NBA defensive players of the year award history winners. These guys played defense better than anybody. Defense isn't just about blocking shots and getting steals. It's also about making it hard for opponents to get to where they want to on the court, making it hard for them to make the pass they want to make, and making it hard for them to shoot the way they want to shoot.

Related Link: NBA History

1982-83 - Sidney Moncrief, Milwaukee
1983-84 - Sidney Moncrief, Milwaukee
1984-85 - Mark Eaton, Utah
1985-86 - Alvin Robertson, San Antonio
1986-87 - Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers
1987-88 - Michael Jordan, Chicago
1988-89 - Mark Eaton, Utah
1989-90 - Dennis Rodman, Detroit
1990-91 - Dennis Rodman, Detroit
1991-92 - David Robinson, San Antonio
1992-93 - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston
1993-94 - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston
1994-95 - Dikembe Mutombo, Denver
1995-96 - Gary Payton, Seattle
1996-97 - Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta
1997-98 - Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta
1998-99 - Alonzo Mourning, Miami
1999-00 - Alonzo Mourning, Miami
2000-01 - Dikembe Mutombo, Philadelphia-Atl
2001-02 - Ben Wallace, Detroit
2002-03 - Ben Wallace, Detroit
2003-04 - Ron Artest, Indiana
2004-05 - Ben Wallace, Detroit