All-Time NBA "D" Team: NBA Players With Last Names That Start With the Letter D

The letter D is probably the most important in the sport of basketball. It represents defense, a key element to winning the NBA championship.

Some important players have last names that start with D, including a few of my favorites. Darryl Dawkins made highlights with his backboard-shattering dunks. Connie Dierking was revered at the University of Cincinnat, and even more so when he joined the Royals as a pro. Vlade Divac was a dominating presence for the Lakers of late 90s.

Though all of those players were exceptional centers, their statistics prevented them from earning positions on my all-time NBA "D" team. Here are the ten best of the group, based on the stats provided by NBA.com.

First Team

Center - Mel Daniels: Playing in the ABA in the late 60s, Daniels lead the league in rebounds three times between 1966 and 1971 as a Pacer.

Forward - Bob Dandridge: Playing primarily with the Bucks, Dandridge averaged 18.5 points and 8 rebounds per game over his career.

Forward - Adrian Dantley: As a member of the Jazz, Dantley twice led the league in scoring. He enjoyed a span of four years when he averaged over 30 points per game.

Guard - Louie Dampier: He played in college for UK and then as a pro for the Colonels. The six foot guard averaged nearly 19 points per game.

Guard - Clyde Drexler: After playing college ball for Houston, Drexler enjoyed a Hall of Fame career in the NBA. He averaged 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists for Portland before returning to Houston to play for the Rockets.

Second Team

Center - Tim Duncan: The current star for the Spurs has been a dominant center in the NBA for over a decade, averaging over 20 points and 11 rebounds per game.

Forward - Dave Debusschere: The Hall of Fame power forward averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons and for the championship Knicks team of the late 60s.

Forward - John Drew: Primarily with the Hawks and Jazz, Drew was quite a scorer. He averaged over 20 points per game during his career, and he pulled down 7 rebounds as well.

Guard - Walter Davis: The Suns star guard for fifteen seasons averaged just under 20 points a game between 1977 and 1992.

Guard - Joe Dumars: His 16 points per game average helped lead the Pistons to several championships between 1985 and 1999.