In the Paint - Best Defensive Centers

Wilt Chamberlain Nate Thurmond and Bill Russell

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• centers
• nba
• best
• defense
• wilt
• chambelain
• bill
• russell
• nate
• thurmond

[sellis235]

Abdul-jabbar said the hardest matchup he ever had was nate thurmond

[32UCLA]

Although Russell perfected the art of shot blocking, I think Wilt probably had more blocks over his career. The thing about Russell is, once he established himself as the defensive force that he was, he tended to pick his spots to block his opponent's shots. He might let a guy go for 3 and 1/2 quarters, and then block 5 or 6 shots in a row down the stretch.

Wilt tended to go after everything. And he got enough of them to make me think he probably did block more shots than Russell.

[yoe91]

Nate Thurmond, a guy who intrigues me a whole lot.

Red Auerbach, the slowest, most frustrating to listen to talker of all time.

[AxonMoses]

"A defensive play is not over until your team has the ball"

Dear Mr. Russelll

Please share this wisdom with today's big men, particularly Dwight Howard

[tommy9882]

1:52 bob cousy !!

[garioldwin]

@eppeone Nate Thurmond is probably the best defensive center ever .

[007nites]

@vaibanez17 That statistic is great but if blocks weren't counted when Russell was playing. He would have accumulated probably around 6,000+ blocks throughout his career considering he was averaging 6-10 blocks a game.

[BeatsFlows]

Bill Russell is the best defender ever¡¡¡

[mcentepede]

@vaibanez17 I agree there. But Kareem would challenge Olajuwon for most blocks had they counted blocks B4 1975. Even at that, Kareem is 3rd all time in Blocks which is impressive. Also Kareem had a good free throw average for a center.

[eppeone]

The Dream surpasses them all... The best defensive basketball player of all time, period..

[tellthetruthg]

Kareem said Nate defended him the best. Can't find the quote but he did say it in print SF Chronicle. I think Nate is the most under rated Player ever. If he was 20 something right now he'd be the best center in the NBA. He was in the era of the center and he was third best at the time behind only Wilt & Russel were better over all. Sheeze he's on the 50 all time best team. I believe voted for by NBA players.