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#4 Giannis Antetokounmpo - Milwaukee Bucks
Like several other players on this list, Giannis Antetokounmpo's excellent defense has been largely overlooked due to his offensive input, although the 24-year-old is currently among the frontrunners to be named Defensive Player of the Year. While Antetokounmpo is a monster when it comes to grabbing defensive rebounds, the forward is also extremely difficult to score against in isolation due to his lateral quickness and size.
This is one of the most underrated aspects of his incredible defense, and the MVP has also improved his tendency to close down empty space on the perimeter. At 24, he will only get better, and his status as one of the NBA's best defensive wings could be secure for the next decade.
#3 Jimmy Butler - Miami Heat
Jimmy Butler has averaged a respectable 16.7 points per game throughout his career, although the 30-year-old owes his status as one of the NBA's best players to his elite defensive skillset. Butler has never been named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, although he has been named to the All-Defensive Second Team on four occasions, and Butler is still arguably the NBA's best one-on-one defender.
Butler excels when tasked with shutting down the opposition's best scorer, and some of his famous lockdown performances on LeBron James still live in the memory of many NBA fans. The veteran is also able to play both wing positions, and the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum won't be looking forward to meeting him in the playoffs.
