Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert officially hit the 65-game requirement for postseason awards. Currently, the 31-year-old is the betting favorite to take home this year’s NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. If this does happen, Gobert would become a four-time winner of the award, tying Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace for the all-time record.
Rudy Gobert remains the favorite to win DPOY, per @BovadaOfficial
Rudy Gobert: -700
Victor Wembanyama: +500
Jarrett Allen: +8500(Via https://t.co/jKJ3d8xxYi) pic.twitter.com/yCWczpKTBl
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 25, 2024
NBA Award-Favorite Reaches 65-Game Requirement
The Impact of Rudy Gobert This Season
Gobert has been a crucial part of Minnesota’s success in his second season with the team. On the season, Gobert is averaging 13.6 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. Additionally, the Timberwolves’ 108.3 Defensive Rating is the league’s best this season. Next to stars Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, Gobert is the perfect defensive anchor to lift this team into contender territory. Currently, the Minnesota Timberwolves have a 49-22 record and are one game behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
In January, Gobert talked about how his defense has evolved since joining the NBA in 2013:
When I got into the league, how many centers were shooting threes? There was Dirk [Nowitzki]. There was [Andrea] Bargnani. Who else?
A lot of guys started shooting in the next few years. I remember [Nikola] Jokic started shooting threes, maybe my fifth year in the league. Then guys like Brook Lopez, [Kristaps] Porzingis. But it was rare. Now, every other day I’m guarding a guy who can shoot, a guy that’s going to pop. I have teams going small, so I’m going to have to guard more on the perimeter.
It’s been fun for me to have to be uncomfortable. Now I’m in a place where I’m comfortable guarding any lineup. Even switching. There’s a narrative out there I’m not good guarding on the switch, but if you look at the numbers and the film, I was allowing the lowest points on switches a couple of years ago.
Gobert’s versatility on defense has been a major help to Minnesota’s success this season.
Rudy Gobert is Not the Only Candidate for the DPOY Award
With less than a month to go, it seems like Gobert will bring home the award once again. However, that’s not to say he doesn’t have competition. Right behind him in the betting odds is fellow French native and rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama. Although Gobert has a higher chance of winning the DPOY award this season, the San Antonio Spurs rookie is giving him a run for the award. Earlier this month, Wembanyama said Gobert deserves the award this year, but “after that, it’s no longer his turn.”
Despite his individual success, Wembanyama’s Spurs have the ninth-worst Defensive Rating in the league. This is noteworthy and will take away from his candidacy for the award. Even so, Wembanyama is as intriguing a prospect as the league has seen in a long time. It will be interesting to see how long he and Gobert will battle for the NBA’s defensive crown.
