OrlandoMagic.com's Josh Cohen ranks his best defenders so far in the 2019-20 season. Click through this slideshow for full analysis and rankings.
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#10 Kawhi Leonard
It just wouldn’t make sense to create a list of the top 10 defenders and not include Leonard, a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. The reigning Finals MVP has the Clippers’ best defensive rating at 101.5, and he ranks sixth in the league in steals per game and eighth in both deflections and defensive loose balls recovered. He also had one of this season’s most memorable defensive plays – a game-sealing block on Kemba Walker as the Celtics All-Star guard was attempting a 3-pointer right before time expired in L.A.’s win over Boston.
Other players deserving a mention on this list include the L.A. Lakers’ LeBron James, Boston’s Marcus Smart, OKC’s Chris Paul, Orlando’s Aaron Gordon, Indiana’s Myles Turner, Portland’s Hassan Whiteside, Chicago’s Kris Dunn, Milwaukee’s Eric Bledsoe, Toronto’s Pascal Siakam, New Orleans’ Jrue Holiday and Leonard's teammates in L.A., Paul George and Patrick Beverley.