Overview

• Perkins released the list during the Thunder’s 2025 Finals celebration, ranking Alex Caruso first followed by Evan Mobley, Amen Thompson, Victor Wembanyama and Lu Dort
• Fans on social media criticized the snubs of league‐leading stealer Dyson Daniels and long‐time defensive stalwart Anthony Davis
• Perkins defended his choices by noting Caruso’s league‐leading defensive rating and Mobley’s Defensive Player of the Year credentials
• The reaction underscores ongoing debate about measuring defensive impact in an NBA increasingly defined by offense
• Perkins maintained that Caruso’s and Dort’s lockdown defense was integral to Oklahoma City’s championship run