NBA Player Survey: Gobert Scrutinized, Wembanyama Acclaimed

The Athletic organized a survey in which 142 NBA players answered several questions anonymously. Best player, best defender, most overrated player, player around whom a team must be built, player with whom it is the most dangerous to fight… all subjects are covered. With varying fortunes for our two French people, Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert.

This is enough to give an additional source of motivation to Rudy Gobert. While the Minnesota Timberwolves begin a playoff campaign in which they are particularly ambitious, the French pivot finds itself somewhat scratched by a poll of The Athletic.

The American media asked several questions to 142 NBA players. Anonymously, they were able to award a trophy that had little value: that of the most overrated player in the league. Out of 81 votes cast (61 players did not wish to respond), 13.6% believe that it is Rudy Gobert. The former Cholet player is ahead of Jordan Poole (8.6%), Trae Young (7.4%), Dillon Brooks (4.9%) and James Harden (4.9%). Conversely, Derrick White and Jalen Williams are considered to be the most underrated players. They each received 10.3% of the votes.

Gobert shunned, Wembanyama acclaimed

Further proof of his low popularity rating, Gobert only ranks sixth among the best defenders in the league, according to players. Already elected best defender of the year three times (the media vote) and favorite to win this trophy for a fourth time at the end of the season, which would make him the most successful player in history in this area (tied with Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace), the Frenchman only collected 6% of the votes. He is ahead of Jaden McDaniels (8.3%), Herbert Jones (8.3%), Luguentz Dort (9.8%), Jrue Holiday (12.9%) and above all… Victor Wembanyama (15.2%) .

The San Antonio Spurs rookie, who is among the three finalists for the best defender of the year trophy (with Gobert and Bam Adebayo), therefore particularly impressed his peers. Best blocker in the NBA this season (3.6 blocks per game), he has already proven that he can carry his team’s defense on his shoulders from his first months in the Big League.

Author of a season which places him among the best rookies in history, the No. 1 of the 2023 draft is logically acclaimed in another poll. When asked “Who do you choose first to build a team from scratch”, 27.9% of voters opted for Wembanyama. Only Nikola Jokic, double regular season MVP (2021, 2022) and reigning NBA champion with the Denver Nuggets, manages to compare with the Frenchman (27.2%). Far behind, then come Anthony Edwards (10.3%), Luka Doncic (8.8%) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (4.4%).

In addition to the question of the MVP of the 2023-2024 season, where Jokic (41.8%) and Gilgeous-Alexander (36.9%) leave only crumbs for their opponents, NBA players were also surveyed on subjects a a little more offbeat. For example, to the question “Which player in the league would you least like to fight”, 53.6% of voters chose James Johnson (Indiana Pacers). In second place in this ranking, 16.8% of respondents say they do not want to get into trouble with Steven Adams. Joel Embiid comes in fourth (4%), just behind Isaiah Stewart (6.4%).

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2024-04-23 09:09:00
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