As many of you know we have long struggled with giving some historical figures their true deserved respect when it comes to defensive ratings. Much of this is due to the fact that our data gathering process rewards those with Defensive yearly awards (First team, Second Team, Trailing 10, and now DPOY). These awards did not exist historically so many of those players are not properly represented defensively... Until now!

Huge shout out to the community members involved who helped us come up with historic defensive ratings boosts

(Benhoidal, Robusk, and Ashamael)

Community members went through and came up with All-Defensive teams prior to 1969 and DPOYs prior to 1983. They are copied below:

All-Defensive Teams:

90 Defensive Rating (First Teams):
Year 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
67-68 Wilt Chamberlain Bill Russell Mel Daniels John Havlieck Donnie Freeman
66-67 Bill Russell Wilt Chamberlain Dave Debusschere Guy Rodgers John Havlicek
65-66 Bill Russell Wilt Chamberlain Dave Debusschere Guy Rodgers John Havlicek
64-65 Bill Russell Wilt Chamberlain Bill Bridges John Havlicek Guy Rodgers
63-64 Bill Russell Wilt Chamberlain Bob Pettit Oscar Robertson John Havlicek
62-63 Bill Russell Bob Pettit Elgin Baylor Guy Rodgers John Havlicek
61-62 Bill Russell Wilt Chamberlain Bailey Howell Hal Greer Guy Rodgers
60-61 Bill Russell Bob Pettit Elgin Baylor Guy Rodgers Jerry West
59-60 Bill Russell Wilt Chamberlain Elgin Baylor Guy Rodgers Tom Gola
58-59 Bill Russell Dolph Schayes Bob Pettit Dick McGuire Tom Gola
57-58 Bill Russell Maurice Stokes Dolph Schayes Tom Gola Larry Costello
56-57 Bill Russell Maurice Stokes Dolph Schayes Jack Twyman Richie Regan
55-56 Maurice Stokes Dolph Schayes Bob Pettit George King Jack Twyman
54-55 Neil Johnston Dolph Schayes Bob Pettit Paul Seymour Slater Martin
53-54 George Mikan Dolph Schayes Jack Coleman Paul Seymour Bobby Wanzer
52-53 George Mikan Mel Hutchins Nate Clifton Andrew Phillip George King
51-52 George Mikan Dolph Hayes Leo Barnhorst Slater Martin George King

80 Defensive Rating (Second Team):
Year 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd
67-68 Nate Thurmond Clyde Lee Les Hunter Hal Greer Larry Jones
66-67 Nate Thurmond Bill Bridges Rick Barry Dave Bing Jerry Sloan
65-66 Nate Thurmond Jerry Lucas Chet Walker Hal Greer Oscar Robertson
64-65 Nate Thurmond Zelmo Beaty Dave Debusschere Lenny Wilkens Oscar Robertson
63-64 Nate Thurmond Jerry Lucas Bill Bridges Guy Rodgers K.C. Jones
62-63 Wilt Chamberlain Rudy LaRusso Bailey Howell Lenny Wilkens Oscar Robertson
61-62 Red Kerr Johnny Green Elgin Baylor Jerry West Richie Guerin
60-61 Wilt Chamberlain Dolph Schayes Cliff Hagan K.C. Jones Tom Gola
59-60 Dolph Schayes Bob Pettit Rudy LaRusso K.C. Jones Larry Costello
58-59 John Kerr Walter Dukes Elgin Baylor Gene Shue Guy Rodgers
57-58 Clyde Lovellette Neil Johnston Bob Pettit Dick McGuire George King
56-57 Clyde Lovellette Bob Pettit Jack Coleman Ed Conlin Dick Garmaker
55-56 Red Kerr Jack Coleman Dick Rickette Tom Gola Ed Fleming
54-55 Clyde Lovellette Mel Hutchins Vern Mikkelsen Andrew Phillip George King
53-54 Arnie Risen Jim Pollard Vern Mikkelsen George King Andrew Phillip
52-53 Dolph Schayes Harry Gallatin Vern Mikkelsen Paul Seymour Slater Martin
51-52 Joe Graboski Jim Pollard Vern Mikkelsen Bill Tosheff Robert Harrison

Proposed DPOY:

100 Defensive Rating (For these players and every official DPOY):
81-82 Caldwell Jones
80-81 Caldwell Jones
79-80 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
78-79 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
77-78 Bill Walton
76-77 Bobby Jones
75-76 Dave Cowens
74-75 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
73-74 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
72-73 Wilt Chamberlain
71-72 Wilt Chamberlain
70-71 Walt Frazier
69-70 Willis Reed
68-69 Bill Russell
67-68 Wilt Chamberlain
66-67 Bill Russell
65-66 Bill Russell
64-65 Bill Russell
63-64 Bill Russell
62-63 Bill Russell
61-62 Bill Russell
60-61 Bill Russell
59-60 Bill Russell
58-59 Bill Russell
57-58 Bill Russell
56-57 Maurice Stokes
55-56 Maurice Stokes
54-55 Dolph Schayes
53-54 George Mikan
52-53 George Mikan
51-52 George Mikan

As you can see these new ratings are now represented, as well as potential adjustments to salary.

Important Note: Similar to when we apply defensive teams boosts, these are not retroactive. If you have any of these players in Draftcenter or current team you will still be playing with old version. But going forward any time you search and draft these players you will get the "New" versions.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. Thank you again for all involved.

Regards,
-Chris
WhatIfSports