Who is Duke's best defensive basketball player ever.

[skysdad]

We may have had this thread before. I can't remember. We've had a lot of great defensive players including a few NDPOY. We've had both small men and big men that were outstanding. We've had a few come straight out of high school that very pretty good as freshman and others who developed their craft while at Duke As for me I'm caught with two players and can't choose between them. Billy King and Shane Battier. I still remember the job King did on Temple's Mark Macon a very high scoring pg. Both were in the 6'8"/6'9" range and could defend jut about any position. Both usually guarded the best player on the other team and most nights made it miserable for that player. We may never again see the defensive talent of these two as well as others again? I'm not sure because most high school players just aren't defensive minded. It takes time to be a good defensive player in college and perhaps that's why Duke in the past few seasons hasn't been as of old. So my guys are Billy King and Shane Battier with the highest regards to all those other NDPOY guys. OFC

 

[BuckinElkin!!]

Shane Battier in my opinion.

 

[dukiejay]

Yeah, when it comes to versatility as a defender it's hard to look away from Battier. He was the best, IMO. Grant Hill probably isn't that far behind.

Others that come to mind as what I would classify as great defenders are Shelden Williams and Tommy Amaker. Billy King, despite being a NDPOY, is also undervalued.

 

[BuckinElkin!!]

I will never forget Shane's block and save vs Arizona. That is exactly when I knew we were winning title #3.

 

[topps coach]

Imo Amaker is the best defensive guard we ever had.Cannot remember who we were playing but was in the NCAA s but he stole the ball two or three times on a row at half court.

 

[dbav]

Battier was my choice. However, Brand was a hell of a presence inside. I think he was known more for his rebounding, but I still remember chanting "YOU GOT BRANDED" in Cameron.

 

[twdukefan]

I think for the one year he was here Justise was a great defender. Who knows how he would have turned out after four years in Duke blue, but then again, this ain't Chapel Hill where one and dones stay longer than expected

 

[Get Nasty]

Dahntay jones was darn tough as well....... but I'll go Battier

 

[Showenuff]

Battier....the end.

 

[germantondevil]

The glove Billy King was pretty solid. Named defensive player of the year in his senior year.

 

[dbav]

I think for the one year he was here Justise was a great defender. Who knows how he would have turned out after four years in Duke blue, but then again, this ain't Chapel Hill where one and dones stay longer than expected

I loved when they had him playing free safety in the NC Game.

 

[timo0402]

First two guys that come to mind for me are obviously Shane and Grant. Both were excellent and versatile defenders. Amaker on the ball was tough as can be. Another performance i won't forget was Antonio Lang defending the big dawg glenn robinson in the sweet 16 in '94. And since i just named four i might as well name a fifth and that would be S. Williams manning the post.

 

[Rook#32]

We may have had this thread before. I can't remember. We've had a lot of great defensive players including a few NDPOY. We've had both small men and big men that were outstanding. We've had a few come straight out of high school that very pretty good as freshman and others who developed their craft while at Duke As for me I'm caught with two players and can't choose between them. Billy King and Shane Battier. I still remember the job King did on Temple's Mark Macon a very high scoring pg. Both were in the 6'8"/6'9" range and could defend jut about any position. Both usually guarded the best player on the other team and most nights made it miserable for that player. We may never again see the defensive talent of these two as well as others again? I'm not sure because most high school players just aren't defensive minded. It takes time to be a good defensive player in college and perhaps that's why Duke in the past few seasons hasn't been as of old. So my guys are Billy King and Shane Battier with the highest regards to all those other NDPOY guys. OFC

 

[Rook#32]

Sky have to agree with you on Billy King. Masterful job on Mark Macon.

 

[crazyduke3]

Dang only one post for the landlord?? That guy was an eraser.

Kyle was great for us on defense

 

[Jake1985]

Shane for his over all ability to defend.
Sheldon as lane protector
Tommy as pressure on the ball and back court defender
Grant on wings

 

[topps coach]

Shane for his over all ability to defend.
Sheldon as lane protector
Tommy as pressure on the ball and back court defender
Grant on wings

Amen on Tommy

 

[skysdad]

We've been blessed haven't we. OFC

 

[Duke It Out]

Battier. Kobe even said in the past the Battier gave him the best challenge defensively so it has to be Battier, right? I think what separates him is his IQ.

 

[Mark Gastineau]

He's not the best in Duke history, but I wanted to give some love to DeMarcus Nelson in this thread. Hell of a defender and still one of my favorite Blue Devils.

Little known fact about DeMarcus that I just discovered: he was the first undrafted rookie to start on opening night in NBA history. How cool is that?

 

[skysdad]

I think Amile has developed into a pretty good defensive player. OFC

 

[dukehokie]

He's not the best in Duke history, but I wanted to give some love to DeMarcus Nelson in this thread. Hell of a defender and still one of my favorite Blue Devils.

Little known fact about DeMarcus that I just discovered: he was the first undrafted rookie to start on opening night in NBA history. How cool is that?

Was that when he was with Golden State?

 

[dukiejay]

Yes, with Golden State.

Demarcus was also just the third (at the time) four-year player recruited by K at Duke not to play in a Final Four. He arrived on campus for K's 25th year. And to think, after his senior year, Coach's 28th, Demarcus was only the third four-year player not to get that far. The THIRD! That's absurd.

 

[dukiejay]

Oh yeah, Wojo and Ricky Price were the others.

 

[LTDukeFan]

Shane won the NDPOY 3 out of the 4 years he played at Duke. Seems a pretty good endorsement to me.

 

[LTDukeFan]

Wojo is my favorite Duke defender.

 

[DukeRulesBasketball]

I would have to say Shane battier as well for the same reasons posted above. He was a three time defensive national player of the year. Shelden Williams is up there as well, but in the end I have to say Shane Battier.

 

[Laettner]

Battier with Billy King a close second.

 

[Mark Gastineau]

Like my earlier post, he's not the all-time best from Duke, but Justise Winslow deserves some love in this thread. Hell of a defender, and that skillset has translated nicely in the NBA where he guards guys like LeBron, Harden, etc. on a nightly basis.

 

[Mullin5756]

Battier and it's not close

 

[Quavarius]

Duke has the most NDPOY in college basketball history, right?

 

[hart2chesson]

Dang only one post for the landlord?? That guy was an eraser.

Kyle was great for us on defense

Crazy agreed...Shel was quite the presence and intimidator down low....

 

[dukehokie]

Crazy agreed...Shel was quite the presence and intimidator down low....

Best interior defender we've ever had and that's not saying anything new. My favorite thing about Shelden is how he learned to talk on the court and the difference it made for his team.

And besides Duhon and to an extent Dockery, Nelson and Ewing (all at different points), Shelden made some pretty mediocre defensive squads look very good on defense with his presence and leadership alone.

 

[LTDukeFan]

Duke has the most NDPOY in college basketball history, right?

Correct. By a lot
1986–87 Tommy Amaker Duke Point guard Senior
1987–88 Billy King Duke Forward Senior
1992–93 Grant Hill Duke Shooting guard / Small forward Junior
1997–98 Steve Wojciechowski Duke Shooting guard Senior
1998–99 Shane Battier Duke Small forward Sophomore
1999–00† Shane Battier (2) Duke Small forward Junior
2000–01 Shane Battier* (3) Duke Small forward Senior
2004–05 Shelden Williams Duke Power forward Junior
2005–06 Shelden Williams (2) Duke Power forward Senior

 

[DukeDenver]

Jabari Parker and Hood were memorable on defense.

 

[HuffyJB]

Jabari Parker and Hood were memorable on defense.

 

[germantondevil]

Correct. By a lot
1986–87 Tommy Amaker Duke Point guard Senior
1987–88 Billy King Duke Forward Senior
1992–93 Grant Hill Duke Shooting guard / Small forward Junior
1997–98 Steve Wojciechowski Duke Shooting guard Senior
1998–99 Shane Battier Duke Small forward Sophomore
1999–00† Shane Battier (2) Duke Small forward Junior
2000–01 Shane Battier* (3) Duke Small forward Senior
2004–05 Shelden Williams Duke Power forward Junior
2005–06 Shelden Williams (2) Duke Power forward Senior

Great list of Dukies. I'm ready to see that list extend after this year. Who on this years team could be a candidate for NDPOY for 16/17. Possibly Frank the Tank harassing PGs all year? Would not hurt my feelings or do we need more of an interior presence such as Jefferson? Either way its been 10 seasons since Shelden. I'm ready to see that award land back in Durham again. I'm old school in that I love to see a Duke team dominate a game on the defensive side of the court. OFC.

 

[timo0402]

Great list of Dukies. I'm ready to see that list extend after this year. Who on this years team could be a candidate for NDPOY for 16/17. Possibly Frank the Tank harassing PGs all year? Would not hurt my feelings or do we need more of an interior presence such as Jefferson? Either way its been 10 seasons since Shelden. I'm ready to see that award land back in Durham again. I'm old school in that I love to see a Duke team dominate a game on the defensive side of the court. OFC.

I think Amile would be on the short list of people to get it this year in the nation.

 

[jwill133]

Jabari Parker and Hood were memorable on defense.

Yes Jabari was bad on defense, though I would argue that his offense more than made up for it.
Hood on the other hand was our best defender that season, he's also become an above average NBA level defender, defending the opposing teams best guard on a nightly basis. He was our best defender while also being asked to be the #2 option every game on offense, I'd say that is memorable in a positive way.

That team in general just didn't stand a chance on D. A slim-sophomore Amile and Marshall were our only true 5's. Yikes. Need to stop talking about this 2014 team before I become angry.

 

[DukeRulesBasketball]

Need to stop talking about this 2014 team before I become angry.

Exactly! Every time I see Jabari Parker or Austin Rivers I get mad and I know that's bad for me to say. It just brings me back to those flashbacks of how those particular seasons ended and I become angry and sad! However I did love Rivers game winning shot against the baby's in powdered blue though