Top 10 Shot-Blockers

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jan 29, 2007

Top 10 Shot-Blockers

Adonal Foyle

Foyle is a true defensive specialist; he's never averaged more than 5.9 points in his 10 seasons, all spent with Golden State. Though limited playing time has kept him from threatening for the league lead in rejections, he has averaged 4.45 blocks per 48 minutes in his career. The former Colgate center also holds the NCAA Division I single-season record for blocks per game (6.4 in 1997).

Tim Duncan

Duncan is just as consistent in the shot-blocking department as he is in other statistical categories. The six-time All-Defensive first-team selection is on pace to block at least two shots a game for the 10th consecutive season.

Emeka Okafor

The third-year big man is challenging for the league's block title, which would give the former UConn standout that distinction at both the college and pro levels. Okafor sent away an NBA season-high 10 shots against New York on Jan. 12, a record at the current Madison Square Garden.

Jermaine O'Neal

O'Neal is the only player currently averaging at least three blocks. He rejected eight shots -- all in the first three quarters -- in a game against Milwaukee in November.

Andrei Kirilenko/Josh Smith

These two are paired together for their spectacular efforts from the small forward position. Smith relies on his leaping ability to average better than 2.5 blocks, while Kirilenko is adept at swatting shots from behind with his long reach. Kirilenko, however, is averaging one fewer block than last season, when he finished second in the league with 3.19 a game.

Ben Wallace

Big Ben's block average has declined every season since he led the NBA at 3.48 in 2001-02, the season in which he won the first of his four Defensive Player of the Year awards. Nevertheless, he still averages two blocks and anchors a Bulls defense that is one of the league leaders in opponents' field goal percentage.

Theo Ratliff

Ratliff has led the league in blocks twice and averaged at least three a game in seven of his 12 seasons. He appeared in only two games with the Celtics in 2006-07 before undergoing season-ending back surgery. He is fourth among active players in blocks, trailing Dikembe Mutombo, Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning.

Marcus Camby

The lanky center was No. 1 in blocks his second season (1997-98) and again in his 10th season (2005-06). Camby had four seven-block performances during a seven-game span this season.

Dikembe Mutombo

The finger-wagging Mutombo moved ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar this season for second all time in blocks (behind Hakeem Olajuwon), as he remains a presence in the paint at age 40. The league's oldest-active player is set to eclipse 3,200 blocks in a career that has included four Defensive Player of the Year awards. Mutombo also stands as the only player to lead the NBA in blocks three consecutive seasons (1993-94 through 1995-96).

Alonzo Mourning

The soon-to-be 37-year-old is the clear leader in blocks per 48 minutes, and he ranks second in blocks per game, despite averaging fewer than 24 minutes a game. Mourning is closing in on Robert Parrish for ninth on the all-time blocks list.

Top 10 Shot-Blockers