In the high-flying world of the NBA today, the importance of defense is sometimes overshadowed. However, any true basketball fan understands that defense is the unsung hero that can steer a team into another tier within the game.
Defense is the foundation upon which championships are built. Many old school players advocate that defense wins championships. A stellar defense can turn a game in an instant and demoralize even the most potent offenses. A block or a steal can turn into a momentum-shifting play especially if it turns into points.
Defensive plays not be glorified as an individual stat as it’s often viewed as a collective effort of a team. Players must communicate whenever they are on the court, anticipate their opponent’s moves, and provide help defense when necessary.
In today’s list, we will rank all 30 NBA defenses for the 2023-2024 season from worst to first. Let’s take a look at where all the teams stand ahead of the upcoming NBA season.
30. San Antonio Spurs
Even with the addition of French phenom Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs will assuredly suffer on the defensive end next season due to their young and inexperienced team. They have the pieces to be a good defensive team, but that takes time. That won’t be an issue though as they’ve always looked at the future rather than today.
29. Washington Wizards
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With a thin frontline, the rebuilding Wizards will have a huge problem protecting the paint with the departure of Kristaps Porzingis. Poole and Kuzma will have a field day in the scoring department but those two aren’t really defensive specialists by any means.
28. Portland Trail Blazers
With Lillard gone, Portland will definitely struggle with identity problems next season. They still have guys who are capable defensively, but they’ll be understandably inefficient once they are tasked to shoot the ball more.
27. Detroit Pistons
New head coach Monty Williams was a good hire for the team but due to their relatively young roster, Detroit is bound to struggle next season on both ends of the floor. They do have a nice set of bigs who they can develop and nurture further.
26. Orlando Magic
The rising Magic have a great young core who could run and score with the best of the league. They will hope to bank more in the scoring department as this team clearly lacks a defensive stopper to anchor their defense on a nightly basis.
25. Indiana Pacers
Even though they have Myles Turner manning the paint, Indiana was still one of the worst defensive teams in the league last season. Don’t expect them to bump it up defensively because they haven’t signed anybody who could help Turner on that end.
24. Charlotte Hornets
There’s a little bit of optimism that with Miles Bridges’ return on the court, the team will have little boost on the defensive end due to his tenacity as a player. It won’t be much though but they have the potential to be a playoff team next year.
23. Utah Jazz
The Jazz are expected to squeeze in next year’s playoffs if we are banking on the trajectory they had last season. This is a young team that has the potential to be great on both ends of the floor.
22. Chicago Bulls
Chicago is a team that has been somewhat disappointing the last couple of years. They have the talent to succeed but lack the determination to do so. They can score but often struggle to defend top-tier teams in the league.
21. Houston Rockets
If Ime Udoka can replicate his success with Boston for this young Rockets team, then the league is in for a treat. They have the pieces to become very good defensively and it all goes down if they are willing to work for it.
20. Los Angeles Clippers
It’s baffling that two of the best two-way players in the league haven’t moved the needle for this Clippers team defensively. If they could play together often then maybe this team could be one of the best in the league but that’s just wishful thinking for the past few years.
19. Dallas Mavericks
The loss of Dorian Finney-Smith in last year’s trade deadline really affected the Mavs’ defensive schemes as a team. Even though they selected a few defensive-minded players in last June’s draft, they’re still unproven at the NBA level.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves
Trading for Rudy Gobert last year didn’t help the team much on the defensive end. Plus, the pairing of Towns and Gobert is still considered an experiment going forward. Minnesota has a lot of things they need to address before making a significant jump in the standings.
17. Los Angeles Lakers
It’s weird to rank the Lakers this low but the team has never been great at clamping down opponents in the last few years. They largely relied on their offense to make things work. An aging LeBron can still defend a possession or two, but that’s about it.
16. Atlanta Hawks
Now with John Collins gone, Atlanta is expected to take a leap on their defensive identity next season. With a full training camp under coach Quin Snyder, this young team should be able to take another step in their ascension.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder
This young Thunder team is slowly becoming a serious threat in the league. They have young players who are embracing their roles on both ends of the floor. Chet Holmgren may not be able to contain the paint against bigger foes but their guards can take turns on defensive assignments.
14. Brooklyn Nets
Mikal Bridges emerged as one of the best two-way players last season and he will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. They have a plethora of wings who could become a nightly shot-blocking threat in the upcoming season.
13. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans are a good defensive team when they are healthy. The often-injured Zion Williamson tremendously helps in that department with his insane hops and mind-blowing athleticism.
12. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are long and have multiple players who could switch effortlessly on the defensive end. Pascal Siakam is a decent two-way player and so is Scottie Barnes. They are a good defensive unit on paper.
11. Phoenix Suns
The Suns are overloaded with offensive talents and are primed for a title if everything comes together. Their superstars have shown in the past that they are willing defenders when the game is on the line.
10. Miami Heat
The Heat will not outscore most teams on any given night, but they are masters of slowing the pace down because of their defense. Their unlikely path to the finals last season is a testament to their capabilities as a team.
9. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have been good on both offense and defense under Steve Kerr’s guidance. They play small but could switch defenders out of a pick-and-roll action with ease.
8. Denver Nuggets
Jokic is an underrated defender by all means. He may not block shots due to his below-average athleticism, but he could more than hold his own under the paint. Plus, they have do-it-all forward Aaron Gordon defending multiple positions on the floor.
7. Sacramento Kings
Sacramento plays fast and also switches hastily on defense. They always put their hands to disrupt the passing lanes which often leads to easy fastbreak points.
6. Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia has players on the roster who can guard the opposing team’s best on any given night. Embiid is also a decent shot-blocker and his presence alone could deter any team from attacking the paint continuously.
5. New York Knicks
It’s not surprising that the Knicks are ranked this high. After all, Thibodeau is one of the best defensive-minded coaches in the league. The Knicks will be relentless and unforgiving next season.
4. Boston Celtics
Losing Marcus Smart was a huge blow for the Celtics defensively. He was the heart and soul of the team for nearly a decade. That kind of production won’t be easily replaced and that could hurt Boston next year.
3. Milwaukee Bucks
Many pundits are looking forward to Milwaukee’s bounce-back season after their disappointing end in last season’s playoffs. If Giannis could elevate his game further, he’ll definitely be a frontrunner for an MVP and a Defensive Player of the Year award next season.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
While Cleveland’s backcourt is small, their huge and athletic frontline often wreaked havoc to most teams last year on the defensive end of the floor. They are expected to replicate their success and play tenacious defense again when the season starts in October.
1. Memphis Grizzlies
Adding Marcus Smart was a huge move for this hungry Grizzlies team. They finally have somebody who could turn the momentum around when things go rough. Memphis will be one of the most exciting teams next season and a Morant-Smart backcourt will definitely be one of the best in the league.
