The Worst Defenders in the NBA
“Yeah, I’ll come run as long as I don’t have to play D.”We’ve always known Chauncey Billups to be a stout NBA defender. He takes pride in playing the opposing point guard more physically than he can handle. But now that he’s headed to the Land of No-Defense, will he follow in line and play matador when his man makes a move? I actually think he’ll help to bring the opposing point totals down in Denver.
Miraculously, the Nuggets don’t have anyone on the actual list of the worst defenders in the NBA, though ‘Melo pops up down in the Dishonorable Mention section below…
* Michael Redd – Going into this season, Redd had to be a favorite to notch “Worst Defender in the League” honors. He played sparingly in Beijing this summer, not just because he couldn’t figure out how to hit a three from two feet closer than usual. But he was a real liability on defense for Coach K. Perhaps the biggest reason is that if Redd misses a jumper or doesn’t get a call, he doesn’t even bother to get back.
* Jamal Crawford – Anyone who classifies Mardy Collins as a “very good defender” needs to relearn what playing D is all about. Truthfully, Crawford is a victim of circumstance right now. When he’s on the floor with Nate Robinson, Chris Duhon, or maybe both of them, he’s forced to guard someone who is far more physical than he is.
* Jason Kapono – Absolutely no ability to move laterally.
* Steve Nash – Even when he was an MVP, Nash’s defense almost undermined his case as the best point guard in the game. The Suns have built a new team of defensive stalwarts around Nash, hoping that will compensate for the playmaker’s deficiencies. After Tony Parker carved Nash up for 32 points in the season opener, Chris Paul gave him 20, 10, and 8, and Brandon Roy followed that up with 20 of his own.
* Kevin Martin – He’ll make people look stupid when he’s got the ball, but this gifted scorer would have no idea how to guard himself.
* Antawn Jamison – Jamison always looks lost on D. Both Yi and Walter Hermann have had success going at him this season. It doesn’t matter if he put up 40 in those games, that counts as losing the battle.
* Dirk Nowitzki – Dirk’s biggest problem is that he gets all hyped up after he scores, starts to get that German scowl and then gets right up in his man’s grill. Then his man goes right around him.
Dishonorable mention: Mike Bibby, J.J. Redick (doesn’t play enough to really evaluate), Carmelo Anthony, Antoine Walker, Stephon Marbury
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Irk Nowitzki
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Kobeef says:
Redick is probably the worst by default because he hasn’t been on the court….
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:19 pm
justice says:
Wally Sczerbiak (however it’s spelled) Is the number one worst defender period, maybe that i have ever seen including the playground
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
A$$Cube says:
Come on Dime!
What’us with not including Eddy Curry in that list? He couldn’t guard a street light if he wanted too. If he would, he’d pop up in D’Antoni’s rotation no matta how breathless he’d be catching up the offensive pace.
Wally should be up there too. I know you killed him for that in one of your latest Smacks…
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Austin Burton says:
Wally gets it after I saw Adam Morrison looking like Rajon Rondo against him.
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:32 pm
justice says:
Wally is number 1 through 5…dude is slower than my mom seriously
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:37 pm
vinny says:
Wally may be number 1 but jamal is not far behind.
Has anyone seen the Labron and Nicole the pussycat commerical- damm she is fine!!!
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
vinny says:
my bad commercial
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
“It doesn’t matter if he put up 40 in those games, that counts as losing the battle”
got me Rollin
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:47 pm
QQ says:
I don’t think Carmelo can guard me… while my feet are stuck in cement and my arms are chained up. I would score at least 8.
Without the cement and chains, I’ll drop 50 on his one dimensional ass.
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:49 pm
the_don_mega says:
aint Redd supposed to be a defensive specialist out of Ohio State???
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:56 pm
llj says:
I disagree about Eddy Curry cube. I’ve seen guys have trouble scoring on him because he’s so tough to go around. You drive right, you run into flab, you drive left you run into flab. It doesn’t matter if he’s moving or not, he’s so damn fat he takes up an extra 5-10 feet of extra space.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Damon says:
@ vinny
wow, what a commercial. doesn’t get any better than her.
and her man just became world champion in formula 1…
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:04 pm
control says:
I’d disagree with Steve Nash. The guy ain’t as bad as it seams, his weakness is just 1on1 defense against extremely quick people. The guy can rotate and contribute to team defense as good as can be expected, and is actually probably one of the strongest point guards out there.
I would add Allen Iverson to that list. He gambles for steals so much during the game that every steal he gets gives 2 or 3 baskets to the other team. He spends more time watching the ball moving around the court, hoping to get a steal that his man is almost free to get a cut and open basket. Every point guard in the league short of TJ Ford could probably post him up and eat his lunch.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:15 pm
boris says:
Gil is worse than half those guys
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Michorizo says:
How about Mark Cuban…he defends Dirk when he is criticized about his defense.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:20 pm
CitizenB says:
Even though he’s currently out of the league, Damon Jones deserves to be mentioned just for trying to block Bron. LOL, that was funny
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Reverend Paul Revere says:
Have you ever seen Kyle Korver play? 5 of him couldn’t cover one player. He’s the worst defender in the NBA.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
The Brown Sound says:
Two words:
Luke Ridnour
that is all.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Lee says:
Good list guys .. but which starter is the worst OFFENSIVE player ??
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Derik says:
VC, he puts in no effort
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:40 pm
GEE....Stinkin Football! says:
Nash! Dude basically lets you score or attempt to score so his squad gets the ball and he is off the other way! Horrible D!
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:44 pm
A$$Cube says:
@Brown Sound: How could we forget Ridnour. Good call on that one!
@llj: Taking space doesn’t count. It’s not defense. When you’re taller than anybody else on the floor and you can’t block a shot or at least give it a try, it doesn’t matter if your clogging up the lane. If Curry knew how to sweat like Patrick, i’d kinda agree with you but…no.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Ian says:
iverson and arenas are worse than nash by farrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. nash is not a good defender but hes not as bad as you guys make him out to be.
but to me the worst player in the league is melo i think if i played his lazy ass one on one whoever starts with the ball wins.
LOL @ QQ
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:55 pm
mike says:
I love having Kapono on the floor on offense, but just get scared when he is on D. Hopefully JO and Bosh together can erase his mistakes.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Ian says:
lee
comon worst offensive player is the easiest basketball question ever
BEN WALLACE my man
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Amar says:
Carlos Boozer . . . he didn’t bring his defense after he moved to utah from cleveland . . . or maybe he hasn’t unpacked it yet. a dude that quick and agile on offense just stands there waiting for rebounds on defense. pityful.
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:08 pm
justice says:
Iverson can actually stop people when he needs to though, plus at least he gets a shytt load of steals, even if there are foolish gambles that cost his team more often than not..
Anyway yeah nash is pretty bad because he actually tries, arenas is just bad and he doesnt try, but both those guys are worst than A.I, A.I can put the clamps on when he wants and cover u like a blanket…
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:11 pm
BKhoops says:
Eric Snow…the worst offensive player…wait, he’s not playing anymore is he?
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:11 pm
justice says:
Melo rebounds and rebounding is defense so he may actually be exempt from my bashing…Wally sucks,zach randolph is pretty bad,eddie curry,Lamar Odom and Vlad radmonovic deserve a spot also
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:19 pm
control says:
justice
Iverson can’t stop anyone who is stronger or bigger than him, which is pretty much everyone except TJ Ford (even Earl Boykins is ALOT stronger than him). You already mentioned about how his gambling hurts the team, but it’s really the only D he has. If he actually didn’t try to steal the ball, he would help his team’s defense…of course that would reduce his stats, so he won’t even ever consider that.
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:19 pm
it ain't easy being green says:
what about sasha vuicic or however you spell it. By the way, sasha, my sister called. She wants her headband back, homo.
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:32 pm
dapro says:
Nash at least tries to play D
There is a difference between a guy trying to D his man up or just letting his man score at will or not hustling to get back on D
Amare plays no D at one point he didn’t even seem to try
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
GEE....Stinkin Football! says:
dapro I don’t call trying to play D holding your arms wide while letting your man go to the hole (basically ushering pimpin to the basket as an usher would 1 to a seat in church), and before he has gotten off his shot good you are looking to go the other way, instead of maintain with him to try and block, foul, slow dude down or something.
I’m just saying.
I am not defending Amare in no way, I am just saying Nash don’t try, he just don’t.
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:52 pm
dapro says:
GEE……..bruh give em a lil credit
He tried against Rondo and got and look what happened last season
I think the man does try, he tries to draw a charge at least once a game
Remember when Kobe went 747 on him cause Nash tried to draw a charge?
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Ian says:
justice
really thats your ai defense he at least gambles and gets steals that hurt his team????? really??? this is u helping him. now im sorry but iverson doesnt put the clamps on anyoneeeeee.
and because melo gets some rebounds (way less than someone his size should get) hes ok so i guess so is boozer and dirk and shawn bradley. melo is the worst one in the league hes only challenged by wally and adam m.
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Ian says:
ben gordon anyone? no?
November 3rd, 2008 at 7:24 pm
vinny says:
Ian
the only person possibly worse than nash is ridnour.by farrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!
November 3rd, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
@it ain’t easy being green: Obviously you don’t watch enough Laker games (except for last years finals). Sasha is actually a good defender they actually liken him to a Bruce Bowen type defender just annoying the hell out of you and getting up in your grill.
BTW I saw your Celts lose to Indy, question How do you explain that?
November 3rd, 2008 at 8:17 pm
dennis says:
as a portland blazers fan it hurts me to mention Travis outlaw as the worst defender, but the dude should put in a gate for all the guys that go around him to the rack.
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:27 pm
AZ says:
!!!NASH!!! LOL, Dude tries, but that maakes him even more sorry, Worst than A.I.? lol. At least A.I. gets steals, and converts it to pts.
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:29 pm
AZ says:
My sister could serve him a hot plate……….
November 4th, 2008 at 1:03 am
doc says:
Ai and Gil with Amare and Melo at the forwards with boozer at the 5
August 31st, 2009 at 1:45 am
Jay Monkey says:
korver isn’t half bad. he gets a bad rap because of that sissy girl posterizing pic from last season. dude hustles big time.