Marcus Smart vs other all time great defenders

[KeepRondo]

Smart is proving to be one of the best defenders in the game since Ron Artest.

My question is: Is it too early to put Smart in this group of all time great defenders?

Scottie Pippen
Michael Jordan
Bruce Bowen
Ben Wallace
David Robinson
Ron Artest
Lebron James
Gary Payton
Dikembe Mutombo
Dennis Rodman
Kevin Garnett
Hakeem Olajuwan
Joe Dumars
Kawhi Leonard
Dwight Howard
Alonzo Mourning

I'm sure I missed some players. Please note any player you would like added and if agreed, I will update the list.

[Csfan1984]

He is equal to some of the guys on the list but I don't consider all of them to be great. Some are simply very good. Like a TA.

[KeepRondo]

He is equal to some of the guys on the list but I don't consider all of them to be great. Some are simply very good. Like a TA.

Who would you take off the list?

[moiso]

If he stays healthy he should be on the list eventually.  He is probably as good as some of them already, but you can't make the hall of fame in your second year.

[KeepRondo]

If he stays healthy he should be on the list eventually.  He is probably as good as some of them already, but you can't make the hall of fame in your second year.

Good point but sometimes you just know.

There weren't many players that were able to make the defensive plays he's making today.

[Monkhouse]

I love Tony Allen, but I feel like sometimes we overrate his defense. Yes he's an excellent on and off ball defender, but he sags off his defender at times way too much to try to go for the steal. His wingspan and his ability to skip around screens is what makes him so invaluable defensively, but I think ultimately, I would say Smart in the future will be a better defender, and possibly DPOY/1st/2nd All Team Defense.

I definitely see Smart having a far superior career than Allen, simply cause Allen wasn't that skilled offensively, and was unable to make certain adjustments necessary in order to score.

[Csfan1984]

He is equal to some of the guys on the list but I don't consider all of them to be great. Some are simply very good. Like a TA.

Who would you take off the list?

Bowen and Payton. They had good stretches but faded quickly rep got them the benefit late in their careers. Wallace is another. He had a five year stretch and that was about it.

[Eddie20]

You missed a lot. Dumas, Cooper, Robertson, Sloan, Van Lier, DJ, Cheeks, Frazier, etc.

[KeepRondo]

You missed a lot. Dumas, Cooper, Robertson, Sloan, Van Lier, DJ, Cheeks, Frazier, etc.

Was trying not to go too far back but I will add Dumars.

[Eddie20]

You missed a lot. Dumas, Cooper, Robertson, Sloan, Van Lier, DJ, Cheeks, Frazier, etc.

Was trying not to go too far back but I will add Dumars.

Cooper might be the greatest perimeter defender of all-time and was roughly the same era as Dumars. 

[KeepRondo]

You missed a lot. Dumas, Cooper, Robertson, Sloan, Van Lier, DJ, Cheeks, Frazier, etc.

Was trying not to go too far back but I will add Dumars.

Cooper might be the greatest perimeter defender of all-time and was roughly the same era as Dumars.

If I add him than we continue all the way down to Bill Russell. Not sure how many posters know enough to go that far back. I'll stop at Dumars.

[max215]

Kawhi?

[Alleyoopster]

Not sure how I would rate him defensively, but I would rate him at the top when it comes to literally taking/ripping the ball out of an opponents hands. 

[KeepRondo]

Kawhi?

Considered him. Anyone else think he should be on the list?

[KeepRondo]

Not sure how I would rate him defensively, but I would rate him at the top when it comes to literally taking/ripping the ball out of an opponents hands.

How about forcing offensive fouls on the other team? He's pretty high on that list also.