I think most of us understand the true value of defending well without fouling, and the amount of pressure that is lifted off of his team when a player successfully shuts down the opposing ball handler without sending him to the free throw line. Watching Milwaukee's solid defense in Game 2 while only giving up 14 free throw attempts made me think: what Defensive Player of the Year winners also committed the least amount of fouls? Yes, elite defense is fantastic, but if you're giving up 2 points at the foul line half the time, it becomes less and less valuable. For this stat, I used per 100 possession numbers to best compare between different eras of basketball.

For reference, Dillon Brooks, the league leader in total personal fouls in each of the last 2 seasons averaged about 5.9 PF per 100 possessions over that span.

Kawhi Leonard 2016: 2.9 PF

Ben Wallace 2006: 3.1 PF

Kawhi Leonard 2015: 3.2 PF

Ben Wallace 2002: 3.2 PF

Sidney Moncrief 1983: 3.2 PF

Ben Wallace 2005: 3.3 PF

Sidney Moncrief 1984: 3.3 PF

Ben Wallace 2003: 3.4 PF

Rudy Gobert 2021: 3.6 PF

Gary Payton 1996: 3.6 PF

Kevin Garnett 2008: 3.7 PF

Marcus Camby 2007: 3.8 PF

Ron Artest 2004: 3.9 PF

Dikembe Mutumbo 2001: 4.1 PF

Michael Jordan 1988: 4.1 PF

Rudy Gobert 2018: 4.2 PF

Draymond Green 2017: 4.2 PF

Michael Cooper 1987: 4.2 PF

Rudy Gobert 2019: 4.3 PF

David Robinson 1992: 4.3 PF

Hakeem Olajuwon 1994: 4.5 PF

Giannis Antetokounmpo 2020: 4.6 PF

Joakim Noah 2014: 4.6 PF

Tyson Chandler 2012: 4.6 PF

Dwight Howard 2011: 4.6 PF

Dikembe Mutumbo 1997: 4.6 PF

Dikembe Mutumbo 1998: 4.8 PF

Dikembe Mutumbo 1995: 4.8 PF

Hakeem Olajuwon 1993: 4.8 PF

Alvin Robertson 1986: 4.8 PF

Mark Eaton 1989: 4.9 PF

Marc Gasol 2013: 5.0 PF

Dwight Howard 2009: 5.0 PF

Mark Eaton 1985: 5.1 PF

Alonzo Mourning 1999: 5.2 PF

Dwight Howard 2010: 5.3 PF

Dennis Rodman 1991: 5.3 PF

Dennis Rodman 1990: 5.9 PF

Alonzo Mourning 2000: 6.0 PF

Are there any surprises on this list that you didn't expect? To me nothing really jumps out besides Kawhi Leonard, who's already proved to be one of the best, smartest defensive players of all time. Also, what's your own take on defensive specialists who foul more often than others?