NBA: Ranking the careers of the 7 perimeter defenders that won DPOY

#1 Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan (courtesy: nba.com)

Career Stat line: 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals, 0.8 blocks per game

Career Honors: 6xNBA Champion and Finals MVP (1991-1993, 1996-1998), 5xMVP (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998), Defensive Player of the Year (1988), 10xAll-NBA First Team (1987-1993, 1996-1998), All-NBA Second Team (1985), 9xAll-Defensive First Team (1988-1993, 1996-1998), Rookie of the Year (1985), 3xSteals leader (1988, 1990, 1993), 10xScoring champion (1987-1993, 1996-1998)

His Airness is the uncontested Greatest of All Time because of a reason: he was the best offensive player in the league, while also its best defensive player during his prime. In the 1987-88 season, Michael Jordan became the only player to win the regular season MVP, scoring title, Defensive Player of the Year as well as winning the MVP award in the All-Star game.

In the 1987-88 season, Jordan was smarting from his defeat to Michael Cooper in the Defensive Player of the Year sweepstakes (despite becoming the first player in NBA history to record 200 steals and 100 blocks in a single season). He put up a stat line of 35.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.2 steals and 1.6 blocks to become the first player to total 250 steals and 125 blocks in a single NBA season.

This 1987-88 season is the most dominant season put up by a single player in the history of the league, as borne out by the awards and statistics for the season. Jordan proved that he belonged in a different conversation to the rest of the league.