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The 2020-21 NBA season started less than a month ago, and despite the postponement of several matches, it has been a fun season with some shocking results. The style of play remains, as in recent years, with teams putting up lots of three-pointers and looking for fast-paced offenses. However, the defense continues to be arguably the main pillar to achieve NBA success.
10 Best defensive players so far in 2020-21 NBA season
In this article, we list the 10 best defensive players so far in the 2020-21 NBA season. The ranks are based on the Defensive Rating, which is the number of points allowed per 100 possessions. It works well to create an equal playing field to evaluate the defensive efforts of teams and players.
#10 Clint Capela (Atlanta Hawks) - NBA Defensive Rating: 103.2
Clint Capela has been the anchor of the Atlanta Hawks' defense to start the 2020-21 NBA season. The Swiss center made his debut with the Hawks when the season started, although he was traded to the team last season, on February 5th, 2020.
Capela's defensive efforts have been one of the key parts of the new-look Atlanta Hawks. His Defensive Rating of 103.2 points allowed per 100 possessions is the 10th best in the NBA so far, and he is likely to remain inside the Top 10 for the entire season.
Capela is averaging 10 points and 13 rebounds per game so far. He is also averaging one block per game on the defensive end, and his availability is great for the team. Capela also does a good job of remaining on the floor due to his ability to avoid foul trouble (1.8 fouls per game). His career Defensive Rating is at 105.
#9 Jarrett Allen (Brooklyn Nets) - NBA Defensive Rating: 103
Jarrett Allen has had some impressive outings for the Brooklyn Nets, and his length continues to help him protect the paint and keep players away from the rim.
He is averaging a Double-Double for the first time in his four-year career. The 22-year-old center is also averaging 1.5 blocks per game. Moreover, his Defensive Rating of 103 is the best of his career, though it is early, and is the ninth-best in the entire NBA. In Defensive Win Shares, Allen ranks 11th in the NBA.
#8 Jonas Valanciunas (Memphis Grizzlies) - NBA Defensive Rating: 102.7
Jonas Valanciunas is playing well for the Memphis Grizzlies and has been a bright spot on a team that has been hurt by injuries in this NBA season. Valanciunas' Defensive Rating of 102.7 is the eighth-best in the league so far.
He is averaging a steal and a block per game and ranks 14th in Defensive Win Shares in the 2020-21 NBA season.
#7 Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers) - NBA Defensive Rating: 101.9
The Philadelphia 76ers got off to a hot start to the NBA season and their new era with Doc Rivers looks promising. However, the team has suffered recently due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
Still, they should be considered a contender in the Eastern Conference, and Ben Simmons has been essential in that. His 101.9 Defensive Rating is the seventh-best in today's NBA and is tied for the best in his career. Simmons has been a good defender since he entered the league and he averages two steals and a block per game in his career.
Moreover, Ben Simmons ranks ninth in Defensive Win Shares in the 2020-21 NBA season and fifth in Defensive Box Plus/Minus.
#6 Anthony Davis (LA Lakers) - NBA Defensive Rating: 101.7
Anthony Davis is certainly one of the most complete players in today's NBA. His ability to be an elite scorer from every part of the floor and his versatility on defense at 6' 11'' is tremendous.
Davis, who finished second in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting last year, ranks sixth in Defensive Rating with 101.7 points allowed per 100 possessions.
He averages 2.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per game in his entire nine-year NBA career. Davis also ranks sixth in Defensive Win Shares in the 2020-21 NBA season, and 10th in Defensive Box Plus/Minus.
#5 Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz) - NBA Defensive Rating: 101.5
A two-time Defensive Player of the Year award winner, Rudy Gobert's name continues to appear on most lists of the best defenders in the current NBA. He ranks fifth in Defensive Rating in the 2020-21 NBA season with a 101.5 rating.
In his career, Gobert has a 100 Defensive Rating and has finished the season with less than 100 four times. His career-worst Defensive Rating was 104, which would rank a solid 18th in today's league.
#4 Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers) - NBA Defensive Rating: 101.3
Myles Turner is one of the best rim protectors in the NBA, and he is having a hot year on defense for the Indiana Pacers. Turner is fourth in Defensive Rating in the 2020-21 NBA season, and he deserves a high spot.
He is leading the league in blocks per game with four per night. Of course, it is early, but if he keeps that trend, four blocks a night would be the highest since 1996 when Dikembe Mutombo averaged 4.5 blocks per game.
#3 Larry Nance Jr. (Cleveland Cavaliers) - NBA Defensive Rating: 101.2
The Cleveland Cavaliers are leading the 2020-21 NBA season in Defensive Rating with just 103.8 points allowed per 100 possessions. Larry Nance Jr. has been great on that end of the floor for them.
Nance averages 11 points, five rebounds, four assists, 2.5 steals (highest in the league), and a block per game. On Defensive Rating, Nance is third in the NBA with 101.2 points allowed per 100 possessions.
He leads the NBA in Defensive Box Plus/Minus and steal percentage, and ranks second in Defensive Win Shares.
#2 Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers) - NBA Defensive Rating: 100.3
Doc Rivers' Philadelphia 76ers started the year firing on all cylinders, and as usual, under Doc's guidance, they were efficient on defense. Joel Embiid is the best player on the team, and his defensive efforts have been excellent.
Embiid ranks second in the NBA in Defensive Rating (100.3) and might be an MVP candidate if Philadelphia can recover from the COVID-19 issues and remain one of the Eastern Conference's top seeds.
Embiid is also fifth in Defensive Win Shares, 11th in Defensive Box Plus/Minus, and sixth in blocks per game.
#1 Andre Drummond (Cleveland Cavaliers) - NBA Defensive Rating: 94.3
Due to the Cleveland Cavaliers' great defensive efforts so far, Andre Drummond has been able to protect the paint efficiently in the 2020-21 NBA season. Drummond is leading the early stages of the NBA season in Defensive Rating with a 94.3 score.
Andre Drummond's 94.3 Defensive Rating would be the best in the NBA since the 2011-12 season, but it is still early to imagine he can keep up that trend for the entire season.
Still, Drummond also leads the NBA in Defensive Win Shares, and rebounds per game with 15.1.
