While other players pick Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving as the hardest players to guard in the NBA, Philadelphia 76ers sharpshooter J.J. Redick made a surprise selection. In an interview with Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype, Redick said San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili was the toughest to guard, especially during his peak from 2009 to 2012. According to Redick, those were the years when Ginobili was a workhorse for the Spurs, even comparing him to Harden. “He’d play like 28 minutes a night, but he’d average about 20 points, five assists and five rebounds.
I mean, he was a monster,” said Redick, who signed a one-year deal worth $23 million after a four-year stint with the Los Angeles Clippers. In 992 career games with the Spurs, Ginobili averaged 13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists. He recently signed a two-year contract worth $5 million with the Spurs. Aside from Ginobili, Redick said former Clippers teammate Jamal Crawford, who now plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves, is also hard to guard due to his dribbling ability. “Jamal Crawford is tough because he carries the ball every time he dribbles it, so you never know where he’s going or if he’s going to pull-up or drive,” Redick said.
John Wall picks fellow guards
For John Wall of the Washington Wizards, fellow point guards Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Irving of the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry are the toughest players to guard in the NBA.
Wall said Irving is the best one-on-guard player today while Westbrook is always in attack mode. Wall said stopping Curry is hard because a defender will have to go through a series of screens to stop his attempt. Recently, Wall declared himself as the best two-way point guard in the league. Wall recently signed a four-year, $170 million supermax extension after averaging career highs of 23.1 points, 10.7 assists and 2.0 steals en route to All-NBA Third Team honors.
Recently, he was challenged by former Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant to make it to the NBA First Team All-Defense.
Elfrid Payton says Westbrook tough to guard
For Orlando Magic point guard Elfrid Payton, Westbrook is hardest to guard because of his fast-paced style of play. Payton said Westbrook is always playing 100 miles per hour and his scoring threat is a challenge for any defender. Payton said Curry is also hard to guard because of his ability to move off screens. For Payton, Irving is a one tough customer because of his dribbling ability and his mentality as scorer.
