A Taxonomy of Rim Protectors

Note: This article was originally published at The Stepien on December 29, 2021

Intro/Background:

As a result of the three-point revolution and newfound appreciation for stretch bigs, I feel some nuance has been lost with how we scout the more traditional bigs. As an attempt to hone in on what we should value in a modern big, I went back to rim protection, a major way a big (or, in special cases, wings or even guards) can separate themselves besides stretch-shooting appeal.

I began my exercise with an attempt to classify types of rim protectors in the current NBA based on how they were being used by their teams. I pulled shots defended data for every player and team to see who was defending the most rim attempts for each team, and how that share changes as you move out from the basket in six-foot increments.

With that info I was able to break rim protectors into six categories based on varying defensive responsibilities. I watched film on these teams with an eye to how these played out in real time. The categories may match up to PNR defensive principles (i.e. Stay Home Big = drop big), but I found many sub-types more specific than that, as there are many ways to weaponize rim protectors as a team.

Armed with that background, and my lifelong passion for big defense, I dove into the tape of as many potential rim protectors that the 2022 class had to offer. Following the rubric outlined by my analysis of NBA team responsibilities, I present who I consider the best bets to be future lead NBA rim protectors of various ilks. I start with the rim protector classifications that most prioritize size and go from there:

Rim Protector Type #1: Stay Home Bigs

To qualify: Defend over 20% of shots at the rim, and share of shots defended decreases every four feet interval.

Motto: “Keep away from the rim with size”

Prime examples: Rudy Gobert, Joel Embiid

Size is the name of the game for Stay Home bigs, though the ability to cover the few feet on either side of the hoop in a short amount of time is also key. But those who succeed in this spot have to have elite standing reach.

Rudy Gobert barely has to jump to block out the entire basket with his 9’7’’ standing reach, though has perfect footwork to maximize that frame as well. Embiid is a slightly shorter 9’5’’ standing reach, but even quicker to slide. In fact, he helps enough on the perimeter to classify as a Some Help big, but he would be as good as any as a pure drop big as well.

Another wrinkle key for this position is to be able to clear out the rim area for rebounds. Because these defenders are often trusted as the sole rim protectors who stay glued to the paint, they need to be a one-man rebounding crew.

Prospects with a Shot to Lead a Good Defense as a Stay Home Big:

1. Ibou Badji

Badji is a recently-turned 19 year old who is almost the exact same size as Gobert, 7’2’’ with a 7’8.5’’ wingspan and 230 pounds. Players of this size who can also shuffle their feet are extremely rare just as a biologic fact. The odds of Badji being a positive on defense are as projectable as anyone in this class for that simple reason.  

Badji may not be as airtight as Gobert with his footwork, but is still solid, and a cat-quick leaper for his size. He often makes recovery blocks in movement, showcasing good coordination. Badji uses these tools to block 9% of two-point shots with Force Lleida in the Spanish second division, the most of anyone in the league by several percentage points. Badji put up 7 blocks in one of the three games he played in the 2021 FIBA U-19 World Cup, trailing only Victor Wembanyana who incredibly had 8 blocks in three separate games (and yes, Vic would be all over this piece if he were a 2022 prospect).

With his size and physical tools, Badji would be one of the easiest prospects in the 2022 class to build a simple drop defense around in the NBA.

2. Christian Koloko

Koloko is enjoying a breakout third season at Arizona, and a little older than Badji at 21 with a shorter but still impressive wingspan reported in the 7’4’’-7’7’’ range, likely in the middle. Koloko has shown incredible timing on his blocks, but more than that has become a true floor general for his team, constantly shouting out actions and re-assessing his spot to sop up any weak points in the paint.

The best trait for any rim protector is their ability to constantly monitor their duties to guard their man, an action, and the rim at once, and Koloko is shifting non-stop to adjust for all three. Arizona has mostly used him in a deep drop, where the only issues that come up here and there are lack of elite strength against some of the bigger players. Even still he has found ways to compensate, adding a lot of muscle since last season and with his toughness and ability to absorb contact, never falling completely out of a play. He currently ranks 5th in NCAA with a 15% block rate. Koloko seems likely to be a positive NBA defender, and if he keeps improving, has an outside shot of being a great one.

3.  Moussa Cisse

Of the three players I’ve mentioned with a chance of reaching a high-end ceiling as a Stay Home big, Cisse has the furthest to go. The 5-star recruit transferred from Memphis to Oklahoma State for his sophomore season, with much of the luster worn off after one mediocre season. But he only recently turned 19, and clocked in a 9’4’’ standing reach with a 32 inch standing vertical at the 2021 G-League Elite combine.

Cisse’s minutes have declined at OK State, but has block rate has risen from 10.5% to 13.8%, and he is finding ways to utilize his athletic talents. At 6’10’’ Cisse has a 7’4.5’’ wingspan, is an incredibly smooth leaper, especially on second jump, and has good mobility. Cisse needs to add discipline on both sides of the ball, with a tendency to turn the ball over on offense, but his defensive upside still may be worth the time to refine the rough edges.

Prospects with a Shot to Lead a Decent Defense as a Stay Home Big:

Chet Holmgren, Jalen Duren, Olek Balcerowski, Mark Williams

Don’t worry Chet and Duren fans, those guys will feature enough throughout this piece. They are in this lower category of rim protector mostly due to concerns about their size. Holmgren, of course, is quite skinny, and while that won’t necessarily hold him back from being a positive NBA defender, it does drastically reduce his odds of succeeding as a Stay Home big.

Being a big in this category means you need to be able to constantly clear the paint, and Holmgren at his current size unfortunately gets cleared out during box-outs quite often. To compensate he often checks back to the roll man sooner than needed, passing up chances to block shots here and there. While he has learned how to take contact against a driver and stay vertical, he’d have to use up quite a bit of energy to keep opposing bigs off the glass as a paint-only defender.

Duren is here for being only 6’10’’ (in some places reported as 6’9”) and still raw, but his physical gifts are special. Duren is able to clear out room with his strength, even as he just turned 18 playing against players multiple years older, but may still struggle to size up the true bigs in the NBA. I may have unfairly dinged him here because I prefer him in other categories, as I would still be comfortable using him in a drop role.

Balcerowski struggles with lack of vertical and middling wingspan compared to height. His stellar footwork still keeps him in plays but he does not provide the same kind of vertical threat you would want for someone in charge of constantly deterring lobs.

Mark Williams is a quick leaper with pretty good length at a 7’4’’ wingspan, but can struggle to hold his own physically against bigger players, even in college and in matchups you’d hope he’d win. With some better lower body strength, Williams could still become a decent drop big over time.

Long Shot Prospects but Still Possible:

Jamarion Sharpe, Ariel Hukporti, Yannick Nzosa, Zach Edey

Sharpe is currently leading the NCAA with a stunning 20% block rate as a third-year community college transfer from John A. Logan to Western Kentucky. If he continues this pace against better competition he deserves a spot higher. Against Kentucky on December 22 he showed his elite timing and hand-eye coordination, but also struggled to clear the boards. Hukporti has long been a favorite of mine, but has had some road bumps on his development with several injuries and, in turn, taking some time to work back into shape. But he remains a quick leaper and still young at 19 with plenty of time to develop. Nzosa is better suited for help positions (especially at only 175 pounds), detailed later in this piece. Edey is an enormous 7’4’’ with 7’7’’ wingspan, though likely does not have the necessary lateral mobility to cover both sides of the hoop quick enough.

Rim Protector Type #2: Some Help Bigs

To qualify: Defend over 20% of shots at the rim, share of shots defended decreases every four feet further away except for one zone when they increase

Motto: “Use size to protect the rim but also plug select spots on perimeter”

Prime Examples: Jakob Poeltl and Joel Embiid

These are players who can cover the same basics as Stay Home bigs, i.e. clearing the paint when needed, while also using better mobility to cover brief PNR hedges or shows, or even switching onto guards and wings for a few moments.

Poeltl is not the same incredible vertical threat as Gobert or Embiid, but is a very smooth mover and especially adept at blocking shots while recovering several feet back to the basket. His technique approaching pick and rolls is impeccable, as is his ability to play the two-on-one game back to the basket, guarding both PNR handler and roller at once if needed.

Embiid is equally skilled at this category as playing strict drop, though when tired due to his enormous offensive burden can become briefly vulnerable when taken away from the hoop. Regardless, his mobility is good enough to make this work, and you still get a player of his size deterring at the hoop most of the time.

The benefit of this type of lead rim protector compared to Stay Home is the ability to strengthen weak spots of your perimeter defense here and there, giving them more time to recover, though may sacrifice some interior strength. Hence, recovery time back to the basket and agility in movement is key while remaining a big target to scare away drivers.

Prospects with a Shot to Lead a Good Defense as a Some Help Big:

1. Jalen Duren

Yea, here we go. These clips may not be super exciting, as Duren has plenty of highlight blocks. But here we see how smooth Duren is sliding, and how he can maintain his size during recovery to dominate contested rebounds. While the Memphis defense can be messy (and often with confusing scheme), Duren takes good slide angles and can recover quickly. This classification maximizes all of Duren’s physical tools, as you still want him near the basket most of the time, though with the ability to come out and wreck actions selectively.

2. Ibou Badji

Badji is good enough of a mover he would work here too. Or, rather, his size is valuable enough that his mobility would only reduce its impact slightly in comparison. Badji has awesome rhythm and coordination getting back to the rim, with many blocks where he’s able to get his hulking body at a 45-degree angle. Even when facing a five-out system, Badji’s movement skills are likely good enough to not be completely preyed upon.

3. Ismael Kamagate

Kamagate’s body control and general elite awareness get him a gaudy spot among Some Help big prospects. He is a clear defensive stalwart in the French first division, the glue holding the team together due to his quick rotations and above average athleticism across the board. He turns 21 in January 2022 and has a 7’2’’ wingspan, shorter and older than Duren and Badji, but is someone you can trust to always be in the right position, play hard and never be the weak point. Kamagate leverages impeccable footwork and quick leaping to hit a 7.4% block rate, tied for second in his league, lagging only an Antetokounmpo brother. The first clip above is possibly my favorite of any rim protector I watched, staying with the PNR handler all the way to the hoop and still quick enough to rotate back to the roller in one motion.

4. Yannick Nzosa

Nzosa is super impressive, with ideal quickness, footwork and length for a Some Help big. One of three after Ricky Rubio and Luka Doncic to play in the Liga ACB at only aged 16, Nzosa remains one of the youngest prospects eligible for this draft, only recently turned 18. He has struggled to get big minutes this season, due to a total lack of an offensive game and an injury, but nevertheless has 8th highest block rate and a solid 2% steal rate.

Nzosa’s recovery ability from the perimeter is legitimately astonishing, and you see his goalkeeper background in constant ability to keep the rim as home base even as covering various actions. My one concern is I worry perfect can be the enemy of good for Nzosa, where he follows the book so strictly he fails to pounce -on potential block/steal opportunities, as seen in the clips above. But, assuming the offense develops enough to keep him on the floor, Nzosa is a high confidence pick to be a positive defender right away.

5. Chet Holmgren

I promised more Chet and here you have it, and yes this won’t be the last time we see him. Holmgren’s best quality is his body control, staying vertical even while moving, excellent at avoiding fouling. He can only do this due to keen footwork, quick enough to see what the driver is committing to before leaping. Holmgren knows how to use his length as a weapon at pretty much all points. Holmgren is sharp and elite at plugging holes in a defense, but still would need to add some weight to keep offensive rebounders at bay which could sap some of his quickness. I do think his good body control and footwork to contest may mask some weaknesses in ability to make more aggressive plays on the ball. This is somewhat an unfair criticism, as being in the right spot is most of the battle. But it may speak to good hand-eye coordination rather than elite. This also appears to be echoed in his modest sub-1% steal rate, sub-0.5% against top 150 teams. Regardless, Holmgren appears like a solid floor-raiser for a defense rather quickly into his career, and still has potential to be something more.

6. Olek Balcerowski

Much like with Chet, this is also a better spot for Balcerowski than Stay Home. Balcerowski is a safe defensive option, with okay length but impeccable footwork and a perfect understanding of where to be at all times. Where he stands out is his opportunism, even in spite of not being super quick or explosive. He stands ready to attack for a steal any loose dribble or to pounce aggressively on shots as a help defender when he has the angle, clearly a high feel player`1. Balcerowski maintains the third best block rate and fourth best defensive rebound percentage in the Adriatic League.

 Prospects with a Shot to Lead a Decent Defense as a Some Help Big:

Moussa Cisse, Obinna Anochili-Killen, Christian Koloko, Colin Castleton

Cisse has all the athletic tools to do this, and do this well, but with his occasional lapses I’d rather keep him closer to the basket where he is guaranteed to leverage his length and quick leaping. But any time you can try out a guy who can reach 12’7.5’’ into the air, you do it. Cisse does have good agility and basic technique for helping out on the perimeter, so I may be underselling his upside as a defender here. Regardless, any team that tries him out will have options with how to best deploy him.

Anochili-Killen is the shortest prospect I have as a potential Stay Home or Some Help rim protector, but he earns his spot on the list with constant activity, reported 7’3’’ wingspan (+7 from his height) and very quick leaping. It’s hard to not love his game, fearless and aggressive in rotations, clearly treated as a threat by opposing offenses. He is currently tied with the much taller Christian Koloko for the 8th best block rate in the NCAA, though this rate does drop off when he faces higher competition. While his reaction time and rotations are good, he may run into trouble against bigger and faster NBA competition who could more easily shoot over him, as Marshall are scheduled to only play one top 50 team all year.

Speaking of Koloko, he makes this list as still quite mobile and coordinated for his size, though dinged for the very conservative drop coverage Arizona has him playing in. With more tape available over the season, we may see more examples of Koloko being capable of occasionally switching onto guards/wings. Koloko does seem to be limited in agility compared to others in this list, though appears very capable at containing guards in PNR with his wingspan and activity.

Colin Castleton is extremely light on his feet for his 6’11’’, 240 pound and 7’3’’ wingspan size. His technique is strong in helping on the perimeter, with his defensive role likely the closest to your standard Some Help NBA big of anyone on this list. Castleton has great hands but limited explosion for blocks and just okay strength, relying instead on positioning to deter shots. His upside as a rim protector is therefore also limited, due as well to being the oldest player mentioned so far, though it’s easy to see him in the center for a functional defense.

Long Shot Prospects but Still Possible:

Tre Mitchell, Efe Abogidi, Ariel Hukporti, Walker Kessler

These players are all, unfortunately, somewhat tweeners between rim protector types, being okay or functional in many roles but ultimately with limited upside. However, all are young prospects, and I reserve the right to move them up this list as the season moves on.

Rim Protector Type #3: Unicorn

To qualify: Defend over 20% at the rim, shots defended increases twice as you move away from basket

Motto: “Be a presence everywhere at all times”

Prime Examples: Evan Mobley, Giannis

Yes, Mobley deserves his spot here already in his rookie season. The essence of this role is to be able to check in to three levels at once, not only monitoring position between an action and the hoop but able to fully switch onto perimeter players and know when to help back to rim protect.

Mobley’s ability to get very difficult blocks from help positions, swiping shots from unrealistic angles and in between traffic, as well as elite mobility for his length makes him the perfect prospect for this “Unicorn” rim protector position, for lack of a better term.

Giannis is one of the other few capable of making rotations across all levels of defense, and can guard players on the perimeter as easily as bigs inside. These players are ultimate skeleton keys for team-building, reflected also in the versatility in which they are used by their respective teams. Deandre Ayton was able to perform this role to great success in the 2021 NBA playoffs.

Prospects with a Shot to Lead a Good Defense as a Unicorn:

1. Chet Holmgren

This type of position requires an ultra-rare blend of coordination, length and processing, so it’s no surprise Holmgren finds himself at the top of this list. It’s not all roses with the Gonzaga freshman, as I’ve outlined some of his potential limitations in prior sections. But Chet is very smart in weaponizing his wingspan in endless ways, so if anyone’s going to figure out how to make this very difficult role work in the NBA, it would most likely be him. His quickness and shot-blocking timing does lack Mobley’s some, a difficult comparison for any prospect, but he does seem extremely capable of reading all kinds of actions and knowing when to make his move. This kind of flexibility, the first prospect to be mentioned thrice in this piece, is what makes Holmgren a compelling top defensive prospect, not to even speak to his offensive skill and versatility there, as well. One benefit of having Holmgren in this role compared to Stay Home/Some Help is moving him away from the basket allows your team to play another rebounder next to him, reducing the importance of immediate weight gain.

2. Ismael Kamagate

I do think the 2022 NBA draft discourse is slow to realize the level of defensive prospect Kamagate is. His level of detail is impeccable, as I show in the clips above. These may not jump off the screen, but on close inspection he is able to:

• First clip: stand ready to contest a shot one rotation away; recover to the basket post-contest and; decelerate perfectly from his sprint to control the tip off the rim (allowed in international hoops)

• Second clip: call out assignments to his team; be the only one to react to the unexpected drive; break free from his assignment to the driver in a moment with perfect stance

• Third clip: Tag early and close out on the perimeter shooter in one movement (okay, maybe he should’ve X’d out to the corner early on this one, but we still see his speed for size in closing out and awareness to correct, regardless)

Kamagate’s feel for the game oozes off the screen, solid in basically every trait you’d want for a defensive center. And just look at his movement in this first clip here. It is not clear what role Kamagate wouldn’t be able to play on defense: that’s a unicorn for our purposes.

3. Jalen Duren

Duren joins Holmgren in the three-role club. Duren is an incredibly smooth mover, wreaking havoc no matter where he goes. The one issue is, being a little shorter and stockier, Duren would have to rely more on his leaping, and therefore be more sound in committing to his decisions. But Duren seems very capable of this at his young age, for example in the first clip foiling two different two-on-one attempts in one play. Duren’s ability to read actions already as the youngest prospect in the class, when tied to his athletic skills, means he has sky-high potential as a defender, everywhere on the court.

4. Yannick Nzosa

It’s really difficult to quibble with Nzosa’s defensive tape. He is only ranked lower here compared to Some Help because the Unicorn role requires more improvising, and Nzosa can still get confused on assignment here and there when things get chaotic or he’s drawn out to the perimeter. His strictness in staying in proper position as a drop or some help big means we have little tape of him succeeding in more complex help actions. But his fluidity as a mover is unmatched in this class, able to switch levels as a defender in half a beat.

5. John Butler

John Butler is raw as a 7-1 freshman but is playing an essential role for what is consistently one of the best defensive programs in the country. Butler moves like a wing, as coach Leonard Hamilton loves playing him at the point of attack or wing in a similar way as long-limbed freshmen Scottie Barnes the previous year or Pat Williams the year before. Butler is taller than those two, but very lanky at a mere 190 pounds. He moves very well for his height, and excellent at keeping hands active, effectively silo-ing off sections of the court at a time. I’d like to see more tape of him rotating to the low block in help, often too far from the basket to make a play at the rim due to his schematic responsibilities on the perimeter. Defending on the perimeter is a big reason his block rate is “only” 6.7%, though still 6th in the ACC, and that mark still exceeds the block rates of Patrick Williams (5.6%) and Scottie Barnes (2.1%) at FSU who have been capable of adding some levels of rim protection already in their young careers. Butler has the tools to do everything on the court, especially if he can add some strength.

Prospects with a Shot to Lead a Decent Defense as a Unicorn:

Kendall Brown

KB is only in the low likelihood section due to his questionable off-ball awareness, but Brown is still one of the youngest in this upcoming draft class and has incredible strength, movement and leaping talent. He’s very good on ball, able to contain drivers on an island for long periods, and it does seem he would have more of a specialty as shutdown artist. But I’m not taking a Unicorn rim protector role off the table, especially if he starts to become more locked in to off-ball movement. Brown is one of the easiest leapers among recent prospects, and uses his strength very well. The capability is there for him to eventually make some weak side blocks from several passes away and be a general menace all over the court on D.

Long Shot Prospects but Still Possible:

[none]

The closest other options in my opinion are Washington State’s Efe Abogidi and Connecticut’s Adama Sanogo, but I think they may be lacking access to this very rare type of role, though still good defenders in their own rights.

Rim Protector Type #4: Midrange Wall

To qualify: Defend less than 20% of shots at the rim but over 20% of shots 6-10 feet from the basket

Motto: “Don’t let the ball even get near the rim”

Prime Examples: Jusuf Nurkic, Daniel Gafford

This is the second rarest rim protector classification, those who don’t defend a preponderance of shots at the rim but much more around the top of the paint near the free throw line. This role emphasizes lateral mobility while maintaining strength, with good and active hands mandatory.

Nurkic has taken a step back defensively, particularly his mobility with his constant injuries, which also speaks to the tenuousness of this rim protector role, difficult to perform to begin with. Gafford as well, while full of promise and showing some high-end flashes, could use more consistency in staying solid. Ivica Zubac would be a decent candidate for this job as well, but used more as a Rover for the Clippers, with Serge Ibaka primary rim protector last season.

The idea is to counter the lack of rare incredible length and defensive rebounding with quickness, stepping in a beat early to stop the ball before it even enters the paint to make offensive decisions more difficult. The angles are harder for the big to reach quickly, but can make up for other weaknesses in a defense if done properly.

Prospects with a Shot to Lead a Good Defense as a Midrange Wall:

[none]

Yea, this takes a very specific type of athleticism across mobility, strength and hand-eye coordination while keeping length, and I don’t see any obvious options for this. That’s not necessarily an indictment of this class, as it’s a difficult role to perform in general, and most candidates here would be better suited defending in a Some Help or Rover scheme.

Prospects with a Shot to Lead a Decent Defense as a Midrange Wall:

Kadrin Shedrick, Colin Castleton

UVA’s Shedrick is the best case for this type of role, very springy for his 6’11’’, 230 pound frame. Shedrick is constantly bouncing around the floor, often times over-eager, but the perfect type of athlete for the Midrange Wall. The issue is he’s not super long, with a reported +2 wingspan, but has been able to lead the ACC at a 15.6% block rate, 5th overall in the NCAA. His mediocre rebounding (just over 5 per game) would be mediated in this role, where teams are kept out of the paint to begin with. Shedrick’s steal rate of only 2.2% is good, right in between that of our prime examples Jusuf Nurkic (3.1%) and Daniel Gafford (1.6%) as prospects.

Castleton is also suited for trying out as a Some Help big, but his technique in sliding, general lateral quickness and excellent hands qualify him here as well. His block rate (10%) and steal rate (1.7%) are good, but maybe on the lower side for what you’d want for a prospect in his age 21 season, 22 by the draft.

Long Shot Prospects but Still Possible:

Kendall Brown, Jabari Walker, Walker Kessler, Keegan Murray

If Brown were a couple inches taller he’d be a lock for this role, but unlikely to keep up the “constant contest” role requirement to deter shots in or near the paint as only 6’8’’ with a reported 6’11’’ wingspan. He makes up for a lot of that with his quick vertical, but only has a 1.6% block rate so far into his college career.

Jabari Walker’s 3% block and 1.7% steal rate probably doesn’t cut it as a primary rim protector, but he does have the physical tools as a strong 6’9’’ and 215 pounds, good vertical, particularly on second jump, and reported 7’0’’ wingspan.

Walker Kessler is mopping up the NCAA with his stocks rates, second with an astounding 17.1% block rate and excellent 3.2% steal rate. But he looks not quite quick enough for the job to my eyes, somewhat of a tweener between this and a Some Help big without the tools to be excellent in either role, pretty big and pretty quick but without having an advantage in either in the NBA.

Keegan Murray has very good help defensive instincts, but his overall defensive contributions have lagged some this season with his increased offensive burden, and his only 6’11’’ wingspan makes him a tough sell to begin with. Regardless, he does have a lot of strength and very good lateral mobility, and as a smart player in general would have a shot to make it work.

Rim Protector Type #5: Rover

To qualify: Defend less than 20% of shots at the rim but 15%+ in multiple spots away from rim

Motto: “Float around but always be a threat”

Prime Examples: Evan Mobley, Al Horford

This role undersells Mobley’s abilities, as the Unicorn is essentially the more difficult version of this, but he would be the prime example all the same. The idea with this role, also encompassed by similar athletic molds of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Kristaps Porzingis, is to be a threat to contest shots anywhere while still guarding your man on the perimeter and sometimes in the interior if necessary. While not rotating as hard back to the rim as the Unicorn, the conceit is that they could, and impact offensive decision-making all the same.

In that case a long wingspan is essential for causing emotional terror to opponents, as you want them to think you could pop up at any given point. Al Horford’s inclusion as a prime example is due to his impeccable rotation timing and sense of how actions play out before they do. He may not have the same wingspan as Mobley, JJJ or Porzingis, but Horford does prove this role is possible with a perfect sense of timing, discipline and quickness. Never mind how the shots go in against him in these clips, he has been essential glue for the Celtics’ defense even at age 35, impressive to even make it to these contests.

Prospects with a Shot to Lead a Good Defense as a Rover:

1. John Butler

This seems the more appropriate route to high-end defensive impact than the Unicorn role which would depend on Butler adding some more strength. Butler’s foot speed for his length fits the Rover mold perfectly, as does his general defensive awareness to snuff simple actions. It’s a great sign Butler is able to keep up with guards with reactive footwork, mobile enough to keep up with smaller players, and is excellent at flipping his hips to make help reads.

Prospects with a Shot to Lead a Decent Defense as a Rover:

David Jones, Kadin Shedrick

David (aka “Deivi”) Jones is the shortest prospect mentioned in this piece so far, but he has a very good case as an unlikely rim protector. Jones has a chaotic play style, exactly what is needed to wreak psychological havoc on your opponent. He makes plenty of rotation gambles, but they almost always work, either digging in as a tagger or breaking up kick-outs with perfect timed double teams. While you would still need a traditional center next to him, you could get away with a subpar shot-blocking center with Jones’ stellar aggressive helping down low.

While the likelihood of Jones being the primary rim protector of a defense remains low, he has a chance where few wing players do, and his help defense would be a major asset regardless. Jones is a good reminder that rim protection can mean stopping plays from even getting to the rim or slowing them on their way there, not just blocking shots at the hoop. According to Hoop-Explorer.com, DePaul’s defense is 6 points better per 100 possessions with him in the game, with opponents’ rim attempt rates nearly 3 percentage points lower with him in the game.

Shedrick we’ve discussed as a Midrange Wall style player, as a highly aware defender who stays active. He is quick enough to guard 4s next to another big, only limited by his mediocre wingspan. Shedrick is a natural quarterback for a defense, and even when he is slightly off on rotations is able to make up for it quickly. My favorite sign of defensive processing is ability to help quickly to the block when an offensive player turns his head away from you (further from the basket) on his way to shoot, and both Jones and Shedrick pass that test with flying colors.

Long Shot Prospects but Still Possible:

Chet Holmgren, Tre Mitchell, Arthur Kaluma, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Kendall Brown

Chet is more of an exclusion from the prior Rover lists as just a waste of his strength as an interior shotblocker, though also has a steal rate low for what you’d want for someone with more assignments on the wing.

Texas’ Tre Mitchell is savvy with rotations and body control, leading to a stellar 5% steal rate, but limited by a mediocre vertical and quickness and being only 6’9’’.

Kaluma is intriguing, similar to the David Jones mold but has shown good timing rather than the perfect rotations needed for this to work as a 6’7’’ player. But he does have awesome footwork and good awareness as a freshman, with time to show he could make it work.

Trayce Jackson-Davis is ideal for this role in the NCAA, but appears a little too slow of a leaper (though still powerful and with good hand-eye when he does) to make it work. I prefer him in more of a bigger Morris brother role as a big wing stopper who can help at the rim here and there.

Kendall Brown again needs to work on his off-ball awareness to make this work, but is one to watch as the season progresses and has plenty of other routes to defensive value.

Rim Protector Type #6: Non-Traditional

To qualify: Not on any of above lists but still most shots defended at rim

Motto: “Stop them by any means possible”

Prime Examples: Kyle Lowry, Draymond Green

This is probably my favorite type, essentially a ‘do what it takes’, creative schematic solution. Both Lowry and Green are pests on the perimeter in addition to interior, characterized by great hands, elite processing and strength beyond their height.

The premise with this role is to have a strong defensive system to begin with, but also one that empowers high processing players to make complex and aggressive help plays on the ball in the middle of offensive actions. Lowry, in his first season with the Heat, ties center Bam Adebayo in rim attempts defended per game. He often makes rotations from his assignment on the weakside across the court into PNR actions or stopping the roll man at the rim with a timely strip, tie-up before the ball gets to the hoop or a drawn charge.

Not much needs to be said about Draymond Green on the defensive end, as he’s a rare enough player to not be worth chasing in every draft. But he does provide a blueprint for how versatile a defender can be, both quarterbacking the Warriors’ whole system and taking it upon himself to correct for his teammates’ shortcomings with his own improvisations mid-play.

This scheme is the most difficult to pull off, but also offers the potential for most offensive flexibility if done successfully. While it’s more difficult for non-bigs to protect the rim, of course, there is such a range of defensive talents among guards and wings who represent a larger share of the population that there are some real diamonds in the rough worth investing in.

Prospects with a Shot to Lead a Good Defense as a Non-Traditional Rim Protector:

1. Alex Fudge

Fudge is a delight to watch off the bench for LSU, and leads the SEC in steal rate as a freshman at 5.9%, fifth overall in the NCAA and tops among freshmen. Fudge is impossible to keep away from the action, with an antenna that goes off any time the opposing offensive starts to attack the rim. The 6’8’’ Fudge reportedly has a 7’0’’ wingspan, believable as he’s able to make plays on the ball even from oblique angles. Fudge has a unique rhythm to how he plays, able to guess what the opponent will do a beat early. I have high expectations for him as an NBA player, regardless of whether used as a primary rim protector or just general chaos agent. Fudge doesn’t turn 19 until May, making him the fourth youngest player mentioned in this piece.

2. Shakeel Moore

Moore moves like he’s controlled by a joystick on the court, changing direction seamlessly while maintaining strength. The sophomore has the sixth best steal rate in the SEC with only 2.2 fouls per 40 minutes, and, despite his 6’1’’ height, has all the tools to potentially make this role work. He shoots out of a gun for close-outs, has the lower body strength to hang in against bigger players in the post and executes with flawless timing on steal attempts. The likelihood of him leading an NBA defense requires a lot to go right, especially as he was not considered an elite HS recruit, but he does have unique defensive potential. No underclassmen 6’3’’ or shorter blocks as many shots as Moore with his 3.3% block rate. He already plays a Lowry-esque role, fitting in a lot of three-guard lineups for Mississippi State as a constant help defender.

Prospects with a Shot to Lead a Decent Defense as a Non-Traditional Rim Protector:

Dylan Addae-Wusu

Addae-Wusu is a 6’4’’ sophomore at St. John’s playing in a hybrid guard role. He resembles Moore but taller and likely stronger, if not quite as lightning-quick laterally. Addae-Wusu is super smart with his hand placement on steals, capable of knocking the ball loose in countless ways. He may not have the clearest path to NBA playing time as not a highly sought after recruit to begin with, but his defensive versatility provides a way for immediate value.

Long Shot Prospects but Still Possible:

Mylik Wilson, Caleb Mills

Only here because as upperclassmen with limited playing time, the likelihood of making it to the NBA is relatively sparse. But both guys show elite defensive playmaking potential as guards. Houston’s Jamal Shead and VCU’s Jayden Nunn were tough exclusions that I want to shout out regardless for tough and versatile defense.