually, only Gary Payton and Marcus Smart have won the award in its 40-plus-year history. Additionally, Stockton, like Pippen and Ewing, suffered from playing in the same era as several incredible defensive centers. Ultimately, Stockton faced an uphill battle for the award but does at least hold the record for steals, and it’s unlikely to be broken for a very long time.

Snubbed Defensive Player #6: Patrick Ewing

Between his college career at Georgetown and his NBA career, primarily with the New York Knicks, center, Patrick Ewing established himself as one of the greatest shot blockers of all time. That didn’t translate into him winning a DPOY, however. For five consecutive seasons, Ewing averaged at least 3 blocks per game, but his best season came during 1989-90.

He averaged a staggering 4.0 blocks to go along with 1 steal and 8.0 defensive rebounds per game. He also finished fifth in defensive win shares that season but lost the award to Dennis Rodman. Ewing faced tough competition for the award, even when he led the NBA in defensive win shares during 1992–93, 1993–94, and 1995–96.

Ironically, despite that, he was arguably a defensive tier below Olajuwon, Mutombo, David Robinson, and Alonzo Mourning. This is considering that those four players won a total of nine DPOY awards. Unluckily for Ewing, their primes coincide with his, resulting in him competing with each. As a result, Ewing was left without an award.

Snubbed Defensive Player #5: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

While Abdul-Jabbar is primarily remembered as a scorer (hmmm, I wonder why), he was actually a terrific defensive player too. At 7’2″ with a 7’5 wingspan, his size and length combined with his timing made him a fearsome shot blocker. Having an elite rim protector is obviously a major plus in today’s game, but it played an even bigger role back in the 1970s and 1980s when teams relied far more on scoring in the paint.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many advanced stats from that era, but he was the all-time leader in blocks before Olajuwon and later Mutombo surpassed him. Even then, blocks weren’t counted during his first four years in the NBA. Had that been the case, Abdul-Jabbar could’ve rejected another 1,100 shots based on his averages from the first four seasons that blocks were counted.

That would’ve put him at more than 4,000 blocks, well ahead of the two players who combined to win Defensive Player of the Year six times. That begs the question: Why didn’t Abdul-Jabbar win the Defensive Player of the Year award himself? Some of it is due to timing. The award wasn’t first handed out until the 1982–83 season, which was past his defensive peak.

That’s a shame because he led the league in blocked shots four times prior to that, including blocking at least four shots per game twice, but at age 35, there were better options for the award by then. Overall, Abdul-Jabbar was certainly deserving of a DPOY but didn’t end up winning one because the NBA didn’t start handing out the award until late in his career.

Snubbed Defensive Player #4: Wilt Chamberlain

Chamberlain’s dominance has been challenged by some, who believe that he put up video game numbers against plumbers and insurance salesmen. While technically somewhat true, he was also a skilled freak athlete who dominated in much the same way Giannis Antetokounmpo does now.

At 7’1, Chamberlain earned the nickname the “Stilt” for his long, skinny legs and also for towering over most players. Combine that with his leaping ability and speed as a former high jumper and sprinter, and it’s no wonder that he dominated on both ends of the floor during the 1950s and 1960s.

Much like his contemporary, Bill Russell, their blocks and steals weren’t recorded during their playing careers; if they had, odds are that he would hold records in both categories too. After all, Chamberlain excelled in pretty much every area of the game, save for free throws, even leading the league in assists one season as well as holding dozens of scoring and rebounding records.

By all accounts, Chamberlain was a monster on the defensive end of the floor, using his outrageous physical tools to effortlessly swat shots, while his mere presence likely also deterred many from challenging him.

Of course, his incredible offensive feats overshadowed his amazing defensive ability, whereas his rival Russell’s defense was his calling card. Had the DPOY award existed back then, odds are that Russell would have beaten Chamberlain out more often than not, but Chamberlain likely would have received at least one trophy during his fourteen-year career.

Snubbed Defensive Player #3: Scottie Pippen

Of the 20 players on this list, Scottie Pippen is likely the most surprising inclusion. After all, Pippen was the Kawhi Leonard of the 1990s and likely a better defender than the two-time DPOY. Even then, Pippen was overlooked for the award 17 times, even during his best defensive season.

Pippen’s best defensive year came during the 1994-95 season, when he led the league in steals, averaging an eye-popping 2.9 per game, as well as 1.1 blocks. If that weren’t enough, Pippen led the league in defensive rating and was tied for first in defensive win shares with Robinson.

99% of the time, that would make someone a no-brainer pick to win Defensive Player of the Year, but there was incredibly stiff competition. Mutombo led the NBA in blocks, averaging nearly 4 per game, while two other DPOY winners, Robinson and Olajuwon, also had monster defensive seasons.

It simply wasn’t in the cards for Pippen, who had to settle for making the Defensive First Team for the second time in four straight seasons. Now, Pippen is generally regarded as one of the greatest perimeter defenders ever. However, he failed to win the award in part because he was teammates with another all-time defender in Michael Jordan, and played in an era with several dominant shot blockers.

Snubbed Defensive Player #2: Bill Russell

Like Chamberlain, Russell’s entire career predates the Defensive Player of the Year award. Had it not been, Russell could have racked up at least half a dozen DPOY awards during his already incredible 13-season career. After all, Russell is widely considered to be one of the greatest defensive players in league history, despite having very few stats to back up his claim.

Unfortunately, both blocks and steals weren’t counted during his career, but by all accounts, he was a dominant shot blocker. His shot-blocking ability gave the Boston Celtics a huge advantage since there was very little spacing without a 3-point line. As a result, if teams wanted to score, they had to either knock down jumpers or challenge Russell. 11 championships tell us that he often won those challenges.

Still, it’s a shame that NBA fans can’t watch many highlights of his defensive prowess. Nor do they have the opportunity to compare defensive stats.

Fortunately, that may actually work in Russell’s favor since the legend of his abilities on the defensive end has taken on near-mythical status.

Snubbed Defensive Player #1: Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan is often remembered as the greatest power forward of all time and an ultimate winner, but his defense was the driving force in San Antonio’s success. Under Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich, who himself is known as a defensive-minded coach, the two constructed a dominant defense that managed to evolve with the rapidly changing NBA.

The first incarnation saw Duncan paired with fellow Hall of Famer David Robinson, who was one of the greatest shot blockers in NCAA and NBA history. The pairing formed the twin towers, one of the most dominant defensive tandems in league history, helping the Spurs win two championships in five seasons.

After Robinson’s retirement, Duncan switched to center, and the Spurs didn’t miss a beat despite losing a former Defensive Player of the Year winner. In fact, from 2003–04 to 2013–14, San Antonio finished in the top 10 in defensive rating ten times in 11 seasons and in the top five eight times with Duncan as their anchor.

While not as athletic as some on this list, Duncan had terrific timing and was a master at verticality, maximizing his 7’3 arm span to challenge shots while often barely jumping to contest shots.

As a result of that ability, he was able to age gracefully as a defender, and he was legitimately robbed of the Defensive Player of the Year trophy in 2013–14 when it was given to Marc Gasol. Duncan finished his career with more than 3,000 blocks, 15 All-Defensive Team appearances, and the lowest defensive rating in NBA history among players who’ve played at least 700 games.

Unlike Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain, and Russell, the DPOY was handed out during each season of Duncan’s 19-year career, yet he somehow failed to win multiple trophies, let alone even one. Criminal.