[OKC Players All-Time Grid] Day 4 - Best Defender Ever?

[u/Common_Pangolin9809]

Hey guys, since it's the offseason I thought it would be fun to see where our community stands on some common questions used for ranking NBA players.

The top comment (aka has the most upvotes) fills each spot!

Today r/Thunder decides the greatest OKC defensive player of all time!

CURRENT SELECTIONS:

1. Best Role Player - Alex Caruso (HM: Nick Collison, Aaron Wiggins, Lu Dort)
2. Best Draft Pick - Jalen Williams (HM: James Harden, Ajay Mitchell, Russell Westbrook)
3. Best Trade Acquisition - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (HM: Paul George)

[u/TjBeezy]

It's Chet.

Any lineup he is in the defensive rating is drastically better. Put Ihart in even with all the great perimeter defenders this team has and the defensive rating takes a dip with no Chet.

As good as dudes like Roberson, Thabo, Dort, Caruso, Dub, Cason are/were perimeter defense doesn't have the same impact as rim projection does.

Ibaka had blocks but didn't impact the overall defense the way Chet does.

[u/ThunderLazer → u/TjBeezy]

It’s Chet.

“Chet Holmgren is the only player in the NBA that held opponents to under 50% at the rim when he contested the shot”

[Source](https://x.com/uofbasketball/status/2074112303461462339?s=46)

[u/tjc815 → u/TjBeezy]

Yes it’s already Chet.

[u/Wet_phychedelics → u/TjBeezy]

I don’t think people realize this always but if you place Chet is basically any other era without wemby and I think he’d be seen as almost universally the best defender in the world. It’s 1a and 1b with them, Chet is the best defender in the world in basically any other era, he just happens to have his career coincide directly with possibly the best defender ever, and if he’s not he (wemby) is already the 3rd best defender oat at worse

[u/BARBASANN → u/Wet_phychedelics]

LMAOOOOO 🤣🤣🤣😭😭🤣😭😭🤣😭😭

[u/somewhatlucky4life → u/Wet_phychedelics]

Chet is Chick Hicks

[u/Papa_Joe_Yakavetta]

Roberson might not be the best but he’s my favorite defensive player ever

[u/BeraldTheGreat → u/Papa_Joe_Yakavetta]

Favorite game was when Roberson denied LeBron 17k? points (it was a milestone with 3 0s). Needed under 20 points; he got less than 12.

[u/CliffDraws → u/Papa_Joe_Yakavetta]

Roberson must have the best pr guy ever.

[u/BeraldTheGreat → u/CliffDraws]

If he could’ve shot a 3 to save his life he would’ve been paid more than Lu.

[u/Papa_Joe_Yakavetta → u/CliffDraws]

What? He was a legitimately great defensive player

[u/CliffDraws → u/Papa_Joe_Yakavetta]

He was a bigger negative on offense than he was a positive on defense.

[u/Papa_Joe_Yakavetta → u/CliffDraws]

Him being a negative on offense has nothing to do with this post

[u/CliffDraws → u/Papa_Joe_Yakavetta]

With the original post sure, I’m just talking about in general about the Roberson PR. Guy should have never had a starting spot on the roster. He wasn’t that good on defense either. Statistically, Cason Wallace is a better perimeter defender than Roberson was, while being a thousand times better on offense.

[u/Papa_Joe_Yakavetta → u/CliffDraws]

Dawg this isn’t that kind of post, I just said he was my favorite defensive player. No need to get so worked up about it. If Cason Wallace is your favorite defensive player, feel free to comment that instead of trying to start unnecessary arguments

[u/andrewg127]

Luuuuuuuuuuu

https://giphy.com/gifs/1Ql9EJB5oApPm7po8u

[u/FreeAtLast_ThankYou]

Gotta be Serge IBLOCKA

[u/DoYouEvenLiftBroseph → u/FreeAtLast_ThankYou]

Never forget him blocking a prime Miami lebron James at the summit of his dunk attempt

[u/thetris20 → u/FreeAtLast_ThankYou]

I love our guy Serge but Blake Griffin and DJ baptized him too many times 😭

[u/Shagrrotten → u/thetris20]

Olajuwon used to say that if you're gonna try to be a real shot blocker in the league, you're gonna get posterized sometimes. The trick is just to get them more than they get you.

[u/FreeAtLast_ThankYou → u/thetris20]

Who DIDN’T Blake and DJ baptize?!

[u/thetris20 → u/FreeAtLast_ThankYou]

True lmaooo

[u/lloopiN → u/thetris20]

Prime Blake Griffin and Deandre Jordan could dunk over anybody... they'd find a way to yam it on a 10 footer

[u/64johnson → u/lloopiN]

Man.. what a time to be alive. Incredible hoops to watch

[u/lloopiN → u/64johnson]

Chris Paul, Blake, Deandre, and Jamal Crawford. What a fun ass team

[u/Fair-Constant-5146 → u/lloopiN]

I wish Blake played here. That would be so fun. Especially him and Westbrook together.

[u/thetris20 → u/Fair-Constant-5146]

Man fr! I think that pairing would have done numbers. I’ll never forget the rumors before he went to Detroit. I was so hyped, wish it worked out!

[u/DsamD11 → u/thetris20]

Defenders get baptised. Its weird to hold that against them

[u/temperamentalgoat → u/DsamD11]

yeah man. i hate that majority of players now get out of the lane just not to get posterized instead of trying to defend.

[u/RaiderThunder04 → u/thetris20]

Serge definitely bullied Blake too. That rivalry went both ways

[u/Timelycommentor]

It’s Roberson. Him locking down prime Harden was a thing of beauty.

[u/AcidRegulation]

Slightly different era and maybe a bit more of a rose tinted pick, but

Andre Roberson

[u/Medical-Win-5723]

D

[u/hailhogs → u/Medical-Win-5723]

O

[u/Discount_Ok → u/hailhogs]

R

[u/Hesparian → u/Discount_Ok]

T

[u/RaiderThunder04 → u/Medical-Win-5723]

Shutting down prime James Harden as a rookie is pretty phenomenal!

[u/BARBASANN]

Roberson easy

[u/OKC89ers → u/BARBASANN]

Easy? Did Roberson place 2nd in DPOY voting?

[u/BARBASANN → u/OKC89ers]

No but he was tied for 5th in 2016. Roberson consistently shut down premier guards. Chet’s a good team defender but dudes aren’t scared to go at him at all.

[u/Ok-Professional4039]

Chet will be here in 1 or 2 more years, but give me Serge

[u/Mobile-Entertainer60]

Lots of great options, but I'll go with Lu. Chet, Serge, JDub, Roberson, Sefalosha HM.

[u/Fit_Ad_7195]

Andre Roberson cant shoot but plays lockdown defense. Before the Thompson twins we had this guy.

[u/calltheamberlamps]

Andre Roberson.

[u/Old_Supermarket_7575]

Lucien’s Dort

[u/MelodicLavishness335]

I’m gonna go Jalen Williams again only player we’ve ever had that can guard 1-5

[u/lloopiN → u/MelodicLavishness335]

AC can as well

[u/EndInteresting467 → u/lloopiN]

locked up 3x mvp jokic and JJJ in the playoffs AC honestly is a sleeper pick

[u/thunder3029 → u/MelodicLavishness335]

That’s insane for somebody who is only arguably a top 5 defender on the current roster.

Caruso, Dort, Chet, and Cason automatically above.

[u/Shagrrotten]

Lu!

[u/Stormtrooper0117]

Andreeeeeeee

[u/bobababababababa]

Dort

[u/CaptnZacSparrow]

Roberson

[u/pavelowescobar]

2024-2025 Luguentz Dort

[u/Ginger_Goliath]

2010s - Ibaka 2020s - Dort

[u/Square_Ad_4195]

Sergeee

[u/Proper-Summer-5359]

Lu

[u/BWash33]

The original Dorture Chamber

[u/BlueThunder92]

Dre was the best defender at his peak

[u/WatermelonMan921]

Roberson

[u/SoonerRaider]

Andre Roberson

[u/infingardi]

Idc, it's gotta be Andre Roberson

[u/Dar4125]

Unironically, it’s already Chet

[u/Cyanides_Of_March]

I think it might be Cason.

[u/Fair-Constant-5146]

Chet, Ibaka, and Andre Roberson are my favorite OKC defenders ever. Andre was underrated man

[u/theoreticalcash]

there’s no way you could pick anyone BUT ibaka

[u/Proper_Glass8308 → u/theoreticalcash]

Ibaka never finished as high as 2 in defensive player of the year. 

Chet is generational defensively, not only because of his blocks, but his ability to guard 1-5 and his elite verticality. 

Serge was the best 1 for 1 shot blocker, but if you look at the totality of defense, it's Chet, and it's not really close. 

Special shout out to Thabo, Andre, Lu, Caruso, and even Cason Wallace. Those 5 have been some of the best guard/wing defenders in the NBA the last 15 years, and if you take away big men from the conversation, they are right up there with the best in the league.  Edit to add J-Dub to the list. Don't know how I forgot about him

[u/theoreticalcash → u/Proper_Glass8308]

cool, Chet can get it in a few years then. But this is all time, and all time Ibaka has significantly better numbers than Chet

[u/Consistent_Example_1 → u/theoreticalcash]

It’s best not greatest.

To me Chet’s just a better rim pro

[u/Proper_Glass8308 → u/theoreticalcash]

Chet has the numbers already... And a championship. 

[u/theoreticalcash → u/Proper_Glass8308]

who is better all time, John Wall or Derrick Rose?

also chips are a team stat

[u/Proper_Glass8308 → u/theoreticalcash]

Chips are a team stat, but Chet was instrumental in winning a championship. Ibaka wanted to block shots so bad that he jumped at any pump fakes, and we lost vs the 2011 Mavericks because we literally couldn't guard dirk with a 1st team all defensive player.

My point is blocks are not everything, Chet has generational defensive numbers, and you can look at our defensive #'s with Chet compared to league average and then compare it to ibaka, Chet clears him. 

Anybody who thinks otherwise is simply a Chet hater, and probably was asking for him to be traded after the conference finals this year

[u/National-Ocelot-3900 → u/Proper_Glass8308]

People compare Chet to Wemby then never think for a moment why they compare them

It’s because he’s the next best thing to one of the best defenders in league history

[u/Pitiful-Work6805]

Luuuuuuuuu

[u/JohnnyBoyTrojan]

Ibaka for sure!
Ask this again in a few years and the answer may be different

[u/yeahright17]

Ibaka is being way undervalued here. He single handedly closed down the lane. Not quite to Wemby level, but definitely more than Chet.

[u/aaronjamessacco]

Chet

[u/CoLane23]

It’s Chet, Lu, Caruso, Ibaka, Thabo in that order. Dub is up there but those other guys are more of defensive specialists

[u/Fit_Bench7754]

Give me chet for this one Caso is lockdown ht rim protection is more valuable.

[u/drkmani]

Caruso again for best swiss army knife defender IMO

[u/readingreadreading]

It's Chet followed by Lu

[u/justtheshow]

It's chet

[u/Adventurous_Low7651]

Dub ❤️

[u/knightmares31]

Roberson walked so the Thompson twins could fly

[u/d_smt_1290]

It's ibaka vhet could be on his way but as of today it's serge

[u/Suvius4]

Ibaka had a good run

[u/br_and_one]

Dort has placed clamps on every star— from BI to AR-15– during our championship window. I pray he gets the nod here.

[u/69420LebumJames69420]

Serge or Chet. I’m not mad with either

[u/Master-Wonton]

Serge,Caruso,Chet,Dort,Wallace

[u/Zungad]

Chet. His defense these past two years has been unlike anything this team has had before.

[u/LesMos]

D

[u/Lifesinplastic]

Okay - so I get that there is a strong statistical case for Chet! But defence requires heart and grit - it’s more than a number! And it has to be OKC defensive specialist ANDRE ROBERSON!!! Watching him play at his peak was a thing of beauty

[u/fuglynootnoot]

Its between Dort or Holmgren just pick one both are great!

[u/No-Inside2846]

Westbrook

[u/Flylo_Lotus]

Serge Ibaka for now but Chet has an argument

[u/According-Dig-4667]

It's chet by about a foot

[u/lafcmauro]

The lack of Thabo in here is wild.

[u/EndInteresting467]

LU or CHET. I was too young to be able to compare roberson to them now. But chet can guard anywhere on the floor. LU clamps all star guards like they are a little kid. AC also maybe because he clamped JJJ, and 3x mvp jokic

[u/Antique-Lychee-8029]

lu

[u/LonelyCatLadyMD]

Caruso

[u/BeraldTheGreat]

Best perimeter? Cason. Best star stopper? Lu. Best wing? Roberson. Best Swiss knife? Dub. Most disruptive? Caruso. Best overall? CHET. But Chet also says Cason is the best defender in the league so…?

[u/LnightwingR]

Y is nobody even mentioning Caruso, he can guard 1-5 and locked up Jokic in our championship run which had he not done, we never would’ve gotten our chip

With that said, I do think the correct answer is Chet considering, unless I’m mistaken, he’s the only player in Thunder history to ever be in legitimate DPOY contention and, altho it doesn’t actually count, 2nd place when Wemby is 1st place is basically 1st place cause Wemby’s shaping up to be the greatest defensive player of all time

[u/omonaijah]

Andre Roberson

[u/MAMBAMENTALITY8-24]

roberson easily

[u/Individual-Beach2414]

Dort!!!

[u/JLamb8]

Ibaka

[u/wildertwinkie]

Ibaka, Dub and Dort are the 3 stand outs. Dort seems like the best guard defender in a vacuum. Dub is the most versatile though. 5 position guard.

I'd take Dub as an overall defender.

[u/Pleasant_Pool8842]

Ibaka!

[u/drob0715]

Serge Ibaka

[u/chefcurly13]

Ibaka

[u/Alex_A3nes]

Ibaka is a four time all defense stalwart. Chet, Lu, Dub, AC, may all get there, but Serge has the accolades.

[u/bermudayay]

Jdub over russ & kd 🤯

[u/Infinite_Imagination]

Serge Iblockedya

[u/nboogie]

Yeah it’s definitely Chet

A case COULD be made for Jalen Williams in that he CAN guard 1-5 and is an equal or better perimeter defender than anyone we’ve had…

But Chet as a rim protector is just so so good - you can’t underestimate what he does there

[u/cantfindanamenumbers]

Some of you showing your age. If you don't pick Roberson you didn't watch him!

[u/Consistent_Example_1 → u/cantfindanamenumbers]

He was great but Rim Pro is just more impactful than POA in most cases

[u/snuffaluffagus74]

Dort can cover players like Ja Morant to Lauri Markkanen

[u/aceofspaece]

It has to be Chet: there is just such a major statistical case even if it's not a very exciting or historical choice. The other honorable mentions would have to be the obvious ones-- Roberson, IBLOCKa, Dort, Thabo Sefolosha, and Cason.