Scottie Pippen only in eighth place: Ranking of the greatest defenders in NBA history

Following the rankings of the greatest dunkers and best shooters in NBA history, Bleacher Report has released a list of the 99 greatest defenders the league has seen since its inception. Bill Russell was placed in first place, and according to the American website, "This choice was perhaps as obvious as the choice of Stephen Curry as the greatest shooter in NBA history."

Although Russell played his entire career before the league began counting blocks and steals, before the Defensive Player of the Year award was first presented, and almost entirely before the All-Defensive teams were selected, he remains the obvious choice for this title. The first All-Defensive team in league history was selected only in his final season.

"In many ways, he is the perfect answer to this question, because defense is much more than numbers. Data can never fully measure communication, rotations, and all the things that offense is unable to execute because of them. Even if all the data and awards had existed in his era, the greatest defensive player of all time would have surpassed them anyway."

The 99 best defenders in NBA history, according to Bleacher Report:

1. Don Buse, 98. Larry Nance, 97. Eddie Jones, 96. Karl Malone, 95. Elvin Hayes, 94. Ben Simmons, 93. DeAndre Jordan, 92. Don Chaney, 91. Joel Embiid, 90. Willis Reed, 89. Derrick White, 88. Wes Unseld, 87. Theo Ratliff, 86. OG Anunoby, 85. Paul Pressey, 84. Chet Holmgren, 83. Paul Silas, 82. Andrew Bogut, 81. Dave Cowens, 80. Bill Laimbeer, 79. Nate McMillan, 78. Evan Mobley, 77. Artis Gilmore, 76. Brook Lopez, 75. Alex Caruso, 74. Doug Christie, 73. Rasheed Wallace, 72. Paul George, 71. Shaquille O'Neal, 70. Larry Bird, 69. Buck Williams, 68. Jerry West, 67. Dwyane Wade, 66. Mookie Blaylock, 65. Charles Oakley, 64. Serge Ibaka, 63. Horace Grant, 62. Rajon Rondo, 61. Manute Bol, 60. Kevin McHale, 59. Jaren Jackson Jr., 58. Shane Battier, 57. John Stockton, 56. Bill Walton, 55. Dave DeBusschere, 54. Marcus Smart, 53. Norm Van Lier, 52. Tayshaun Prince, 51. Maurice Cheeks, 50. Jerry Sloan, 49. Shawn Marion, 48. Marc Gasol, 47. Jimmy Butler, 46. Patrick Ewing, 45. Dennis Johnson, 44. Joe Dumars, 43. Tyson Chandler, 42. Kobe Bryant, 41. Joakim Noah, 40. Walt Frazier, 39. Andrei Kirilenko, 38. Bam Adebayo, 37. Alvin Robertson, 36. Victor Wembanyama, 35. Jrue Holiday, 34. Andre Iguodala, 33. Marcus Camby, 32. Jason Kidd, 31. John Havlicek, 30. Nate Thurmond, 29. Chris Paul, 28. Michael Cooper, 27. Sidney Moncrief, 26. Mark Eaton, 25. Bobby Jones, 24. Bruce Bowen, 23. Tony Allen, 22. LeBron James, 21. Metta World Peace (Ron Artest), 20. Alonzo Mourning, 19. Anthony Davis, 18. Wilt Chamberlain, 17. Giannis Antetokounmpo, 16. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 15. Michael Jordan, 14. Gary Payton, 13. Dwight Howard, 12. Kawhi Leonard, 11. David Robinson, 10. Draymond Green, 9. Rudy Gobert, 8. Scottie Pippen, 7. Dennis Rodman, 6. Dikembe Mutombo, 5. Ben Wallace, 4. Hakeem Olajuwon, 3. Kevin Garnett, 2. Tim Duncan, 1. Bill Russell.