OrlandoMagic.com’s Josh Cohen ranks his top 10 defenders in the NBA this season through March 15, 2022. Click through this gallery for full rankings and analysis.

#10 Jarrett Allen

It’s extremely unusual for a team to go from ranking in the bottom five on defense to the top five in one season. But that’s what Cleveland is on the verge of accomplishing, largely because of their frontcourt tandem of Allen and Evan Mobley. Allen has the league’s best defensive field goal percentage (41.6 percent) among players who have guarded at least 800 shots. With Allen sidelined with a finger injury, Mobley will have to step up even more on the defensive end these next couple weeks.

Other players deserving a mention on this list are Patrick Beverley, Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, P.J. Tucker, Jrue Holiday, Dorian Finney-Smith, Wendell Carter Jr., Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid.

#9 Andrew Wiggins

Can an argument be made that Wiggins is the best on-ball defender in the league? He has made it awfully difficult for some of the NBA’s most electric scorers to get clean shots off. So far this season, per Second Spectrum tracking data, LeBron James has shot 7-of-20 from the field with Wiggins as the closest defender; Ja Morant 4-of-12; Luka Doncic 9-of-23; Donovan Mitchell 1-of-9; and Dejounte Murray 3-of-9.

#8 Robert Williams III

It might surprise you, but among all players who have guarded at least 700 shots so far this season, Williams has the best defensive field goal percentage. Opponents have shot just 40.3 percent overall with Boston’s 6-foot-9, 237-pounder as the nearest defender. He also ranks second in total blocks. Only Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. currently has more. The Celtics are giving up an average of 42.1 points in the paint, second fewest in the league behind the Heat.

#7 Mikal Bridges

If you get a chance, watch a replay of the game between the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors from Nov. 30. Bridges’ defense on Stephen Curry was unreal. Curry went 1-for-6 from the field with Phoenix’s 6-foot-6, 209-pounder as the closest defender that night, per Second Spectrum tracking data, and shot 4-for-21 overall. Another player that struggled against Bridges earlier this season was Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox, who shot 3-of-12 from the field with Bridges as the nearest defender in the first two meetings combined between the Kings and Suns.

#6 Matisse Thybulle

Come playoff time, Doc Rivers is going to have some tough late-game decisions to make. The Sixers are going to need Thybulle on the floor to defend the other team’s best scorer, but they are also going to need as many reliable 3-point shooters as possible spaced around James Harden and Joel Embiid. Thybulle, we all know, is an incredible defender known for deflecting passes and contesting jumpers. But for Philly to reach the Finals, he’s going to have to probably knock down a big shot or two from beyond the arc.

#5 Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Bucks rank third in opponent points in the paint, which is quite remarkable considering their normal starting center, Brook Lopez, just returned a couple games ago. Antetokounmpo has done a terrific job protecting the basket this season, while still using his long strides, quickness, and instincts to run out to the perimeter to deter ball handlers from attacking the paint. Milwaukee’s philosophy is to keep their opponents away from the basket and off the free throw line. Just like last season, they are totally fine giving up a ton of threes.

#4 Rudy Gobert

The Jazz’s defensive rating when Gobert is on the court is 104.4. When he’s off the floor, their defensive rating is 111.7. Similarly, when Gobert is in the action, opponents are shooting only 43.7 percent from the floor. When he’s out, they are shooting 46.7 percent. And this idea that he can’t guard the perimeter on a switch is preposterous. Sure, he’s best as a basket enforcer. But, as demonstrated guarding Luka Doncic on switches a few times in a game against Dallas earlier this season, the 7-foot-1, 245-pounder can hang with anyone using his supreme defensive tools. Utah ranking 10th in defense could weaken Gobert’s chances of winning the DPOY award for a fourth time.

#3 Marcus Smart

The Celtics are the best defensive team in the league. Since Christmas, their defensive rating is 104.1, three points lower than the Mavs, who are second in that category over this time. The rock of Boston’s tenacious defense continues to be Smart, who currently ranks fifth in the league in total steals, 11th in total deflections, 14th in charges drawn, and fifth in defensive loose balls recovered.

#2 Draymond Green

It should come as no surprise that Kevin Durant had his worst shooting performance so far this season against the Warriors with his former teammate, Green, guarding him much of the night. On Nov. 16, Durant made just six of his 19 shot attempts and went two for eight with Golden State’s versatile forward contesting, per Second Spectrum tracking data. Other elite scorers have struggled against Green as well. For instance, Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Paul George, Tyler Herro, and Buddy Hield have a combined 18 percent shooting percentage with the 32-year-old contesting. Green missing 31 straight games due to a disc/back injury will probably deny him from winning the DPOY award, however.

#1 Jaren Jackson Jr.

Opponents are shooting just 42 percent from the field when Jackson is the closest defender, second best among players who have defended at least 800 shots so far this season. With his blend of size, strength, lateral quickness, and instincts, the 6-foot-11, 242-pounder out of Michigan State has effectively guarded players with a variety of skillsets. Premier iso scorer DeMar DeRozan, for example, made just four of his 14 shot attempts this season with Jackson contesting, per Second Spectrum tracking data, while Pascal Siakam, great at driving to the basket, connected on only three of his 16 attempts.

Ranking NBA’s Top 10 Defenders in 2021‑22 Season