Basketball isn’t just about scoring. Putting the ball inside the rim is just one thing, and the other, well, it’s the ability to prevent your opponents from doing so. In this case, these players aren’t just your normal defenders–instead of blocking shots and protecting the rim, they’ll beat you to the spot and wouldn’t even allow you to the position you wanted. Here are the top 6 most pesky, most underrated, and deadliest perimeter defenders in the NBA today, in no particular order.
Donte DiVincenzo (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Real basketball fans know how good Donte DiVincenzo has been this season. Not only as a top-tier spot-up shooter but also as a wing defender for the Timberwolves.
He’s been a good role player for the Warriors and the Knicks in the past, and he’s doing it again for Minnesota. Although he’s not regarded as an elite defender, his hustle, versatility, and on-time deflections have been one of the reasons behind the Wolves’ scary and physical defense.
Kris Dunn (Los Angeles Clippers)
The Clippers are filled with great perimeter defenders—Kawhi Leonard, Amir Coffey—but a new addition to this team has always been known as an underrated lockdown defender—Kris Dunn.
It’s amazing how the Clippers got Dunn for the price of almost nothing. Beneath the likes of Dyson Daniels, Jrue Holiday, Matisse Thybulle, and Marcus Smart, Dunn is widely considered as one of the most elite defending guards, probably an underrated one, too. He finished the 2024-2025 season with 1.7 steals per game, putting him in the top 10 in the league. He also played the fewest minutes among the names in the top 10.
Haywood Highsmith (Miami Heat)
There’s a reason why Haywood Highsmith has a very cool monicker–The Locksmith.
Although he’s already 28 years old, Highsmith seems like a very valuable piece for the Miami Heat. He’s a good lockdown defender and an efficient shooter from the corner, which is what teams are looking for in the fast-paced league. He isn’t the fastest athlete out there, but he really is a very smart defender. What’s even more shocking is that he went undrafted in 2018. Well, the Heat and Erik Spoelstra do love improving these undrafted gems.
Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers)
The Washington Wizards really missed an opportunity after letting go of Deni Avdija during the offseason.
He’s a solid double-digit scorer, but above all that, he’s a pest when it comes to guarding his man. At 6’9”, it’s surprising how well the Israeli forward can guard positions 1 through, although he fares well with small-ball centers.
Many fans criticized the trade that brought him to Portland, but it’s going for Deni and the Blazers so far. At this rate and his excellent on-ball defense, there’s no doubt he’ll be in the top 10 best wing defenders in the league in the next few years. While that may be a stretch, considering that he’s playing beside Matisse Thybulle and Toumani Camara.
Christian Braun (Denver Nuggets)
Christian Braun has been taking it up a notch in his third season in the league. Aside from almost doubling his scoring averages (from 7 PPG to 15 PPG), Braun has also continuously improved as an excellent wing defender.
As a stud who now starts for the Nuggets, he’s shown massive improvement in being Denver’s best defender outside the perimeter. After Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was traded, Braun immediately took KCP’s place as their best option in guarding the opponent’s best player. Well, CB has done pretty well in that role and even some.
Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder)
The OKC Thunder has been having a terrific season so far. The No.1 team in the West, probably in the NBA too, which also has the best defense in the league, with all of their young stars healthy. Lu Dort may be their most impactful defender, but everyone’s been chipping in on the defensive end, especially Jalen Williams.
This season, J-Dub ranks second in players with the best defensive rating in the league (102.8 DRTG) and is already top five in steals per game (1.8 SPG). While Dort has been their go-to defender and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has also unlocked his defensive prowess, Williams has proven to be an underrated guy on the defensive end.
