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NBA Season Preview: 5 best perimeter defenders

By John Buhler

Oct 6, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) jogs onto the court prior to the game against the Sacramento Kings at the SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) jogs onto the court prior to the game against the Sacramento Kings at the SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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When the game is on the line, who is the guy keying in on the opponent’s best offensive threat? Here are the five best perimeter defenders in the NBA today.

Defense wins championships, even in a high-scoring game like basketball. Making it difficult for an opponent to put the ball through the hoop only aids in a team’s quest to win an NBA title. Though rim protection may be a more obvious sign of a good defense, there is a lot to be said about the lock-down defenders out on the perimeter.

The NBA has a dearth of elite wing defenders in the pace-and-space era. It’s insanely difficult to hold one’s own in on-ball defense without being allowed to hand check. Yet, these five defensive stars still seem to do just fine on that end of the floor.

Here are the five best perimeter defenders in the NBA entering the 2016-17 NBA season:

Apr 22, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen (9) during the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Spurs defeated Grizzlies 96-87. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen (9) during the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Spurs defeated Grizzlies 96-87. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies SG

Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard Tony Allen will be 35 years old this upcoming NBA season, but he is still one of the best lockdown perimeter defenders in the game. Allen has cultivated a fine NBA career for himself with defensive acumen and is a five-time selection of an NBA All-Defensive team during his time with Memphis.

Last year might have been a down year for Allen but this probably had to do with him missing 18 games for the 2015-16 Grizzlies and playing on a team with a ton of also-rans once a litany of injuries set in mid-season. He was still second All-Defensive last year.

Since arriving in Memphis in 2010, Allen has been the best perimeter defender over that lengthy stretch. His 1.7 steals per game, and 2.7 defensive Box Plus-Minus has made Allen a defensive dynamo for the Grit N’ Grind Grizzlies. Even though he’s generally a minus on ofense, Allen is responsible for 16.5 Defensive Win Shares and a 10.0 VORP over the last six NBA seasons.

Allen is by no means a Hall of Fame caliber player. However, his No. 9 Memphis jersey will one day hang in the FedEx Forum rafters when he calls it a career. Age is catching up to Allen, but he’s this decade’s version of Bruce Bowen: the best defense-first perimeter player in basketball.

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