NBA & ABA Year-by-Year Top 10 Playoff Leaders and Records for Defensive Rating
Active players are listed in bold
* Indicates member of the Hall of Fame.
Defensive Rating since 1973-74
| Year | Lg | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | NBA | A. Davis (101.98) | I. Hartenstein (104.35) | O. Toppin (105.90) | M. Robinson (106.39) | E. Mobley (107.17) | K. Looney (107.38) | N. Jokić (107.81) | D. Mitchell (108.01) | J. Hart (108.31) | K. Love (108.46) |
| 2022 | NBA | G. Antetokounmpo (99.21) | B. Portis (101.15) | R. Williams (102.02) | B. Lopez (102.13) | J. Holiday (102.33) | J. Butler (104.41) | A. Horford (104.45) | J. Jackson (104.47) | K. Anderson (105.03) | G. Allen (105.11) |
| 2021 | NBA | J. Embiid (104.41) | G. Antetokounmpo (104.76) | K. Durant (105.30) | M. Thybulle (105.33) | B. Portis (106.16) | B. Lopez (106.61) | O. Okongwu (106.75) | D. Ayton (106.81) | J. Harden (107.50) | B. Simmons (107.69) |
| 2020 | NBA | S. Ibaka (101.43) | R. Covington (101.76) | K. Lowry (102.66) | M. Gasol (103.49) | G. Antetokounmpo (104.30) | O. Anunoby (104.47) | J. Tatum (104.49) | F. VanVleet (104.79) | P. Siakam (105.06) | D. Theis (105.57) |
| 2019 | NBA | G. Antetokounmpo (96.91) | J. Embiid (100.44) | P. Connaughton (100.61) | E. İlyasova (101.40) | S. Ibaka (101.71) | B. Lopez (101.81) | J. Tatum (101.88) | S. Brown (102.37) | K. Leonard (102.66) | T. Rozier (102.67) |
| 2018 | NBA | V. Oladipo (98.75) | D. Green (98.82) | J. Bell (100.72) | A. Davis (101.07) | D. West (101.52) | J. Embiid (101.70) | T. Young (101.89) | J. McGee (101.97) | A. Iguodala (102.27) | C. Capela (102.47) |
| 2017 | NBA | G. Antetokounmpo (98.50) | D. Green (100.39) | D. Howard (101.96) | C. Capela (102.35) | D. West (103.45) | K. Middleton (103.69) | P. Millsap (104.26) | Z. Pachulia (104.75) | R. Gobert (104.87) | S. Curry (105.03) |
| 2016 | NBA | H. Whiteside (92.21) | D. Jordan (92.69) | K. Leonard (95.94) | D. Green (97.38) | A. Bogut (98.79) | J. Crowder (98.81) | M. Smart (99.43) | E. Turner (100.24) | L. James (100.34) | P. George (100.50) |
| 2015 | NBA | A. Bogut (94.34) | D. Green (95.92) | P. Gasol* (96.51) | T. Allen (97.27) | J. Noah (97.90) | D. Gooden (98.91) | L. James (99.23) | F. Ezeli (99.43) | N. Mirotić (99.53) | J. Butler (100.11) |
| 2014 | NBA | P. Millsap (97.74) | T. Ariza (99.14) | N. Hilário (100.48) | M. Gortat (100.62) | D. Green (100.88) | K. Leonard (100.89) | J. Wall (101.21) | P. George (101.49) | B. Beal (102.05) | M. Ginóbili* (102.56) |
| 2013 | NBA | K. Garnett* (90.30) | K. Martin (94.23) | J. Kidd* (96.54) | I. Shumpert (97.39) | T. Duncan* (97.70) | T. Chandler (98.06) | K. Leonard (98.28) | P. Prigioni (98.45) | R. Evans (98.58) | A. Bradley (98.68) |
| 2012 | NBA | J. Smith (93.20) | L. Allen (94.53) | R. Hibbert (94.77) | K. Garnett* (94.80) | C. Boozer (95.27) | L. Deng (95.99) | E. Brand (96.81) | S. Hawes (97.45) | E. Turner (97.61) | J. McGee (97.67) |
| 2011 | NBA | D. Howard (95.73) | K. Garnett* (96.26) | J. Noah (97.00) | T. Gibson (98.87) | J. Nelson (99.76) | C. Boozer (99.90) | R. Brewer (100.29) | J. Smith (100.42) | H. Türkoğlu (101.31) | L. James (101.57) |
| 2010 | NBA | D. Howard (92.98) | T. Allen (99.03) | K. Garnett* (99.37) | K. Perkins (99.72) | R. Wallace (100.32) | G. Davis (100.38) | M. Barnes (100.50) | M. Gortat (100.79) | R. Lewis (101.00) | R. Rondo (102.22) |
| 2009 | NBA | D. Howard (98.35) | L. James (99.62) | M. Gortat (99.74) | C. Hayes (99.75) | A. Varejão (100.13) | J. Smith (100.55) | L. Odom (101.48) | Z. Ilgauskas (101.53) | P. Gasol* (101.54) | M. Chalmers (101.88) |
| 2008 | NBA | T. Duncan* (98.51) | L. James (98.65) | S. O'Neal* (98.76) | B. Wallace* (98.91) | K. Garnett* (99.16) | A. Varejão (99.59) | K. Perkins (100.72) | J. Posey (101.15) | Z. Ilgauskas (101.36) | J. Smith (101.45) |
| 2007 | NBA | J. Kidd* (94.63) | M. Camby (95.73) | A. Varejão (96.00) | A. McDyess (96.49) | R. Wallace (97.07) | A. Stoudemire (97.53) | B. Wallace* (97.67) | T. Duncan* (98.04) | L. James (98.63) | Z. Ilgauskas (98.92) |
| 2006 | NBA | A. Mourning* (95.13) | M. Camby (96.64) | B. Wallace* (98.97) | D. Wade* (99.59) | D. Diop (99.73) | S. O'Neal* (99.96) | A. McDyess (100.87) | J. Posey (101.46) | L. Hunter (101.82) | U. Haslem (102.14) |
| 2005 | NBA | B. Wallace* (93.48) | A. Mourning* (94.53) | A. McDyess (95.27) | R. Wallace (96.22) | P. Pierce* (97.42) | J. Foster (97.52) | L. Hunter (98.01) | R. LaFrentz (98.14) | J. O'Neal (98.70) | J. Tinsley (100.01) |
| 2004 | NBA | B. Wallace* (83.91) | K. Martin (89.27) | L. Hunter (90.06) | A. Harrington (90.73) | J. Foster (90.88) | R. Wallace (91.30) | M. Okur (91.50) | J. O'Neal (92.15) | R. Rogers (92.30) | T. Prince (92.31) |
| 2003 | NBA | B. Wallace* (90.51) | T. Duncan* (92.25) | D. Robinson* (93.79) | A. Stoudemire (93.87) | S. Marion (94.61) | K. Martin (95.35) | A. Hardaway (96.51) | M. Ginóbili* (96.97) | A. Williams (97.41) | S. Claxton (97.47) |
| 2002 | NBA | B. Wallace* (86.41) | M. World Peace (91.59) | T. Duncan* (94.48) | T. Battie (95.45) | J. O'Neal (95.67) | P. Pierce* (96.53) | C. Robinson (96.56) | B. Miller (97.00) | C. Williamson (97.08) | R. Rogers (97.46) |
| 2001 | NBA | D. Robinson* (92.42) | R. Horry (94.87) | T. Duncan* (95.64) | S. O'Neal* (96.04) | V. Divac* (97.07) | K. Garnett* (97.61) | R. Fox (97.78) | H. Grant (98.20) | B. Shaw (98.83) | B. Davis (98.86) |
| 2000 | NBA | D. Robinson* (84.01) | A. Mourning* (91.28) | D. Majerle (91.47) | P. Brown (94.06) | A. Carter (94.52) | P. Ewing* (94.56) | B. Bowen (94.72) | C. Weatherspoon (95.47) | M. Camby (96.39) | C. Blount (96.45) |
| 1999 | NBA | D. Robinson* (87.33) | M. Camby (89.51) | T. Duncan* (92.30) | P. Ewing* (94.50) | C. Dudley (94.55) | K. Thomas (94.56) | M. Rose (94.86) | J. Kersey (94.92) | A. Sabonis* (95.44) | D. Mutombo* (96.04) |
| 1998 | NBA | D. Robinson* (93.42) | G. Ostertag (94.56) | H. Olajuwon* (96.30) | K. Malone* (96.39) | S. Burrell (97.16) | W. Perdue (97.36) | K. Willis (98.65) | S. Pippen* (98.92) | C. Morris (99.73) | T. Duncan* (99.80) |
| 1997 | NBA | A. Mourning* (94.64) | C. Oakley (96.92) | P. Brown (97.01) | I. Austin (98.09) | B. Dele (98.57) | C. Ward (98.59) | D. Majerle (99.22) | C. Childs (99.68) | P. Ewing* (99.79) | R. Harper (99.99) |
| 1996 | NBA | S. Pippen* (96.07) | K. Malone* (96.58) | D. Rodman* (96.70) | P. Ewing* (97.50) | G. Ostertag (97.58) | B. Russell (98.39) | C. Morris (98.64) | S. Kemp (98.90) | F. Spencer (99.16) | R. Harper (99.41) |
| 1995 | NBA | D. Robinson* (97.53) | P. Ewing* (97.91) | D. Rodman* (97.93) | C. Oakley (100.10) | C. Smith (100.94) | S. Kemp (101.29) | J. Reid (102.37) | D. Rivers (102.89) | A. Mourning* (103.60) | A. Mason (104.08) |
| 1994 | NBA | P. Ewing* (94.36) | A. Davis (96.81) | H. Olajuwon* (97.09) | D. Davis (97.45) | S. Kemp (97.84) | C. Oakley (98.13) | K. Willis (98.50) | D. Mutombo* (98.78) | D. McKey (99.03) | A. Lang (99.22) |
| 1993 | NBA | H. Olajuwon* (96.56) | R. Harper (97.62) | D. Coleman (100.28) | D. Robinson* (100.81) | D. Manning (102.16) | V. Divac* (102.70) | P. Ewing* (102.76) | N. McMillan (102.79) | R. Horry (102.79) | O. Miller (103.04) |
| 1992 | NBA | D. Rodman* (99.35) | P. Ewing* (99.73) | G. Anthony (101.41) | S. Williams (101.92) | S. Pippen* (102.39) | C. Oakley (102.46) | J. Starks (102.92) | W. Perdue (103.67) | H. Grant (104.00) | A. Mason (104.01) |
| 1991 | NBA | S. Pippen* (99.52) | M. Jordan* (100.59) | C. Levingston (102.19) | B. Armstrong (102.80) | K. Malone* (103.25) | W. Perdue (104.01) | D. Robinson* (105.28) | H. Grant (106.19) | V. Divac* (106.30) | C. Drexler* (106.38) |
| 1990 | NBA | B. Laimbeer (96.32) | I. Thomas* (100.05) | D. Robinson* (100.19) | D. Rodman* (100.96) | J. Salley (102.05) | M. Jordan* (102.05) | H. Olajuwon* (102.37) | M. Aguirre (102.99) | W. Cooper (103.21) | S. Pippen* (103.67) |
| 1989 | NBA | D. Rodman* (99.38) | H. Olajuwon* (99.70) | R. Mahorn (101.76) | J. Salley (101.91) | B. Laimbeer (102.15) | B. Daugherty (102.21) | T. Corbin (103.43) | M. West (104.32) | M. Jordan* (104.38) | I. Thomas* (104.49) |
| 1988 | NBA | B. Laimbeer (99.51) | I. Thomas* (99.97) | D. Rodman* (100.05) | J. Salley (100.41) | H. Olajuwon* (101.68) | R. Mahorn (102.52) | J. Edwards (103.54) | M. Jordan* (103.63) | C. Oakley (103.84) | H. Grant (103.97) |
| 1987 | NBA | H. Olajuwon* (102.24) | M. Eaton (103.86) | B. Laimbeer (103.99) | K. Malone* (104.04) | C. Person (104.12) | J. Stockton* (104.21) | D. Rodman* (104.43) | K. Rambis (104.80) | I. Thomas* (105.55) | R. Mahorn (106.31) |
| 1986 | NBA | B. Walton* (100.62) | H. Olajuwon* (100.98) | C. Barkley* (102.11) | L. Bird* (102.60) | R. Sampson* (103.02) | R. Parish* (104.08) | K. Rambis (104.64) | D. Ainge (104.79) | K. McHale* (105.22) | D. Johnson* (105.70) |
| 1985 | NBA | R. Sampson* (97.16) | H. Olajuwon* (97.44) | M. Eaton (99.51) | C. Barkley* (99.96) | L. Lloyd (101.20) | R. McCray (102.51) | M. Malone* (102.81) | J. Lucas (102.92) | R. Kelley (103.91) | K. Rambis (103.95) |
| 1984 | NBA | B. Williams (99.41) | M. Gminski (100.07) | M. Richardson (100.48) | P. Mokeski (101.09) | D. Cook (101.10) | P. Pressey (101.68) | A. Lister (102.21) | J. Sikma* (102.44) | M. Malone* (102.49) | L. Bird* (102.62) |
| 1983 | NBA | M. Malone* (95.76) | L. Bird* (97.03) | A. Lister (97.32) | P. Pressey (99.43) | B. Jones* (99.75) | R. Parish* (99.98) | J. Erving* (100.79) | B. Lanier* (100.84) | B. McAdoo* (101.27) | A. Gilmore* (102.10) |
| 1982 | NBA | L. Bird* (94.21) | R. Parish* (95.42) | J. Sikma* (98.08) | R. Mahorn (98.13) | C. Maxwell (98.58) | G. Ballard (99.12) | J. Donaldson (99.18) | K. McHale* (99.80) | S. Haywood* (102.47) | M. Johnson* (102.47) |
| 1981 | NBA | T. Robinson (94.51) | L. Bird* (94.91) | R. Parish* (95.71) | D. Johnson* (96.95) | S. Lacey (97.28) | A. Adams (98.19) | J. Cook (99.27) | W. Davis* (99.42) | R. King (101.77) | K. McHale* (102.16) |
| 1980 | NBA | L. Bird* (95.93) | R. Robey (97.80) | D. Cowens* (98.29) | C. Maxwell (98.62) | J. Erving* (98.79) | L. Shelton (99.29) | C. Jones (99.44) | K. Abdul-Jabbar* (99.44) | B. Lanier* (99.57) | Q. Buckner (99.62) |
| 1979 | NBA | G. Heard (90.53) | S. Lacey (95.60) | T. Robinson (95.99) | A. Adams (96.18) | A. Scott (96.96) | J. Kramer (97.04) | T. Rollins (97.29) | J. Sikma* (97.40) | W. Davis* (98.14) | E. Hayes* (98.68) |
| 1978 | NBA | C. Jones (93.56) | D. Dawkins (93.77) | E. Hayes* (95.83) | G. McGinnis* (96.20) | J. Erving* (97.24) | G. Ballard (97.25) | M. Lucas (97.91) | S. Mix (98.10) | W. Unseld* (98.57) | M. Johnson (98.83) |
| 1977 | NBA | B. Walton* (89.53) | B. Jones* (92.16) | K. Abdul-Jabbar* (93.07) | M. Lucas (93.93) | L. Neal (94.85) | S. Wicks (94.92) | D. Cowens* (95.02) | B. Gross (95.28) | D. Dawkins (95.65) | R. Parish* (95.98) |
| 1976 | NBA | E. Hayes* (88.11) | D. Cowens* (91.00) | N. Thurmond* (91.02) | P. Silas (91.90) | J. Brewer (92.73) | W. Unseld* (92.84) | J. Jones (93.16) | G. Heard (94.17) | G. Johnson (94.79) | C. Scott* (95.05) |
| 1976 | ABA | M. Gale (100.65) | A. Gilmore* (100.91) | B. Paultz (102.38) | M. Webster (102.44) | J. Erving* (102.69) | R. Jones (103.50) | K. Hughes (104.46) | A. Skinner (104.82) | L. Kenon (104.96) | C. Dietrick (105.08) |
| 1975 | NBA | G. Johnson (87.05) | N. Thurmond* (88.77) | S. Lacey (90.58) | J. Wilkes* (90.81) | C. Ray (90.88) | T. Boerwinkle (91.46) | W. Unseld* (91.74) | R. Barry* (91.93) | E. Hayes* (92.95) | D. Dickey (93.12) |
| 1975 | ABA | A. Gilmore* (95.43) | R. Thomas (96.33) | T. McClain (99.53) | M. Lucas (100.02) | G. McGinnis* (100.31) | W. Jones (100.33) | M. Barnes (100.57) | D. Issel* (100.64) | D. Adams (102.29) | L. Kenon (102.87) |
| 1974 | NBA | K. Abdul-Jabbar* (89.90) | D. Cowens* (90.05) | G. Heard (90.36) | P. Silas (90.62) | B. Lanier* (91.57) | C. Warner (91.63) | B. McAdoo* (92.46) | E. Hayes* (92.87) | D. Chaney (93.15) | D. Nelson* (93.93) |
| 1974 | ABA | W. Ladner (88.92) | M. Gale (93.82) | B. Paultz (94.74) | J. Erving* (94.80) | L. Kenon (94.82) | A. Gilmore* (95.23) | G. Govan (96.62) | W. Sojourner (96.82) | B. Taylor (96.92) | Z. Beaty* (98.15) |
We're Social...for Statheads
Every Sports Reference Social Media Account
Site Last Updated: Wednesday, April 24, 4:03AM
Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction?
Subscribe to our Free Email Newsletter
Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE
Your All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database
Do you have a sports website? Or write about sports? We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Find out more.