Amen Thompson Reveals Who He Thinks Is The Best Defender in the NBA
Oct 17, 2025
The NBA is full of incredible defenders, with the likes of Victor Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Rudy Gobert among the best of the best, with so many others laying claim to being elite defenders in a time when defense remains tough. In a day and age when it's all about the three-ball, having deep rosters full of long defenders is what wins games, as evidenced by the Oklahoma City Thunder a season ago.
That team had some of the best defenders in the league, but even after Evan Mobley won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024–25, there are still question marks about the true top defender in the league. One elite player that appears to be putting his name in that conversation is Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets, who was recently asked who he believes is the best in the NBA.
Unsurprisingly, given the confidence of both him and his brother Ausar, Thompson stated that he is the best defender in the league.
"I feel like I'm the best defender in the league."
At 6-foot-7, Thompson has an incredible wingspan to go along with that length, and in just two NBA seasons, he's solidified himself as one of the best defenders in the league with immense versatility. Still, with the likes of Mobley, Jaren Jackson Jr., and so many others laying claim to this title, it's safe to say that in 2025–26, we may be seeing one of the best Defensive Player of the Year award races in league history.
