Top 5 defenders on the Brooklyn Nets roster for the 2021-22 NBA season

The Brooklyn Nets are one of the best NBA teams in the current league. They were among the favorites to win the 202-21 season, but their hopes were thwarted by eventual champions Milwaukee Bucks. The trio of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and James Harden have been touted as the most formidable Big 3 and if they can stay healthy, they hold the potential to mow down any and every team in their path to win.

The team's offensive prowess is common knowledge. Kyrie Irving is arguably the greatest ball handler of all-time and is capable of slashing and scoring from virtually any spot on the court. He became the most recent entry into the 50-40-90 club. James Harden's step-back three is one of the most deadly moves of the past decade. A three-time scoring champion, Harden is definitely as good of a scorer as his teammate Kevin Durant.

Top five defenders on the Brooklyn Nets roster

A team is incomplete without its defensive players. The Nets, with their tag as one of the best teams, are home to many great defenders. We already know their offensive geniuses, but who are the best defensive players on the Brooklyn Nets roster?

#5 Nicolas Claxton

Going into his third year, Nicolas Claxton, under the coaching of Steve Nash, has developed into a reliable defender. After averaging only 4.4 points, 0.5 blocks and 2,9 rebounds in his rookie season, Claxton's eventless first season was followed by an improved sophomore year.

In the 2020-21 regular season, the young Brooklyn Nets player averaged 6.6 points, 1.3 blocks and 5.3 total rebounds. Nicola Claxton, a former University of Georgia player, is emerging as a good post-up defender and a pesky perimeter defender.

#4 Paul Millsap

Paul Millsap was one of the best post-up defenders in the league. He was capable of stopping quick slashers like Isiah Thomas and meeting bigger players in the paint head on a 2015-16 all-defensive player, Millsap has signed with the Brooklyn Nets as a veteran.

As the former Denver Nuggets player nears the end of his career, his body and game continue to deteriorate. Yet Millsap remains a dominant defender and will help the Nets in their 2021-22 championship campaign.

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#3 James Harden

James Harden plays for the Brooklyn Nets

James Harden is not just an offensive monster for the Brooklyn Nets but has also developed as a defensively sound asset. Often accused of being lazy on the defensive end during his Houston Rockets days, his season with the Nets has shown his efforts to eliminate this criticism.

The Beard, a three-time scoring champion, has averaged 25.1 points, 4.7 defensive rebounds and 3.7 turnovers in his career. His defensive abilities are divided into two specific skill sets.

The first is his tendency to execute impactful steals. Harden exerts pressure on ball handlers, pushing them to either make mistakes or lose possession. His career average of 1.6 steals per game is statistically not magnificent, but Harden manages to cause primary ball handlers of opposing teams to remain fearful of his disruptive steals.

The second defensive skill that has turned Harden into a great defensive asset for team Brooklyn is his post-up defensive abilities. As a 6'5" shooting guard, he can contest and stop bigger centers and forwards. The manner in which James roots his body and disbalances attackers is commendable, to say the least.

#2 Bruce Brown

Bruce Brown is an energetic defender who does not shy away from contact. His tenacity on the defensive end makes him the second-best defender on the Brooklyn Nets roster.

The 2021-22 season will be the fourth year in the league for this youngster but he is already cementing his position as an important role player. A 2018 second-round draft pick by the Detroit Pistons, Brown's job profile in Brooklyn involved unsettling attackers through his continuous pressure defense.

Not only can he stop driving lanes of slashers but also use a lock-down defense to limit perimeter shooting. It will be a thrill to see how this Brooklyn Nets youngling improves over the coming years.

#1 Kevin Durant

Los Angeles Lakers v Brooklyn Nets

A 6'10" shooting guard who can move like a point guard and post-up like a center, Kevin Durant is widely considered to be one of the best players in the current league. An absolute assassin on offense, KD's defense is no less lethal. He is undoubtedly not just the best scorer but also the best defender in the Brooklyn Nets.

He is the most influential defensive rebounder on the Nets roster, limiting the number of second attempts for opposition teams and increasing possession for his squad. He can guard any position on the court but is especially dangerous on the perimeter and on-transitions. His quick feet and long limbs allow him to lower attacking efficiency and block shots.