If DPOYs Were Given to the BEST Defender (1990s)

The NBA typically gives its Defensive Player of the Year award to players who meet certain criterias... but what if the DPOY was just given to the best defender? We're looking at who would win it in those cases from the 1990s.
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The game of Basketball has been my passion since I was 5 years old. I grew up as a kid watching my dad's recorded VHS tapes of playoff games through the 70s and 80s, and collected all the Basketball cards. Something about the game and what it represents just hooked me from a very young age.
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I post videos every week on NBA history, predictions, hypothetical scenarios and current NBA topics.
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#nba #basketball #hoops

[@jonnyarnett]

What a jam packed era of great defensive players! Who do you was the best defender from this decade??

[@idoittah8390]

There is a couple pippen ,denis Hakeem ,Gary and I would say Jordan is a good defender but maybe not the best

[@joaohenriquedalpiaz8452]

Hey Jonny, will you do a video like this for the 60s and 70s? I know the award wasn't there but could you do it based on maybe statistics? I think it would ve interesting to know how many a guy like Bill Russell would've won if the award existed back then.

[@jonnyarnett]

@joahenriquedalpiaz8452 I ran into this issue before in my Finals MVPs Series, and I'll do it the same way I did in that one. Essentially, I'll change the opening intro, and explain that I'll give the DPOYs for the years they didn't yet exist, like the 60s and 70s. I will heavily factor in stats, team results, reputation, etc. The eye test factor will unfortunately be very limited, since we have hardly any footage from that era, but basically whatever there is to be seen, I've seen it, so at least there's that.

[@fortnitejake850]

Dennis Rodman for sure

[@joepermenter7228]

@@fortnitejake850 Stats say Hakeem, Rings say Worm. East vs. West argument with facts settles the tiebreaker.

[@999lilo]

18 rebounds for a whole season is crazy rodman is the best rebounder of all-time 🐐

[@hakeemolajuwon4352]

Easily! It's not even close. Rodman was doing that in a time when teams only averaged 43rpg. Unlike wilt who grabbed his rebounds when teams were averaging 71 rebounds a game

[@999lilo]

@hakeemolajuwon4352 true 💯 Rodman would risk his life too grab a single rebound 🐐

[@marcomcdowell8861]

Yeah no. Chamberlain averaged 23 over a 13 year career.

[@hakeemolajuwon4352]

@@marcomcdowell8861 yeah in a league where teams averaged 71 rebounds a game. Rodman averaged 18rpg in a league where teams were only averaging 43 rebounds a game

[@999lilo]

@@marcomcdowell8861 he could totally have that 1 spot he was insane

[@habibdaulay2312]

1990s defender was so stacked,too many elite defender in that era

[@1vaultdweller]

Nah its more because 90s offenders were too washed, due to expansion era. This is evident by the league attempting to shorten the 3 point line cus those guys couldnt shoot for shit lol

[@jxmmykriminallive]

@@1vaultdwellerwrong

[@1vaultdweller]

@@jxmmykriminallive 5-3 Muggsy Bogues survived 90s without a jump shot. "too many elite defenders" lmao

[@onlyfacts3178]

@@1vaultdweller shorten league was just 2 seasons...94 and 95...and they all had higher FG% than most stars now. SHOOTING isnt just from 3 point line

[@cncaliguy09]

90S had great all time defenders with Hakeem, Robinson, Rodman, Pippen, GP, and Dikembe. 2000s had many epic defenders that are underappreciated

[@fortnitejake850]

96 was crazy. It was basically Payton or one of the Bulls 3 stars 😂

[@lilpenny1982]

Ron Harper was good defensively too

[@blakeunderwood1075]

@@lilpenny1982stop. He wasn’t a defensive top player except when he played with Jordan. Theoretically.

[@lilpenny1982]

@blakeunderwood1075 Pippen too based on your theory 🤣

[@fatboy5926]

@@lilpenny1982nah not the same. Prime Pippen was an amazing defender. Bulls Ron Harper was good but he has become overrated defensively in his Bulls years. Firstly he was basically a defensive specialist barely asked to do anything else. On top of that he was getting relief by playing with prime Pippen/MJ. He wasn’t bad or anything I’m not saying that he was good - but good is as strong as I can get

[@trackcoachmac]

I think another reason Centers get preference is that for every block their is probably another 4 shots that were influenced by the threat of blocks. I don't think you hear that as much with wing defenders influence a player to not make a pass or take a shot. Or you don't get into a set that you want. That's really hard to evaluate.

[@onlyfacts3178]

CHARLES BARKLEY said that a few years ago...HE said SHAQ didnt made anyone afraid. RUSSEL MUTOMBO EATON BOL ALONZO were all players that you had to look very well where they were before you drive to the rim.

[@jp3813]

@@onlyfacts3178 The OP isn't comparing centers w/ each other, but centers as opposed to wing players.

[@lakercow32]

This has been one of my complaints for ever. Tony Allen should have won 2 DPY awards. He was clearly the best defender in the league for several years.

[@king_supreme1102]

Man there were so many legendary defenders in the 90’s

[@tompriceusmc]

My favorite defensive stats of all time: Jan 1988: Jordan has 10 steals in only 27 minutes. The coach took him out because the Bulls were up by 30 by this point. But damn---leave him in and let him break the record for steals in a game (which is 11). Jan 2004: Calvin Booth comes off bench to block 10 shots in 17 minutes. Jan 1988: Minute Bol blocks 10 shots in 15 minutes. March 1986: Jordan has 7 steals in 14 minutes. Came off the bench that game. (This was the year of his foot injury.)

[@tvm2209]

Rodman made rebounding look like something you’re either born with or not.

[@maxbarstad1773]

Love to see that you respect Pippens defensive game.3️⃣3️⃣

[@Lukey111]

IMO Hakeem is the greatest defensive player ever

[@roundtable3501]

Bill clears

[@rollandcurtis874]

I agree, but Michael Jordan beat him for his own namesake award in 1988 where Michael Jordan received the most votes and Hakeem Olajuwon came in third place.

[@Lukey111]

@@roundtable3501 I don't know how you could possibly think that I'm assuming you never saw bill russel play and we essentially have no defensive tracking from those days, how do you come to that conclusion?

[@universalplayz7496]

@@Lukey111it’s quite easy to understand how Bill Russel was the greatest defender of all time 1. He has the most defensive win shares in NBA history while only playing 13 seasons (For context Tim Duncan a 15x all defensive team member + 20 seasons played has 30% less defensive win shares than Bill Russel) 2. During the only season which all nba defensive teams existed in russels career he made 1st team all defense (this is the season he retired) 3. His blocks average was 7.7 blocks per game from all unofficial kept blocks total 4. Every player who played with or againist him in the 60s would name him as the best defender they played 5. He has the 2nd highest defensive rebounds in NBA history 6. When playing the celetics every single team in the league shot over 5% worse 7. In 1962 when wilt was averaging 50, in the games againist the celetics he was dropping more towards the 30s, effectively reducing his ppg by 40% 8. He was 6”11, massive wingspan, jumped 44 inches and had impeccable timing 9. When he blocked shots he didn’t send them to the moon but actually just tapped it towards his teammates to keep possession.

[@Nickgonelie]

Bill Russell

[@jtbucketsshorts2213]

I’m just glad to be here before all these decades videos get put into one long one and I can watch again lmao

[@jonnyarnett]

Lol, that’s definitely the trend of the channel these days. Just an FYI, there’s always something new in the compilations, and I put timestamps in the pinned comment, so you can always just straight to the new stuff if you want to :)

[@nufaa5313]

Good video, aging myself but that as a fantastic decade for basketball

[@Hatedvarii]

Jonny back at it again with a banger video❤

[@Kingbossdon]

I'm liking this series Jonny

[@josephdanielpsantos7417]

Great video as always!

[@user-jq8lx5dd1y]

The Pistons, being in their twilight years in 91 when all of them were younger than what the bulls were when they made their second 3peat lmao

[@dewanewelch1744]

What's makes it crazy Is himself aging they age but Rodman is the same age as Zeke and 2 years older then Dumars lol

[@DS-rw5lv]

I love this series. Keep it up!

[@universalplayz7496]

Dpoy winner for every season before 83 please

[@jonnyarnett]

For sure, those years will be in the series too!

[@onlyfacts3178]

@@jonnyarnett those are going to be hard. DONT forget NBA didnt track BLOCKS or STEALS. Players tell a lot of stories from WILT and RUSSEL blocking over 10 shoots. BUT they also say WEST had a lot of games with more than 10 steals. Eventually its all about who made their opponents change more shoots, and miss shoots due to their presence. And thats B.RUSSEL BIGGEST STRENGHT...

[@universalplayz7496]

@@onlyfacts3178 jerry west did make multiple first team all defense apperances during the end of his career combined with a bit worse ball handling I can def see west getting multiple 10 steal games considering wilt got 11 steals in a game

[@williamcorliss3664]

Yesh thats a great list. No doubt.

[@G7M9W]

So many absolute legends of the game highlighted in this video -- and most were true two-way players. Very impressive.

[@peacemaker4829]

I think you're the first person I've heard talk about games played, and I really like that. It makes a lot of sense. The award is about who was the most valuable defender and you have zero value when you don't play.

[@andrewwebster15]

Great series. Would love a look at something like this by position as well.

[@jackbrowne8646]

We need the full list please!!!

[@terencebryson1990]

Hakeem Olajuwon is the best Defender Ever number one in blocked shots and tenth in steals to me he’s a versatile defender

[@imjoker2823]

Do you think you could do the Top 5 Best and Worst 1st and 8th seeded teams?

[@ralegade7710]

Forced turnovers should be a stat.

[@marcomcdowell8861]

Channing Frye powering up to dunk on Zo, only to get denied, is one of the funniest things I've seen. The slo-mo of him screaming as he cocked back is hilarious.

[@raybugz9275]

Hi Jonny Arnett, Can you please make a video about the real winners of slam dunk contests through the years. Thank you

[@alex4833]

Awesome video, Jonny! There were so many great defenders in the 90s - Rodman, Olajuwon, Mutombo, Robinson, Payton, Pippen, Zo etc. I was surprised that Pippen didn't get a DPOY, but, given how many excellent defenders there were, and the solid case that one could make for all of them, (not to mention how close several votes were) I think it is understandable too that he did not win a DPOY. Great video again. Have a great Saturday :)

[@ktapreswreckd921v9]

Agreed.

[@xyzdragontan]

Love the video.I thought Brook should have won DPOY last year

[@user-gc3qj7md8c]

Hakeem is so underrated

[@Rodanguirus]

Yeah, Rodman winning DPoY when he was still coming off the bench in '90 but losing it in '92 with that absurd 18 rpg always looked strange.

[@nvm9040]

Definitely appreciate that Rodman got a nod bc pistons Rodman was definitely at this peak defensively

[@ktapreswreckd921v9]

Great defenders in the nineties. And Jonny didn't even mention Ewing or Michael. Great era!

[@anthonytacal2371]

Cuz this channel is pro lebum...

[@jp3813]

Uh... pretty sure he even showed MJ's defensive stats.

[@ktapreswreckd921v9]

@@anthonytacal2371 I disagree with that. Anyone who was alive back in the eighties and nineties knows that defenses were much more tougher.

[@NeverSeenTheFilm]

Where would you have Duncan and Robinson in 98? IMO they both have better cases than Mutombo or Payton with a slight edge to Duncan for me. On one hand, playing together helps their team drtng (and in turn individual drtng and defensive win shares.) On the other hand it means they are splitting counting stats like blocks and rebounds. Both were higher in drtng, team drtng, defensive bpm, and defensive win shares. Duncan had fewer blocks than Mutombo (.9 per game difference) but more rebounds (11.9 to 11.5) and steals (.7 to .4) whatever .3 steals per game is worth for a C/PF lol. If Robinson played all 82 games I think he'd have the best case but I give the slight edge to Duncan for playing all 82 and the most minutes per game of these 4 guys. BTW thank you for making these videos. I think they are interesting thought experiments and good fun as long as people are civil. Everyone has their criteria (and biases) and even advanced metrics, especially defensive metrics have their limitations but to me this is all still fun to talk about.

[@erikscream]

“Mootombo” lmao

[@matthasahand5495]

Love this video concept, hate your picks though.

[@montybrooks5344]

Winning dpoy while on the bench is insane!

[@stress.relief]

HOLY SHIT HAKEEN GOT ROBBED IN 1990

[@eddietalley534]

You should do a top ten rebounders lists

[@user-jw5qj8kv2y]

On October 16, 2022, I was really surprised when I learned that Dikembe Mutombo was undergoing treatment for a brain tumor.

[@cncaliguy09]

Guys like Bowen, Bradley, Allen, Pippen, Duncan all deserved DPOY. There is an over emphasis on blocks and rebounds.

[@Onsidelife]

2010s please

[@jonnyarnett]

That one is next 👍

[@tmac731]

4:25 then on the Bulls Rodman locked up lakers shaq. Rodman is the festers defender of time in my opinion.

[@TriedYan]

David Robinson not getting any is a crime

[@17thNO]

I agree with this list

[@M3WSTEW]

Can you do this for the 2000s ?

[@fatboy5926]

I still think prime Rodman was the best non centre defender ever. Piston Rodman was guarding everything from point guards to power forwards and even the occasional centre. Not much but yeah 1-4 he was guarding elite. 1 game guarding Jordan (not all the time but at times) & the next game guarding Barkley. Mental

[@pluto545]

Only if you never seen Bobby Jones play. He certainly should get a nod. Tim Duncan and KG shouldn’t be slept on either.

[@fatboy5926]

@@pluto545 I should have said “non big” ever - I’d be including Duncan/KG in that rim protection type thing even though they were a bit more versatile than that. Yeah Bobby was a freak too certainly should be in that

[@TheHuskyK9]

Tbh, the fact that Rodman was coming off the bench and was still a top 10 defender is really impressive. I agree that Hakeem should won that year, but I can see why voters voted for Rodman

[@williamcorliss3664]

Just wanna help the video 🎉🎉

[@your_royal_highness]

Dick Butkus was the NFL DPOY on a 1-13 team. But football is now following the rest, same with baseball. Ernie Banks was MVP on a last place team (yes, I’m from Chicago).

[@gotwobag7876]

ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY NINE THOUSAND!!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@vincespell]

Scottie Pippen didn't average anymore steals than Mike and he may have gotten more blocked shots because he was off the ball but Jordan was better than Scottie. Scottie may have had more opportunities but Scottie learned that game from Mike! A young Jordan was the best defender in the league for 5 years straight! Remember it's only Jordan who has 2 season of 200 Steals and 100 Blocks, Scottie and Hakeem only have one season, Jordan has two and they were back to back and Jordan is still number 3 or 4 steals all time!

[@soulseer1191]

Olajuwon the best and most complete Center

[@planet3vitaminpacks]

Question: Is a player who has teammates who are weak defensively actually able to have better stats than someone whose team has better defenders. If your teammates suck defensively it creates more opportunities for blocks

[@hakeemolajuwon4352]

That's just dumb! That might apply to rebounds or points, even maybe assists, but not steals or blocks

[@SayWhoAskedIfYouLoveManMeat]

No, but I think the opposite may be true

[@planet3vitaminpacks]

@@hakeemolajuwon4352 - Yes it might increase the number of rebounds, which was another stat mentioned by Jonny when discussing the DPOY. I played hoops, when guys blew past one of my teammates I was there trying to stop them with a block or foul. More opportunities for both when the teammate sucked.

[@IkeThe9th]

I don’t think there were any mistakes. I watched the NBA throughout the 90’s and they got them all correct. Defensive effectiveness plays a great part also and has to be weighed against pure numbers. DPOY is picked by sportswriters, sport journalists and broadcasters that watched the games and winners are usually pretty obvious. If a machine did it, it would obviously use the some of the methods you’ve explained here, but I am impressed by the research though! Great video.

[@jp3813]

There are disagreements even among those voters, and a lot of the results were evidently very close. Hence, not as obvious as you claim.

[@IkeThe9th]

@@jp3813 News Flash: There is disagreement in almost every voting process. That’s why it’s called a “vote” - because there is a general understanding that there will be opposing views. However, like I said, it is “usually pretty obvious” which way the MAJORITY are going to vote. And that process isn’t wrong just because the “numbers” and “stats” point to someone else.

[@jp3813]

@@IkeThe9th That newsflash was exactly my point. Again, "a lot of the results were evidently very close. Hence, not as obvious as you claim." Obvious would be a landslide victory. Or are you naive enough to think that bias isn't a factor in voting?

[@lilpenny1982]

I agree 100% - Rodman should've won more DPOY awards. His bad-boy reputation ruined his chances on winning this award in some years.

[@ironangel667]

Hakeem should have 8 or 9 dpoy

[@megagalvatron281]

Without a doubt

[@reimixo]

In 1990 Rodman to me was the correct winner by eye test and impact, hakeem was on a 41-41 team, Rodman helped the pistons win 59 games and having the best defense by opp fg % and points allowed... And it's not like he was missing any games... Sure the pistons as a team were very good defensively but if it's close and you have a guy that is helping a team be the best in the league and another is on an avg team, it's over... imo he has a better case than in 92 because the spurs were very close defensively and won 1 less game... And it was All Robinson... But he could have won in 92 without question

[@megagalvatron281]

You're insane Hakeem Olajuwon is the defensive player of the year of 1990 he was doing it by himself on that team

[@reimixo]

@@megagalvatron281 well, he isn't, could he have been, yes

[@briansims7510]

Arguing Rodman was better that year through eye test is ridiculous. If you want to try to argue impact via numbers that’s fine, but saying he was better than Hakeem via eye test is definitely a interesting take. Of course these things are always subjective so I don’t want to lose sight of that, but I would be interested to know how you personally judge defense from an eye test perspective. Rodman was obviously great that year but Hakeem was just the most valuable defensive player in the modern era even at that point in his career. The steals, blocks, and rebounds numbers still don’t do justice to what Hakeem did on defense. Not only did he lock down the paint which is the most valuable real estate on the court he guarded the perimeter exceptionally well for a interior defender and probably got more deflections than any player in the modern era. Teams couldn’t even make dump off passes or passes on the baseline to the opposite corner in the interior because Hakeem played the pass as well as the shot, which only a few interior defenders have mastered like Bill Russell and Anthony Davis. Not to mention he was probably the best post defender as well at the time and frankly ever to be honest. I just don’t see how you could think Rodman was better from an eye test perspective.

[@reimixo]

@@briansims7510 go Watch Rodman guard Magic, Jordan, Malone, barkley, shaq.....

[@dionysise5008]

Kids don't know how good Pippen was

[@alejanoelallen1952]

🏀

[@neboyshanicolich761]

They did some advanced metrics stats research and came to conclusion that Scottie Pippen should've won 4 straight DPOYs in the 90s. From 93-97.

[@hakeemolajuwon4352]

Well that's not true at all lol

[@SayWhoAskedIfYouLoveManMeat]

lol the Pippen propaganda I respect it

[@neboyshanicolich761]

DPOYs and MVPs don't go always to the best respectively...how do You explain that Tim Duncan and Scottie Pippen both don't have a DPOY into their resume? Best defenders on their position in history.

[@caddylover10]

90-91 Isiah was 29, Joe D was 27, Rodman was 29, Sally was 27. Labbeier was 33 but he played another 3 full yrs. And Vinnie was 34...he was the only one in the Twilight of his career. Just saying.

[@mickeylee2624]

Just goes to show how good Hakeem was because in any other era (or even half an era later), Admiral would have won DPOY 3-5 times!

[@reimixo]

Hakeem only won 2, it was not just him, it was a bunch of guys... Hakeem Robinson Rodman Payton Jordan pippen dikembe... All beasts

[@mickeylee2624]

I agree, @@reimixo. I meant to note that in the context of the greatest centers ever, Robinson is overshadowed by Olajuwon. However, it would be the case had other all-timers had their primes coincide with Dream, Admiral, Rodman, Mutombo, Zo, MJ, Glove, and Pippen.

[@reimixo]

@@mickeylee2624 honestly I believe that guys in the 90s and 70s get Lost in the mix, Willis Reed and havlicek, multiple rings, both won fmvp, Reed was All star MVP, MVP and fmvp in the same season, with All defensive first team... Hondo 11x All NBA 8x All defensive, 26k points... Then guys like Ewing, because he was behind hakeem shaq and Robinson, was the face of a franchise for a decade when they were making very deep runs alongside the Bulls and pacers, still made 7 All NBA teams going against All those dudes, and 3 All defensive going against guys like Robinson hakeem dikembe zo... Robinson gets Lost a bit because of hakeem and shaq, mostly hakeem... Drexler barely gets mentioned anymore as a top sg, people put MJ Kobe wade ai harden etc... Don't even consider him top 5... Dr J gets overlooked when talking about top 10... And sometimes people say bron KD bird scottie and then start thinkin about him.at SF when dude was a 2x fmvp and 4x mvp 2x All star MVP 12x All league, 16x All star 30k points(8th All time), 10k boards, 3x scoring champ, 2200+ steals(8th All time), 5k assists almost 2k blocks,(23rd All time)... People jump straight to curry...

[@mickeylee2624]

Excellent points,@@reimixo! Reed, Hondo, and Dr. J are definitely underrated. Dr. J is probably the #2 SF for me after Bird because of his 2-way excellence and all-around play which got overshadowed by a good bit of his prime being in the ABA. LePEDs and Durant, while gaudy in their stats, lack the true individual competitiveness to have thrived nearly as much in more competitive eras without the culture of player fraternizing/colluding. Ewing is a top-10 center of all-time, and like Robinson, would have been the top big man of his time had his prime taken place in Dwight's era or an easy 1A to Shaq during his Laker/Miami days. Drexler is probably just behind Kobe, whose Shaq-led Lakers were gifted 2 WCF (Blazers and Kings), aka the real titles back then. In context, Drexler is pretty close to Kobe and Wade, whose glorious Finals was also inflated by all of those FT's. Harden is even more egregious in terms of stat-padding during an age of offensive stats inflation and rewarding flopping (both of which LBJ also guilty).

[@reimixo]

@@mickeylee2624 don't go at bron, he was avg the same in the mid 2000s... people discret Aba for whatever dumb reason... Dwight was good, but he did not have competition yes, like I don't think as highly of shaq in his peak because he was going against who? Exactly lol oh he avg 35/15 in the finals, against who? 33yo smits, 34yo dikembe... And WTF was on the nets? Lol I have hakeem ahead of him because he Gave it to shaq Ewing Robinson and Rodman... Kareem is also a debate in that way for me because I believe hakeem moses shaq Robinson Wilt... Would All win those Lakers rings... Durant is One of the greatest scorers ever, but is he? Skill wise yes but could he do it with handchecking? Who knows... Let's appreciate his game... Kobe won 2 more without shaq...... I have dr J in my top 10, but top 12 All have cases imo... Jordan LeBron bird Magic Wilt kareem Russell Duncan hakeem Kobe shaq dr J curry that's 13 guys that All deserve to be top 10... Curry changed the game... Russell 11 rings, who gets Taken out? I have Kobe and shaq as One entry because half their legacy is together... Kareem and Magic played together but even without Magic kareem gets there or close being on top 5 lists of points blocks rebounds, having 6mvps... And Magic gets there too... That's not in order except for Jordan and LeBron

[@c99kfm]

Since you're putting availability as a high priority, let's just check defensive win-shares straight: 89/90: Hakeem Olajuwon, with David Robinson as runner-up. 90/91: David Robinson, with Hakeem Olajuwon as runner-up. 91/92: Dennis Rodman, with Patrick Ewing and David Robinson tied for second. (0.1 margin between winner and runner-ups) 92/93: Patrick Ewing, with Hakeem Olajuwon second, 0.1 points behind. 93/94: Patrick Ewing, with Hakeem Olajuwon second, 0.1 points behind, again. 94/95: David Robinson and Scottie Pippen tied for first. 95/96: David Robinson, with Michael Jordan as runner-up. 96/97: Patrick Ewing, with Dikembe Mutombo as runner-up. 97/98: Tim Duncan, with David Robinson as runner-up. 98/99: Tim Duncan, with David Robinson as runner-up. If, on the other hand, we ignore availability, and just look at defensive impact while available, there is the defensive box lus/minus advanced stat, which yields: 89/90: Hakeem Olajuwon, with John Salley as runner-up. 90/91: Hakeem Olajuwon, with Manute Bol as runner-up. 91/92: David Robinson, with Hakeem Olajuwon as runner-up. 92/93: Nate McMillan, with Hakeem Olajuwon and Doc Rivers tied for second. 93/94: Nate McMillan, with Oliver Miller as runner-up. 94/95: Nate McMillan, with David Robinson as runner-up. 95/96: David Robinson, with Arvydas Sabonis as runner-up. 96/97: Grant Hill and Arvydas Sabonis tied for first. 97/98: Charlie Ward, with Brevin Knight as runner-up. 98/99: David Robinson, with Charlie Ward as runner-up. There are some interesting new names on both lists - Patrick Ewing and Nate McMillan both deserve a mention, in particular, as they top these lists three times each. Tim Duncan pops up twice in defensive win-shares in '98 and '99, beating the other Twin Tower, David Robinson, who tops the defensive box plus/minus in '99.

[@RetroKid]

Being second or third in the 90s would have easily netted you the DPOy in the 2010s. It just goes to show how competitive the era was in terms of defense, and how over-inflated offense is in the modern NBA

[@hakeemolajuwon4352]

In the 90's, multiple players recorded 200-300 steals and multiple players recorded 300-376 blocks every season. There hasn't been a player record 200+ steals since 2009 or a player record 300+ blocks since 2003!

[@ididntaskverified3663]

The game is more spaced out, ofc there won't be as many blocks or steals

[@hakeemolajuwon4352]

@@ididntaskverified3663 the only reason the game is allowed to be spaced out now is because there's no great defenders that forced teams into playing half court basketball or to slow the game down

[@dododump3144]

@@hakeemolajuwon4352no it’s because offensive schemes, players individual skill sets and shooting have all improved from 30 years ago.

[@fatboy5926]

I think DPOY is a real tough 1. There’s always multiple defenders who are amazing and worthy and how do we compare a centre to a guard or to a guy like Rodman? It’s tough

[@cratwinterz200]

No views? Lemme fix that.

[@kennethanderson9623]

Do you have one for the 80s?

[@politicallynotcorrect]

For me the greatest Defensive player of all time is Scottie pippen ( I’m a die hard Knick fan) I think it’s crazy he never got the award not even one time …… you guys don’t understand how crazy it was watching the bulls play defense with Mike & scottie and then when they got Rodman it was light outs

[@zanmartincic866]

Do the 2010's

[@jadentesai]

2010s immediately please

[@mariobautista8294]

someone steal this and make his article ive read this in FB

[@megagalvatron281]

Hakeem Olajuwon is the greatest defensive player ever

[@keithjoseph128]

Dwight Howard and Rudy Gobert would have exactly zero combined.

[@dvon1097]

Are you doing the 2010s?

[@jonnyarnett]

Yep, thats next

[@dvon1097]

​@@jonnyarnettsweet can't wait!

[@darren49]

To say Rodman deserved 92 DPOY over Robinson just cos he played more games is so dmb. Robinson destroyed in him every defensive stat and analytic

[@rowan6585]

Dikembe is the God of defence

[@tommyj7322]

Jonny, it’s 2024, put out the videos in 1080 please and thank you!

[@ATroubledGreensLibrary]

🎉❤

[@matthewstanley2627]

I'm gonna see if they took Gary Payton award from him.

[@MasterKazur]

Who is Gary Pay-uhn?

[@aymanislam4831]

So mj was the third best defender in his team.. he only had to keep scoring

[@VaughnJogVlog]

Good list. But blocks are VERY overrated. They’re a stat that assumes a shot was going in. I’d take Rodman on the Bulls 95-96 through 97-98.

[@sribble1]

Or underrated. If they’re blocking 4.5 shots a game, that gets in players head. Shots are now being altered and missed at higher rates with the fear it could be blocked. That’s not even speaking to shots not even taken for worry of a block.

[@gugga2745]

as a knicks fan if u take away my tyson chandler dpoy ima piss and shit from crying so hard i stg

[@YuriyKhasidov-ee8zd]

Please stop looking at the voting results and be objective. In 1994 without a doubt should have been Ewing. He lead the league in both defensive ratings and defensive win shares. He even out defended Hakeem in the finals. You haven’t mentioned Ewing at all is mind blowing!

[@c99kfm]

Ewing has pretty good cases for a mention in '93 and '97, as well. Defensive Win-Shares puts him at the top for all three seasons. In '93 and '94 Hakeem is only 0.1 DWS behind, though, so even if '94 was Ewing's best season, his case for DPOY is clearer in '97, where he has a solid lead over Mutombo.

[@YuriyKhasidov-ee8zd]

1994 Ewing I think was clearly by all advanced metrics and taking the finals into consideration Ewing was without a doubt the best defender that year. I would also give him 1997 DPOY as well. This video doesn’t even mention Ewing is mind blowing. He’s not doing a good job at these videos!

[@bovedli]

You pronounce Payton as Payyen

[@aidangibbons4131]

I'd just have Hakeem, Robinson, or Mutumbo every year, super boring answers lol

[@ratede4every1tm42]

Anthony Davis is the most versatile and the best defensive player of all time so far

[@danielc4640]

2010's?

[@adamkanizsai2990]

But at least in the 90's those got the awards who deserved more or less. On the other hand, todays DPOY title is a joke. Get the best winning percentage team in the league and give the DPOY to the tallest player. That's all for years. Chandler, Noah, Gasol, Giannis, Gobert as best defensive players in the league? They were all cooked at some point in those years, and they weren't great individual defenders.I was so happy when Smart and earlier Kawhi got the trophy, they totally deserved it.

[@capo4rm118]

Technically Hakeem not in the top block season Kareem Abdul-Jabbar average more then five six times not even saying wilt and Russell 8 or better there whole career damn near

[@haroldrichardmodiya3701]

Hakeem is clearly among the best for sure. But Rodman, Russell, MUTOMBO, l believe were not below him. Sure Hakeem was top 5.

[@AquariusLeviathanProphecy]

Ewing is the DOY

[@ZackieDookie]

Re-upload?

[@jonnyarnett]

Uuuuh no. Lol. This is a brand new series that people have been asking for, for a couple years. I did do the 2000s like a week or 2 ago though

[@ZackieDookie]

@@jonnyarnett I must be a time traveler Because I swear I saw this video like 2 days ago 😭

[@luwop7]

do 2010s because 2013 was a robbery

[@dylanryan8241]

"Centers win it too often. (Next sentence) Hakeem should have won it over Rodma"

[@jonnyarnett]

True, but regardless, more Centers lost the award this decade than gained.

[@rollandcurtis874]

I agree that Hakeem Olajuwon was the best defender, considering what defense calls for, but Michael Jordan beat him for his own namesake award in 1988 where Michael Jordan received the most votes and Hakeem Olajuwon came in third place. And Scottie Pippen never won a single Defensive Player of the Year award.

[@x-man9473]

MJ led the league in steals. Recorded 200 steals and 100 blocks in the season. Led the league in defensive box plus minus. The Bulls had the best defense in the league. MJ deserved it in 1988.

[@hakeemolajuwon4352]

​@@x-man9473 nonsense, Olajuwon was the only player in NBA history to record 200+ steals and 200+ blocks in the same season that year and he was the only all defensive player on his team and still had his team top 5 on defense

[@x-man9473]

@@hakeemolajuwon4352 Which means what? MJ's defense was more impactful that season. That's why he won the DPOY. Hakeem came runner up. He didn't get screwed.

[@dododump3144]

@@x-man9473how exactly was MJs defense more impactful? Can you name why his actual ability to play defense was more valuable other than the fact that his *Team* was the best defense?

[@x-man9473]

@@dododump3144 I mean I literally named Defensive box plus minus, showing that he was more impactful to his team's defense than everyone in the NBA. I also named steals. Which he led the league in. While Hakeem didn't lead the league in any defensive stat. MJ and Hakeem were opposite sides of the coin. With MJ recording 200+ steals and 100+ blocks. While Hakeem recorded 100+ steals and 200+ blocks. But MJ racked up less personal fouls, meaning he was more proficient. Icing on top of the cake, MJ was carrying the Bulls scoring load. So, the fact that their defensive stats and analytics are even as close as it is, shows you how much MJ had to do on the defensive end that year.

[@ChucktheAnimator]

First