NBA: Top 10 interior defenders so far this season

#9 LaMarcus Aldridge - San Antonio Spurs

Aldridge and Manu Ginobili contest a shot by the Lakers' Brandon Ingram

The Spurs are still in playoff contention and are current owners of the 6th seed in the Western Conference, thanks largely to the LaMarcus Aldridge show. In the absence of the league's best two-way player in Kawhi Leonard, LA has shouldered responsibilities on both ends of the floor.

Aldridge is an excellent post defender who rarely fouls, but succeeds in establishing good position to contest opponent shots from the low block. He's also a fairly successful rim protector, and he has the foot speed to keep swingmen on their toes when he switches out to the perimeter.

The Spurs are 2nd in defensive rating in the NBA thanks to some sturdy interior defense played by the double-double machine that is Aldridge, who also happens to grab 16.8% of available defensive rebounds while often competing with Pau Gasol for those rebounds.