NBA History: 5 Greatest rim protectors of all time

"Offense wins you games, defense wins you championships."

It's something any sports fan has heard repeatedly, and it's true. Sadly though, defense is one of the underappreciated aspects of basketball. Most fans prefer fancy dunks over a solid defensive play, but any player or coach knows the importance of good defense.

There isn't a single team in the last 20 years that has lifted the Larry O'Brien trophy without protecting the rim fantastically well. There are a lot of good defenders in the league today, and there have been countless in the history of the NBA.

Despite the amount of talent that the NBA houses, there are some guys that just stick out as outstanding rim protectors. Here are the 5 greatest rim protectors in the history of the NBA:

---

#5 Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan was one of the best shot blockers to ever set foot on an NBA court. He was known for his quiet style of play - never losing his temper, never too fancy, never showing off. What made him an excellent defender went far beyond his physical ability.

Duncan had an incredibly high basketball IQ - combine this with his excellent positioning, and you get an outstanding shot blocker that timed his jumps perfectly. Despite not having the highest vertical, Duncan's timing and game sense allowed him to beat his opponents mid-air countless times, making him one of the most revered defenders in the NBA.

He was also a master of the fundamentals and had particularly good footwork - allowing him to defend the post very efficiently. Duncan averaged 2.2 blocks and 10.8 rebounds a game over his career.

Sadly, Duncan never won a DPOY award. He was selected for the NBA All-Defensive teams 15 times in his career. Duncan also won 5 NBA championships, 2 MVP awards, and 3 Finals MVPs.

#4 Ben Wallace

Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons

Ben Wallace is remembered as one of the best shot blockers in NBA history. Even for a big man, he had phenomenal strength, incredible athleticism, and put in the hard work to be one of the greatest defenders ever.

Wallace was a force to be reckoned with - once you stepped foot in the paint, you were in his territory. Watching him play, it looked like there was no shot he couldn't reach. With an impressive vertical leap, and incredible explosiveness, Wallace was one of the most feared defenders in his prime.

Wallace rose to utter defensive dominance with the Detroit Pistons, leading the league in both rebounds (13 a game) and blocks (3.5 a game) during the 2001-02 season. His incredible defense led the Pistons to a playoff berth, beating Toronto in the first round before losing to Paul Pierce's Celtics.

Wallace has won 4 DPOY awards, tied for the most in the history of the NBA. He also made 6 All-Defensive teams during his career, and is a 4-time All-Star. Wallace led the league in blocks one season, and led the league in rebounds for two consecutive seasons.

#3 Dikembe Mutombo

Dikembe Mutombo, Houston Rockets

Dikembe Mutombo was simply born for defense. At 7'1, he was one of the biggest guys on the floor every night. His length and athleticism allowed him to reach shots with ease, making him one of the best shot-blockers in the NBA. Particularly good at help defense, Mutombo could easily switch directions and read the floor to protect the rim.

Starting his career with the Denver Nuggets and ending it with the Houston Rockets, Mutombo was a powerhouse and he never let his opponents forget it. His signature 'finger wag' has become a timeless classic, taunting his opponents after blocking a shot. Mutombo averaged an impressive 2.8 blocks per game throughout his career, and would have a double-double most nights, owing to his rebounding ability.

Mutombo is tied with Ben Wallace for the most DPOY awards, at 4. He was also selected to 6 All-Defensive teams in his career, and is an 8-time All-Star. Unfortunately, Mutombo never won a title, and is considered one of the best players ever to not win a championship. Mutombo led the league in rebounding 2 times, and led the league in blocks 3 years in a row.

#2 Hakeem Olajuwon

Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets

Hakeem Olajuwon was one of the best two-way players in the NBA for a very long time. At 7 feet tall, he was an outstanding rim protector, considered by many to be the best defensive player ever. Hakeem's defensive ability came from a combination of size, speed, athleticism, and his mastery of the fundamentals.

In his time, Hakeem was one of the few defenders that could guard all positions - he never faced problems when he was switched onto a guard, allowing him to defend the pick and roll with ease. Hakeem's combination of length and speed also allowed him to steal the ball well, making him the perfect center.

Hakeem led the Houston Rockets to back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995, and is the only player to record 200 blocks and steals in the same season. He averaged an astounding 3.1 blocks a game and is considered one of the best players of all-time.

Hakeem was a two-time NBA champion and a two-time Finals MVP. Along with his 12 all-star appearances, he also had the honor of winning MVP in 1994. Hakeem made 9 NBA All-Defensive teams in his career and won DPOY two times.

#1 Bill Russell

Bill Russell, Boston Celtics

Bill Russell, the 11-time NBA champion, is living, walking proof that defense wins games. Bill Russell simply changed how defense was looked at in his time and revolutionized the game. The 6'10 center combined his mastery of the fundamentals of defense with excellent timing to block shots towards his teammates.

Russell was the smartest player on the court every night, period. His ability to block shots without fouling the opponent was particularly impressive. Unfortunately for history, defensive stats such as steals and blocks were not recorded during his time in the NBA. The numbers that are available, however, are simply staggering. Russell averaged 22.5 rebounds throughout his near 1000-game career. The 4-time league rebounding leader is also one of the only two players to grab more than 50 boards in a game.

Russell simply changed the way the NBA looked at centers. In his time, centers focused only on offense - using their height and strength to score. Russell, though, ignored this conception and started jumping to block shots despite being told to stay flat-footed so he could react quicker.

He was one of the only players that switched onto smaller guards, never purely guarding the opposing center. Owing to his lack of bulk, Russell was also an excellent perimeter defender. Russell won MVP honors 5 times and is a 12-time All-Star. His 11 championships (all with the Celtics) in 13 years are the most by a player in NBA history.