Wembanyama tops 2026-27 projected best defenders ranking

Ausar Thompson leads non-bigs; Jazz bet on Jackson reset

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

What happened: The 15-player projection splits defenders into five bigs, five wings/forwards and five guards for 2026-27. Holmgren edges Gobert for second among bigs, with Adebayo and Jackson Jr. completing the top five on projection. Thompson paces the wings/forwards ahead of Barnes and Anunoby, with Stewart just missing on durability questions.

Why it matters: Pairing Adebayo with Antetokounmpo in South Beach returns Adebayo to physicality, motor and switch versatility. Jackson Jr.'s arrival in Utah frames a return to DPOY form after two difficult seasons in Memphis. Thompson carries less offensive usage than his brother in Texas, leaving more energy for top matchups and off-ball disruption.

By the numbers: Wembanyama was the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year. Holmgren was the lone All-Star among 28 below 18 points per game. Stewart led centers with at least 30 games in rim-shot impact; Holmgren enters his age-24 season against Gobert's age-34 season, and Barnes is roughly four years younger than Anunoby.

What to watch: Preseason will show how Adebayo pairs with Antetokounmpo and how Jackson Jr. anchors Utah's next winning phase.

Sources

SBNation NBA 2026-10-20T12:04:20.495835+00:00

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NBAAnalysisMemphis GrizzliesUtah JazzVictor WembanyamaChet Holmgren

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