NBA & ABA Year-by-Year Top 10 Leaders and Records for Defensive Rating
Active players are listed in bold
* Indicates member of the Hall of Fame.
Defensive Rating since 1973-74
| Season | Lg | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | NBA | T. Eason (95.47) | A. Sengun (100.44) | J. Williams (100.64) | A. Thompson (101.78) | V. Wembanyama (102.43) | J. Suggs (103.92) | C. Wallace (104.13) | S. Gilgeous-Alexander (104.31) | F. Wagner (104.39) | F. VanVleet (104.90) |
| 2023-24 | NBA | R. Gobert (104.45) | V. Wembanyama (105.83) | N. Reid (107.38) | N. Jokić (107.96) | I. Hartenstein (108.06) | J. Nurkić (108.29) | C. Holmgren (108.42) | B. Adebayo (108.51) | E. Mobley (108.56) | K. Porziņģis (108.62) |
| 2022-23 | NBA | J. Jackson (105.33) | G. Antetokounmpo (107.76) | A. Davis (107.95) | J. Allen (108.10) | E. Mobley (108.17) | N. Claxton (108.25) | J. Embiid (108.87) | A. Caruso (109.40) | R. Gobert (109.41) | B. Lopez (109.44) |
| 2021-22 | NBA | R. Williams (102.42) | R. Gobert (103.31) | B. Adebayo (104.19) | A. Horford (104.42) | K. Looney (104.86) | D. Ayton (105.25) | N. Jokić (105.25) | J. Crowder (105.30) | J. Embiid (105.31) | J. Jackson (105.91) |
| 2020-21 | NBA | R. Gobert (100.64) | N. Noel (101.23) | J. Embiid (103.93) | L. James (106.06) | B. Simmons (106.12) | C. Capela (106.22) | M. Harrell (106.34) | D. Green (106.38) | G. Antetokounmpo (107.04) | J. Randle (107.21) |
| 2019-20 | NBA | G. Antetokounmpo (97.11) | B. Lopez (100.20) | D. DiVincenzo (101.26) | A. Davis (101.81) | D. Howard (102.64) | A. Drummond (102.88) | E. Bledsoe (103.85) | R. Gobert (103.95) | S. Ibaka (103.96) | K. Leonard (104.20) |
| 2018-19 | NBA | H. Whiteside (99.03) | G. Antetokounmpo (99.36) | A. Drummond (100.34) | R. Gobert (100.40) | M. Turner (101.35) | D. Favors (102.59) | R. Westbrook (103.04) | N. Vučević (103.28) | B. Lopez (103.31) | D. Sabonis (103.93) |
| 2017-18 | NBA | A. Drummond (99.01) | R. Gobert (99.46) | J. Embiid (100.50) | C. Capela (100.52) | D. Murray (101.02) | K. Anderson (101.19) | J. Nurkić (101.49) | D. Cousins (101.77) | B. Simmons (102.06) | P. Gasol* (102.20) |
| 2016-17 | NBA | A. Drummond (99.04) | D. Green (99.13) | R. Gobert (99.22) | H. Whiteside (99.86) | D. Howard (100.44) | K. Durant (101.33) | A. Davis (101.51) | K. Leonard (101.52) | P. Gasol* (101.54) | D. Jordan (102.36) |
| 2015-16 | NBA | H. Whiteside (94.52) | T. Duncan* (95.74) | K. Leonard (95.97) | P. Millsap (96.11) | D. Jordan (97.60) | A. Drummond (98.05) | L. Aldridge (98.66) | R. Gobert (98.74) | D. Green (98.78) | J. Sullinger (99.63) |
| 2014-15 | NBA | K. Leonard (96.39) | A. Bogut (96.76) | T. Duncan* (96.93) | D. Green (97.18) | R. Gobert (98.03) | T. Allen (98.23) | D. Jordan (98.47) | N. Noel (99.20) | P. Millsap (99.25) | M. Gasol (99.64) |
| 2013-14 | NBA | J. Noah (95.82) | A. Bogut (96.34) | P. George (97.02) | T. Duncan* (97.64) | D. Green (97.67) | R. Hibbert (98.18) | K. Leonard (98.22) | D. Jordan (98.36) | C. Boozer (98.47) | D. West (98.55) |
| 2012-13 | NBA | T. Duncan* (94.97) | R. Hibbert (96.87) | P. George (97.09) | T. Allen (98.42) | M. Gasol (98.49) | L. Sanders (98.51) | J. Noah (98.57) | D. West (98.57) | K. Garnett* (98.87) | L. Odom (98.98) |
| 2011-12 | NBA | K. Garnett* (94.21) | C. Boozer (95.18) | D. Howard (95.57) | J. Noah (95.69) | J. Smith (95.93) | E. Brand (96.21) | T. Gibson (96.41) | L. James (97.45) | A. Iguodala (97.75) | M. Camby (98.05) |
| 2010-11 | NBA | D. Howard (94.18) | K. Garnett* (95.00) | J. Noah (96.78) | A. Bogut (97.31) | T. Gibson (97.75) | R. Brewer (98.42) | C. Boozer (98.66) | M. Camby (99.84) | R. Rondo (99.94) | G. Davis (100.28) |
| 2009-10 | NBA | D. Howard (95.44) | A. Bogut (98.06) | G. Wallace (99.73) | L. Odom (100.42) | R. Wallace (100.48) | M. Camby (100.77) | T. Duncan* (100.85) | K. Garnett* (100.96) | J. Noah (101.06) | J. Smith (101.40) |
| 2008-09 | NBA | D. Howard (94.56) | K. Garnett* (97.51) | L. James (99.14) | A. Varejão (100.01) | K. Perkins (100.22) | T. Duncan* (100.24) | Z. Ilgauskas (100.52) | Y. Ming* (100.89) | R. Rondo (100.90) | L. Odom (101.69) |
| 2007-08 | NBA | K. Garnett* (93.85) | T. Duncan* (96.57) | C. Hayes (96.68) | K. Perkins (97.34) | J. Posey (97.95) | R. Wallace (98.05) | M. Camby (98.29) | R. Rondo (98.42) | D. Howard (98.76) | Y. Ming* (99.36) |
| 2006-07 | NBA | T. Duncan* (94.45) | B. Wallace* (94.84) | M. Camby (97.21) | Y. Ming* (97.75) | M. Ginóbili* (97.88) | C. Hayes (97.98) | A. Varejão (98.04) | D. Howard (99.02) | Z. Ilgauskas (99.34) | A. McDyess (99.77) |
| 2005-06 | NBA | T. Duncan* (94.41) | M. Camby (94.95) | B. Wallace* (95.20) | M. Ginóbili* (97.97) | K. Garnett* (98.23) | J. O'Neal (98.91) | J. Kidd* (99.14) | R. Nesterović (99.18) | T. Chandler (99.58) | J. Foster (99.63) |
| 2004-05 | NBA | T. Duncan* (93.17) | T. Chandler (93.86) | B. Wallace* (93.98) | M. Camby (96.13) | R. Nesterović (97.30) | M. Ginóbili* (97.53) | Y. Ming* (98.64) | K. Garnett* (98.67) | R. Wallace (99.02) | S. O'Neal* (99.56) |
| 2003-04 | NBA | B. Wallace* (87.48) | T. Duncan* (88.50) | K. Garnett* (91.61) | R. Nesterović (92.21) | K. Martin (93.08) | M. Ginóbili* (93.11) | J. O'Neal (93.14) | H. Türkoğlu (93.84) | M. Okur (94.65) | K. Cato (95.09) |
| 2002-03 | NBA | B. Wallace* (89.99) | T. Duncan* (94.45) | D. Robinson* (94.92) | K. Martin (95.76) | S. Bradley (95.77) | C. Webber* (95.82) | J. Kidd* (96.25) | K. Clark (96.56) | V. Divac* (97.11) | J. O'Neal (97.29) |
| 2001-02 | NBA | B. Wallace* (92.89) | D. Robinson* (94.86) | T. Duncan* (95.69) | M. Rose (96.77) | A. Mourning* (97.11) | J. Kidd* (97.51) | D. Mutombo* (97.75) | C. Webber* (97.83) | S. Pollard (97.92) | V. Divac* (98.80) |
| 2000-01 | NBA | M. Camby (90.56) | D. Robinson* (92.09) | S. Marion (93.40) | T. Duncan* (93.59) | B. Wallace* (93.99) | T. Ratliff (95.60) | K. Thomas (95.82) | E. Campbell (96.04) | S. Bradley (96.07) | C. Webber* (96.64) |
| 1999-00 | NBA | D. Robinson* (92.22) | S. O'Neal* (94.58) | T. Duncan* (94.60) | R. Horry (95.40) | M. Camby (95.51) | A. Sabonis* (95.78) | A. Mourning* (96.01) | B. Wallace* (96.28) | P. Ewing* (96.97) | G. Ostertag (97.35) |
| 1998-99 | NBA | D. Robinson* (87.94) | P. Ewing* (91.27) | T. Duncan* (91.50) | D. Mutombo* (92.31) | A. Mourning* (92.86) | M. Camby (93.30) | A. Sabonis* (93.67) | T. Ratliff (94.31) | G. Ostertag (95.04) | K. Thomas (95.10) |
| 1997-98 | NBA | D. Robinson* (93.61) | T. Duncan* (95.29) | S. Kemp (96.11) | D. Rodman* (96.61) | Z. Ilgauskas (96.90) | C. Oakley (96.95) | A. Sabonis* (97.39) | B. Knight (97.40) | C. Ward (97.54) | A. McDyess (98.11) |
| 1996-97 | NBA | A. Mourning* (95.31) | P. Ewing* (95.66) | D. Mutombo* (96.81) | A. Sabonis* (97.15) | P. Brown (97.99) | D. Rodman* (98.22) | C. Oakley (98.61) | S. O'Neal* (98.67) | H. Olajuwon* (98.89) | S. Kemp (99.00) |
| 1995-96 | NBA | D. Robinson* (96.45) | S. Kemp (97.13) | A. Sabonis* (97.26) | E. Johnson (97.70) | P. Ewing* (97.93) | D. Rodman* (98.19) | C. Dudley (98.71) | A. Mourning* (99.18) | M. Jordan* (99.56) | S. Pippen* (100.66) |
| 1994-95 | NBA | S. Pippen* (98.25) | P. Ewing* (98.31) | D. Robinson* (98.65) | D. Rodman* (99.98) | H. Olajuwon* (100.38) | C. Oakley (101.28) | K. Malone* (101.40) | M. Cage (101.68) | D. Davis (101.79) | A. Mason (102.21) |
| 1993-94 | NBA | P. Ewing* (92.88) | H. Olajuwon* (94.96) | N. McMillan (95.08) | S. Kemp (95.80) | C. Oakley (95.81) | D. Mutombo* (96.20) | S. Pippen* (96.86) | D. Robinson* (97.95) | G. Anthony (98.78) | B. Dele (98.79) |
| 1992-93 | NBA | P. Ewing* (94.34) | H. Olajuwon* (96.21) | C. Oakley (97.75) | D. Rivers (98.65) | G. Anthony (98.96) | D. Robinson* (99.91) | S. Kemp (100.05) | C. Smith (100.08) | S. O'Neal* (100.43) | A. Mason (100.82) |
| 1991-92 | NBA | D. Robinson* (94.38) | P. Ewing* (98.44) | H. Olajuwon* (98.91) | D. Rodman* (99.06) | M. Jordan* (101.68) | A. Lang (101.86) | H. Grant (102.20) | S. Pippen* (102.24) | J. Kersey (102.43) | M. Eaton (102.47) |
| 1990-91 | NBA | H. Olajuwon* (93.39) | D. Robinson* (95.92) | V. Divac* (99.34) | D. Rodman* (100.61) | L. Smith (100.81) | P. Ewing* (101.49) | M. Jordan* (101.60) | S. Pippen* (101.69) | J. Salley (101.78) | M. Bol (102.13) |
| 1989-90 | NBA | H. Olajuwon* (93.43) | D. Robinson* (96.80) | J. Salley (99.78) | B. Laimbeer (99.84) | V. Divac* (99.99) | R. Tarpley (100.27) | D. Rodman* (101.38) | K. Malone* (102.24) | M. Eaton (102.43) | P. Ewing* (102.92) |
| 1988-89 | NBA | H. Olajuwon* (94.86) | M. Eaton (97.68) | K. Malone* (98.80) | B. Laimbeer (100.64) | L. Nance (101.07) | J. Stockton* (101.13) | H. Williams (101.35) | R. Harper (101.58) | D. Rodman* (101.60) | R. Mahorn (101.95) |
| 1987-88 | NBA | H. Olajuwon* (98.05) | M. Eaton (100.68) | K. Malone* (100.75) | R. Tarpley (101.04) | P. Ewing* (101.26) | M. Jordan* (101.47) | B. Laimbeer (102.17) | J. Stockton* (102.24) | D. Rodman* (102.70) | C. Oakley (102.84) |
| 1986-87 | NBA | H. Olajuwon* (98.75) | M. Eaton (100.20) | J. Sikma* (101.33) | M. Bol (101.46) | T. Rollins (101.78) | J. Stockton* (101.95) | K. Malone* (101.98) | J. Koncak (102.00) | S. Green (102.53) | B. Laimbeer (102.67) |
| 1985-86 | NBA | B. Walton* (97.49) | A. Lister (98.41) | M. Bol (98.91) | L. Bird* (99.36) | M. Eaton (100.04) | R. Parish* (100.45) | C. Barkley* (100.47) | T. Cummings (100.57) | R. Breuer (100.71) | P. Pressey (101.31) |
| 1984-85 | NBA | M. Eaton (96.50) | A. Lister (99.42) | R. Mahorn (100.79) | T. Cummings (100.90) | K. Rambis (102.19) | C. Robinson (102.26) | H. Olajuwon* (102.54) | P. Mokeski (102.59) | L. Bird* (102.79) | B. Walton* (102.96) |
| 1983-84 | NBA | A. Lister (98.63) | L. Bird* (100.79) | R. Williams (101.01) | B. Jones* (101.10) | M. Malone* (101.72) | L. Thompson (101.78) | B. Cartwright (102.25) | P. Pressey (102.28) | R. Parish* (102.36) | J. Erving* (102.38) |
| 1982-83 | NBA | A. Lister (96.19) | R. Mahorn (96.44) | M. Malone* (96.60) | T. Rollins (96.60) | B. Williams (96.98) | L. Nance (97.52) | J. Ruland (97.60) | D. Dawkins (97.71) | M. Eaton (97.77) | R. Parish* (97.98) |
| 1981-82 | NBA | J. Sikma* (97.23) | T. Rollins (98.37) | R. Parish* (98.93) | A. Adams (99.11) | J. Donaldson (99.17) | L. Bird* (99.36) | R. Mahorn (99.64) | B. Williams (99.91) | D. Roundfield (100.17) | J. Ruland (100.18) |
| 1980-81 | NBA | A. Adams (96.24) | R. Parish* (96.42) | R. Kelley (96.66) | J. Erving* (96.74) | C. Jones (97.33) | D. Dawkins (98.03) | H. Catchings (98.15) | J. High (98.37) | B. Jones* (98.52) | L. Bird* (98.58) |
| 1979-80 | NBA | T. Rollins (95.90) | S. Lacey (97.29) | C. Jones (97.67) | D. Roundfield (97.76) | J. Sikma* (98.15) | L. Bird* (98.22) | B. Robinzine (98.25) | G. Johnson (98.60) | J. Erving* (98.62) | A. Adams (98.93) |
| 1978-79 | NBA | R. Parish* (94.37) | C. Jones (96.53) | J. Sikma* (96.61) | G. Johnson (96.86) | D. Dawkins (97.20) | K. Abdul-Jabbar* (97.89) | T. Rollins (98.19) | S. Lacey (98.31) | G. McGinnis* (98.49) | B. Jones* (98.94) |
| 1977-78 | NBA | B. Walton* (89.50) | G. Heard (92.38) | R. Lee (93.44) | K. Abdul-Jabbar* (93.67) | T. Rollins (93.93) | E. Smith (94.03) | R. Parish* (94.58) | A. Adams (94.88) | G. Johnson (95.43) | R. Kelley (95.49) |
| 1976-77 | NBA | B. Jones* (89.91) | B. Walton* (91.20) | K. Abdul-Jabbar* (92.43) | A. Gilmore* (92.93) | C. Jones (93.50) | K. Hughes (93.89) | A. Adams (93.92) | R. Lee (93.93) | G. McGinnis* (94.02) | D. Cowens* (94.10) |
| 1975-76 | NBA | G. Johnson (89.81) | K. Abdul-Jabbar* (90.01) | E. Hayes* (91.06) | G. McGinnis* (92.04) | C. Ray (92.13) | B. Walton* (92.17) | O. Moore (92.25) | D. Cowens* (92.39) | W. Unseld* (92.55) | E. Smith (93.54) |
| 1975-76 | ABA | J. Erving* (97.47) | A. Gilmore* (98.03) | K. Hughes (98.10) | L. Elmore (98.57) | B. Jones* (98.86) | C. Jones (99.59) | B. Paultz (100.49) | S. Nater (100.54) | M. Barnes (101.23) | M. Lucas (101.24) |
| 1974-75 | NBA | E. Hayes* (87.60) | W. Unseld* (88.24) | N. Thurmond* (90.66) | D. Cowens* (90.71) | S. Lacey (91.52) | J. Sloan* (91.71) | K. Abdul-Jabbar* (92.29) | P. Chenier (92.39) | G. Heard (92.78) | P. Silas (93.18) |
| 1974-75 | ABA | A. Gilmore* (93.77) | J. Erving* (95.52) | T. McClain (97.48) | W. Jones (97.49) | B. Paultz (97.67) | L. Kenon (98.56) | B. Taylor (98.56) | B. Jones* (98.85) | D. Issel* (99.09) | M. Gale (99.67) |
| 1973-74 | NBA | B. Lanier* (87.99) | E. Hayes* (88.61) | K. Abdul-Jabbar* (88.76) | C. Ray (89.13) | D. Cowens* (90.61) | C. Perry (91.01) | E. Smith (91.56) | J. Sloan* (91.62) | D. DeBusschere* (92.52) | C. Ford (93.07) |
| 1973-74 | ABA | A. Gilmore* (93.16) | J. Erving* (94.16) | W. Ladner (94.42) | B. Paultz (96.11) | G. McGinnis* (96.53) | S. Nater (96.94) | D. Hillman (96.96) | M. Gale (97.17) | M. Daniels* (97.37) | C. Dietrick (98.04) |
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