Ranking the 10 best defensive players in the 2020-21 NBA season so far

#8 Jonas Valanciunas (Memphis Grizzlies) - NBA Defensive Rating: 102.7

Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the Memphis Grizzlies defends against a shot by Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs.

Jonas Valanciunas is playing well for the Memphis Grizzlies and has been a bright spot on a team that has been hurt by injuries in this NBA season. Valanciunas' Defensive Rating of 102.7 is the eighth-best in the league so far.

He is averaging a steal and a block per game and ranks 14th in Defensive Win Shares in the 2020-21 NBA season.

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#7 Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers) - NBA Defensive Rating: 101.9

Philadelphia 76ers v Brooklyn Nets.

The Philadelphia 76ers got off to a hot start to the NBA season and their new era with Doc Rivers looks promising. However, the team has suffered recently due to a COVID-19 outbreak.

Still, they should be considered a contender in the Eastern Conference, and Ben Simmons has been essential in that. His 101.9 Defensive Rating is the seventh-best in today's NBA and is tied for the best in his career. Simmons has been a good defender since he entered the league and he averages two steals and a block per game in his career.

Moreover, Ben Simmons ranks ninth in Defensive Win Shares in the 2020-21 NBA season and fifth in Defensive Box Plus/Minus.

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#6 Anthony Davis (LA Lakers) - NBA Defensive Rating: 101.7

Dallas Mavericks v Los Angeles Lakers.

Anthony Davis is certainly one of the most complete players in today's NBA. His ability to be an elite scorer from every part of the floor and his versatility on defense at 6' 11'' is tremendous.

Davis, who finished second in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting last year, ranks sixth in Defensive Rating with 101.7 points allowed per 100 possessions.

He averages 2.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per game in his entire nine-year NBA career. Davis also ranks sixth in Defensive Win Shares in the 2020-21 NBA season, and 10th in Defensive Box Plus/Minus.

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#5 Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz) - NBA Defensive Rating: 101.5

Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers attempts a shot over Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz.

A two-time Defensive Player of the Year award winner, Rudy Gobert's name continues to appear on most lists of the best defenders in the current NBA. He ranks fifth in Defensive Rating in the 2020-21 NBA season with a 101.5 rating.

In his career, Gobert has a 100 Defensive Rating and has finished the season with less than 100 four times. His career-worst Defensive Rating was 104, which would rank a solid 18th in today's league.