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Players who anchor their team's defense through rim protection, passing lane disruption, and defensive rebounding.
| # | Player | Score | BPG | SPG | Tier | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anthony Davis | Los Angeles Lakers | 84.7 | 2.3 | 1.2 | DPOY |
| 2 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | 69.7 | 1.7 | 1 | DPOY |
| 3 | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | 67.2 | 0.9 | 1.4 | DPOY |
| 4 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | 65.3 | 1.1 | 1.2 | DPOY |
| 5 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder | 59.5 | 0.9 | 2 | DPOY |
| 6 | Luka Doncic | Dallas Mavericks | 54.8 | 0.5 | 1.4 | DPOY |
| 7 | Kevin Durant | Phoenix Suns | 52.7 | 1.2 | 0.9 | DPOY |
| 8 | De'Aaron Fox | Sacramento Kings | 51.1 | 0.4 | 2 | DPOY |
| 9 | Donovan Mitchell | Cleveland Cavaliers | 49.3 | 0.4 | 1.8 | All-Defense |
| 10 | LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers | 49.2 | 0.5 | 1.3 | All-Defense |
| 11 | Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | 48.7 | 0.6 | 1 | All-Defense |
| 12 | Anthony Edwards | Minnesota Timberwolves | 45.1 | 0.5 | 1.3 | All-Defense |
| 13 | Jaylen Brown | Boston Celtics | 43.4 | 0.5 | 1.2 | All-Defense |
| 14 | Tyrese Haliburton | Indiana Pacers | 42.7 | 0.7 | 1.2 | All-Defense |
| 15 | Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns | 36.4 | 0.3 | 1 | Strong |
| 16 | Damian Lillard | Milwaukee Bucks | 36.1 | 0.3 | 1 | Strong |
| 17 | Ja Morant | Memphis Grizzlies | 35.4 | 0.3 | 0.8 | Strong |
| 18 | Trae Young | Atlanta Hawks | 33.9 | 0.1 | 1.3 | Strong |
| 19 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | 33 | 0.4 | 0.7 | Strong |
| 20 | Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks | 31.4 | 0.2 | 0.9 | Strong |
Download defensive anchor rankings.
A defensive anchor is more than just a shot blocker — they are the foundation of an entire defensive system. Players like Anthony Davis combine rim protection, perimeter switching, and defensive rebounding to elevate every teammate around them. The best anchors alter opponents' shot selection simply by being on the court.
Our composite weighs blocks (35%), steals (30%), defensive rebounding (25%), and minutes (10%) to identify players who contribute across all defensive categories. For pure rim protection rankings, see our dedicated page.
A defensive anchor is a player who serves as the foundation of their team's defense. They typically protect the rim, communicate defensive assignments, and make their teammates better defenders through positioning and help defense.
While traditional anchors are big men, guards like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and De'Aaron Fox with elite steal rates can anchor perimeter defense. The modern NBA values switchable defenders at every position.
Advanced analytics show that elite defense is roughly equal in value to elite offense for winning games. However, defense is harder to sustain in the playoffs when offenses get more creative.