Top 5 defenders in the Western Conference entering the 2021-22 NBA season

#3 Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis plays for the LA Lakers in the NBA.

Anthony Davis is, hands down, one of the best post defenders in the NBA. At 6' 10", The Brow can virtually guard any kind of player in the league. He is as dominant at the defensive end as he is at the offensive one. During his time with the New Orleans Pelicans, he led the league in blocks in three seasons.

His prowess as a defensive genius is unmatched in the LA Lakers' squad. Even with the presence of King James and Russell Westbrook, he holds the crown of the best defender in the squad.

Davis is one of the top five defenders in the Western Conference. An injury-less AD is a defensive force to be reckoned with. Going into the 2021-22 season, he should continue to impress with his guarding abilities.

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#2 Kawhi Leonard

A two-time defensive player of the year, Kawhi Leonard is a beast while on guard duty. He is not only capable of meeting much larger and stronger players in the air but can also stop them from reaching anywhere close to the paint. He has the ability to guard all over the court.

More than his blocking and post-up game, the threat Leonard brings with his ball-snatching ability negatively impacts the opposition's ability to score. He can steal possession from the best ball handlers, and convert that into quick fast-breaks and key turnovers. He is, without a doubt, one of the two best defenders in the Western Conference going into the 2021-22 NBA season.

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#1 Rudy Gobert

Rudy Gobert is not just the best defender in the Western Conference, but he's also the best defender in the NBA. Along with Dwight Howard, he is the only active player to win three Defensive Player of the Year awards. In fact, he won his third and most recent DOPY award in the 2020-21 season.

In the Utah Jazz squad, if Donovan Mitchell is the spear that leads the attack, Gobert is the one-man fortress who can overwhelm teams with his supreme guarding abilities. He is the best post defender, and one of the best three-point defenders in the entire league.

In an era where the NBA has become a haven for downtown shooters, the Stifle Tower absolutely dominates the three-point line by stopping the best of shooters. In the 2021-22 season, he is highly expected to win his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award.