Over the past decade or so, there have been fewer and fewer elite defenders in the NBA, with so much emphasis on offense and three-point shooting.
However, there is still an elite class of players that excel on the defensive end of the floor, but most of them are big men who get their work done in the paint instead of the perimeter.
Although the best defensive players in the NBA are big men like Anthony Davis, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Joel Embiid, there are a few that can get it done on the perimeter, like Marcus Smart, Draymond Green, Jrue Holiday, Jimmy Butler, and Kawhi Leonard.
One outspoken and controversial player in the league believes he’s among the “most elite” defensive players in the NBA today, which is definitely up for debate due to some questionable on-court antics.
According to Sportsnet via Legion Hoops, Houston Rockets newcomer Dillon Brooks, formerly of the Memphis Grizzlies, believes he’s in the elite category.
Dillon Brooks says he’s one of the “most elite” defenders in the NBA, per @Sportsnet.
Agree? pic.twitter.com/78TbeaMw8Z
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 25, 2023
With Brooks getting so much backlash for how he acted toward Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James during the NBA playoffs last year, it’s hard to tell if he’s genuinely an elite defender in the NBA, as he seems more like a pest with dirty tactics.
However, he’ll get his chance to shine next season after signing a lucrative long-term deal with the Rockets, as Ime Udoka and company brought him in to help establish a defensive-minded culture in Houston.
It’ll be interesting to see if Brooks can turn things around with the Rockets while continuing to embrace the villain role in the NBA.
NEXT: Dillon Brooks Opens Up On His Villain Role In The NBA
