Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert is the only active multi-time NBA Award winner that’s become a pariah in the very same league that he’s dominated in.
Just this week, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year was voted as the most overrated player in the NBA in a poll that only his peers participated in. It’s not the type of superlative one would expect. At least not for a player that’s been successful as him.
On the court, this could be attributed to his limitations guarding out in space up to this season. For all of his prowess as a defensive anchor —utilizing his attentiveness, anticipation, and athleticism to lock down the paint —teams could play him off the court utilizing various floor-spacing techniques. However, his lack of popularity extends off the court. When with the Utah Jazz, his relationship with Donovan Mitchell faced heavy scrutiny. The Frenchman then earned the ire of NBA fans with his cavalier attitude about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chris Finch Explains Rudy Gobert’s Ultimate Value
In spite of all that, Gobert has enhanced his lateral movement exponentially. As a result, he’s evolved into the type of player that can be relied upon in any situation. Subsequently, Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch has come to see Gobert as “the reason [they] don’t lose.”
“There’s a difference between being the reason you win and being the reason you don’t lose,” Finch says, per The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski.
“And Rudy is the reason we don’t lose. He doesn’t let us lose these games. He’s been this way all season. He’s an incredible floor raiser and he just brings it and he knows when the team needs him to do this the most. That’s one of the many reasons he’s so valuable for us.”
“Rudy is a really good defender at all levels,” Finch continues. “He gets down. He’s big. He can move well and cares. When you get to this moment, there’s nothing to rest him or keep him fresh for. Play him more minutes. You can employ him in different ways.”
To Gobert, the reason that he’s unappreciated is because it’s difficult for the average fan to respect the “very unique way” he impacts games, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
“In their eyes, I’m more like the odd guy from France that’s winning a lot of awards, and it can bother people,” Gobert says.
“I impact the games in a very unique way,” he continues. “It’s maybe not as cool or not as flashy as some other guys, so it’s sometimes harder for them to respect that.”
For a player drafted 27th overall from across the pond, Gobert deserves more adulation.
Ben Wallace Vibes
In many ways, his career resembles that of Hall of Fame center Ben Wallace.
After going undrafted in 1996, the Alabama native went on to earn four Defensive Player of the Year awards. At 6-foot-9, he didn’t have the physical profile that teams preferred. Nonetheless, his toughness and technique made him one of the most feared interior defenders.
Like Wallace, Gobert can become a four-time Defensive Player of the Year as early as this week.
He’s expected to stand sentinel in the paint at 7-foot-1. To that end, he averaged 2.1 blocks per game in 2023-24, the sixth-highest mark in the league. But, to reiterate, his improved lateral agility and footwork is a major reason why the Timberwolves had the top-ranked defense in 2023-24.
The 31-year-old may never be seen the way that he wants to be by the general public. However, he’s clearly earned the respect of his locker room. That internal belief and him growing comfortable with himself are the most important factors in his career at this point.
