In the pantheon of the best defenders in history. Rudy Gobert was voted best defender of the year in the NBA this Tuesday. This is the fourth time that the Minnesota Timberwolves pivot has won the “Defensive Player Of The Year” trophy (after 2018, 2019 and 2021), which makes him the equal of Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace, co-record men in this matter. He is ahead of his compatriot Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio) and Bam Adebayo (Miami).
Arriving in Minnesota in the summer of 2022, in exchange for several players and draft rounds, the Frenchman had a mission: to make the Wolves one of the best defenses in the NBA. After a first season of trial and error, finding his feet with the other interior Karl-Anthony Towns (long injured), the mission was more than successful. Thirteenth NBA defense before the arrival of Gobert, the Minneapolis franchise is now the best in this area, with 108.4 points conceded/100 possessions, and had a magnificent regular season (3rd in the West).
With 14 points, 12.9 rebounds (No. 2 in the NBA this season) and 2.1 blocks on average, the former Jazz pivot certainly did not sign his best statistical season, but the figures are very solid and above all , its impact had undoubtedly never been so great. He is second (behind Draymond Green) in the ranking of players who most reduce the success percentage of their direct opponent (-6.1). When he is on the pitch, the Wolves are also the team that concedes the fewest shots near the circle, all with the lowest opponent success percentage, as the Frenchman is so intimidating.
A role model for his teammates
Control tower of his team, exemplary defense captain, he trained all his teammates. “He helps me be a better defender, he allows me to play better,” Towns explained. “He talks to me and helps me a lot,” added Wolves star Anthony Edwards, while leader Mike Conley compared the Frenchman’s impact to that of a LeBron James or a Stephen Curry. “He established a defensive culture here,” praised his coach Chris Finch after the victory in Game 2 against the Nuggets, while Minnesota was deprived of the Frenchman due to paternity.
Snubbed by the coaches during the All-Star Game – where Minnesota was represented by the Edwards-Towns duo – the Frenchman gets his revenge. Waiting for a happy outcome to the current play-off campaign?
2024-05-07 22:34:08
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