Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has established himself as one of the premier defensive players in the modern era. Considering that the title of a great defender is not handed out easily, Green shared his list of the five greatest defenders the NBA has ever seen on “The Draymond Show”.
After being asked by a fan to share his opinion along with the order, Green responded by saying, “What you should understand about me is I think I’m number one on that list. However, who I would regard as my top five defenders of all time, I’d definitely put myself in that list.”
He continued by naming the other great defenders, “Ben Wallace is on that list. In my opinion, Tony Allen is on that list. Tim Duncan is on that list.”
“Also understand, I am not including Wilt, I am not including Bill Russel. I didn’t see them play,” justified Green. “I have the utmost respect for the pioneers, but I’d be lying to you if I’m like, ‘Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain,’ like I’m just going off stats, and I don’t love when people do that. There’s an eye test, and I haven’t seen enough of their games to say that, so understand I’m not excluding them.”
The forward then added, “And my fifth would go to – Well, I actually did have the opportunity to see. Very young in my life, but there’s more film around him – Hakeem Olajuwon.”
“So my top five, in no particular order, myself, Tim Duncan, Ben Wallace, Hakeem, and Tony Allen.”
.@Money23Green names his Top 5 Defenders of All Time — and yes, he puts himself on the list 💯
🛡️ Dray
🛡️ Ben Wallace
🛡️ Tony Allen
🛡️ Tim Duncan
🛡️ Hakeem Olajuwon
"I'm not including Wilt, I'm not including Bill Russell. I didn't see them play. I have the utmost respect for the… pic.twitter.com/zmIqlK8LtU
— The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis (@DraymondShow) June 5, 2025
The league has seen a number of standout defensive players over the years. In this regard, Green’s list is also quite comprehensive.
Tim Duncan has widely been regarded as one of the most fundamentally sound defensive big men the game has ever seen. On the other end of the spectrum, Ben Wallace was a physically intimidating specimen, making use of his strength and athleticism to shut down the rim.
Hakeem Olajuwon was a class apart in this regard. Although undersized, he was immensely adept at using his athleticism to shut down angles. His success with the Houston Rockets yielded multiple championships, while also securing three block titles and 9x All-Defensive Team selections.
Tony Allen was the prime example of the modern defender. His toughness and physicality formed the identity of the Memphis Grizzlies‘ “grit and grind” persona. After enjoying title success with Boston, Allen joined the Grizzlies to form one of the toughest units in the league. With six All-Defensive Team selections, he was a legitimate defensive force.
At this point, Green mentioning himself comes as no shock. However, his support for himself is not misplaced. The Warriors’ forward has been a pivotal element in dictating success for Golden State through their title era. His defensive contributions were also recognized by the league, leading to him being named the DPOY in the 2016-17 season.
What is most impressive in this context is Green’s longevity. Having earned yet another All-Defensive Team selection, his ninth thus far, the 35-year-old also finished third in the DPOY race this season. In every sense, Green rightfully sees himself alongside the all-time great defenders in NBA history.
