Rim protection
What it measures
It is Blocks 1 : 2P contests 1 : Rim volume 1 : Rim FG% suppressed 3. Each part is turned into a rank first, then combined in that ratio. From there it becomes a percentile, and then a grade.
Half how much shooting is suppressed within six feet, half how much rim defending is done at all (blocks, two-point contests, shots defended). The opponent FG% is credited to whoever was nearest, so the team's defense rides along with it
Terms used here: Contested shots / Field goals defended
How many players are ranked
This metric has an attempts cutoff. Players short of it are shown as “—” and are not ranked — which means there were too few attempts to rank them, not that they are bad at it.
| Season | How many players are ranked | Qualified players |
|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 349 players | 392 players |
| 2018-19 | 357 players | 403 players |
| 2019-20 | 361 players | 405 players |
| 2020-21 | 373 players | 416 players |
| 2021-22 | 379 players | 426 players |
| 2022-23 | 374 players | 407 players |
| 2023-24 | 359 players | 413 players |
| 2024-25 | 375 players | 430 players |
| 2025-26 | 347 players | 434 players |
Other metrics in “Defense”
- On-ball defense — Deflections and three-point contests are per 100 possessions. Opponent 3P% could not be measured reliably, so it is not used
- Hustle — Charges drawn and loose balls recovered on defense, per 100 possessions. Rotating correctly never reaches the public data, so what is measured is the acts that do get recorded — not help defense itself