The NBA announced that Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert would be the 2023-2024 DPOY. This is Gobert’s fourth time winning the award, tying Hall of Fame centers Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace, who were both elite defensive players. This is an amazing accomplishment for the Frenchman, whose team is currently facing off against the Denver Nuggets.
This announcement might be viewed as controversial due to the great year rookie Victor Wembanyama has had defensively. Everyone will have an opinion on who should’ve won this year. However, the decision has been made, and Rudy Gobert is now a part of history.
A Brick Wall For Timberwolves Defense
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Gobert’s defensive stats are consistent every single season. This year, he came in second for rebounds with 12.9 per game. 9.2 of these rebounds are coming on the defensive end, while 3.8 are on the offensive end. The big man also averaged 2.1 blocks this season. Furthermore, in the playoffs, he has given the Timberwolves 11.4 rebounds per game.
The big man is a juggernaut rim protector for the Timberwolves and is capable of grabbing boards over all his opponents. He stands at 7’1″ and has a wingspan of 7’9″, giving him a major advantage over most of the league. It’s clear that he is having a big impact this playoff series against the Denver Nuggets and that he played a major factor in the team’s sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Can It Translate on the International Stage
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This year, Gobert will be a part of France’s Olympic team. He will stand with fellow big man and history maker Victor Wembanyama. These two have the opportunity to work together as an unstoppable defense, as Wembanyama was also up for the DPOY award.
France has yet to win a gold medal in basketball, as that honor is often bestowed upon the United States. Team USA is a consistent powerhouse in basketball for the Olympics, with 16 gold medals. If Gobert can turn up the defense for France and work well with the rookie, they could finally have gold placed around their necks.
With the addition of the rookie and the hunger the Timberwolves player is showing there is a chance that France has an unstoppable defense.
A Controversial Award
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When you check social media and scroll through the posts about the DPOY award, I can guarantee you will find discourse. Many believe that Wembanyama should have won ROTY and DPOY this season over the Timberwolves vet. He would have been the first rookie to get the defensive award. However, it went to the defensive stalwart instead.
Yes, Wemby had amazing stats defensively and offensively. However, one has to consider that Gobert’s team came in third place vs. Wemby’s 14th place. The time will come for the young player to get his hands on that trophy. This season, Gobert contributed to an elite Timberwolves team and shone.
With new big men coming onto the scene, Gobert may never win DPOY again. However, this isn’t something he should worry about right now. Instead, he should be proud of the history he has made and allow it to boost his energy up for game three against the Denver Nuggets and help the Minnesota Timberwolves take down the former NBA champions.
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Elizabeth is an avid watcher of all things sports. However, the Boston sports teams will always be her number one. Her favorite sport to watch is basketball, but she also enjoys professional wrestling, soccer, and baseball. You can find her on X @edellapiana1 to check out more content.
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