Cason Wallace has quickly become one of the premier defensive guards in the NBA and has been a pivotal part of one of the best defensive teams of all time: the 2025-26 Oklahoma City Thunder.
Wallace’s lightning-quick hands, ability to shut down stars, and the Thunder’s overall defensive success are making him a guaranteed member of an All-Defense team.
Cason Wallace Has the Best Hands in the NBA
Wallace’s defensive instincts have always been his selling point as a player, and this season, he has been among the best in causing perimeter chaos. He is first in steals per game (2.3), third in deflections per game (4.9), and third in total deflections (113). Per 100 possessions, he is averaging nearly four steals and a staggering 8.1 deflections.
(Stats via databallr.com)
His constant passing lane disarray forces easy transition offense for the Thunder, a significant reason for their league-best transition field-goal percentage (60.3%).
Additionally, because of his great hands, he can switch onto forwards and force mistakes. This ability was on full display against Julius Randle in the playoffs last season.
6. Wallace switched onto Randle and this time they do look back into the post. But Wallace doesn’t battle for position, he gets slippery and attacks the outside shoulder post entry to get the deflection and turnover. OKC impossible to post up consistently against pic.twitter.com/ayEouUtOdD
— Mike Jagacki (@Mike_Jagacki) May 29, 2025
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The former Kentucky Wildcat has been assigned to guard some of the best guards in the league, such as Luka Doncic and Stephen Curry. There has been little room for complaint with his defensive performances, seemingly shutting them out of the game.
(Matchup data via databallr.com)
Because of his phenomenal base strength, discipline, and flexibility around screens, it’s nearly impossible for guards to get around Wallace.
One of the Leading Contributors to a Historic Defense
The Thunder are first in most defensive categories this season, including defensive rating (104.1), opponent points per game (106.9), turnovers (17.8), and field goal percentage (42.8%).
Of course, OKC is known for having excellent defenders across the board, but that hasn’t been the case as much this year: Lugentz Dort has missed nine games, Alex Caruso has missed nine games, and Jalen Williams missed 19 games.
With these incredible defenders out, Wallace has picked up the slack. He has started all 23 games he has played this season, meaning he is taking on matchups that defenders such as Caruso and Dort would’ve had last season. His increased defensive role has not gone unnoticed — he won Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month for October and November.
Wallace has become one of the best defenders in the league, and because of this, he is a lock for an All-Defense spot at just 22 years old.
