| 1997 NBA Defensive Rating Leaders | |||||
| Rank | Name | Pos | Team |
Defensive Stops Per Game |
Defensive Rating |
| 1 | Patrick Ewing | F/C | NYK | 9.8 | 91.9 |
| 2 | Alonzo Mourning | F | MIA | 8.9 | 92.2 |
| 3 | Dikembe Mutombo | C | ATL | 9.5 | 92.4 |
| 4 | Arvydas Sabonis | G/F | POR | 6.9 | 93.3 |
| 5 | Dennis Rodman | G | CHI | 9.0 | 93.6 |
| 6 | Shaquille O'Neal | F/C | LAL | 9.8 | 95.0 |
| 7 | Shawn Kemp | F/C | SEA | 8.2 | 95.5 |
| 8 | P.J. Brown | F | MIA | 7.2 | 95.5 |
| 9 | Charles Oakley | F/C | NYK | 8.2 | 95.6 |
| 10 | Hakeem Olajuwon | G | HOU | 9.2 | 95.8 |
| 11 | Charles Barkley | G | HOU | 9.6 | 95.8 |
| 12 | Grant Hill | C/F | DET | 9.2 | 96.2 |
| 13 | Greg Ostertag | C | UTA | 5.7 | 96.5 |
| 14 | Tyrone Hill | G | CLV | 7.2 | 97.0 |
| 15 | Jerome Kersey | F/C | LAL | 5.9 | 97.4 |
| 16 | Chris Webber | C/F | WAS | 9.6 | 97.5 |
| 17 | Christian Laettner | G | ATL | 7.9 | 97.7 |
| 18 | Karl Malone | G/F | UTA | 8.4 | 97.8 |
| 19 | Mookie Blaylock | G | ATL | 8.0 | 97.9 |
| 20 | Ervin Johnson | F | DEN | 9.0 | 98.4 |