By winning a record fourth Defender of the Year title this year, Rudy Gobert has risen to the same level as Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace, who have also won four awards in the past.
However, even if Mike Conley or Jalen Brunson have already come to his defense during the season, the Frenchman is far from unanimous in the league. Thus, Chauncey Billups recently questioned his status and it is now Dwight Howard who is doubtful about the defensive level of the Wolves interior.
” I don't want to speak ill of anyone, but I don't think he deserves so many Defender of the Year awards. ” says the 38-year-old pivot in the podcast by Gilbert Arenas. I consider him to be good defensively in a collective, but what he has done does not justify so many trophies. I do not see him as an elite defender.. »
More impressive collectively than individually?
Then Dwight Howard, three-time Defender of the Year in the past, detailed his point of view: ” When you're 6'3″ and playing with athletic teammates, you don't have to do much other than correct their mistakes or be present in the paint.. »
Impervious to criticism from former players thanks to a steely mind, Rudy Gobert nonetheless remains the preferred target of many observers and opponents, even though he has been accumulating statistics and awards for ten years.
” I think he's a great defender on a team level, but I don't see him as an elite defender. ” Dwight Howard then insists.
| Rudy Gobert | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2013-14 | UTH | 45 | 10 | 48.6 | 0.0 | 49.2 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 2.3 |
| 2014-15 | UTH | 82 | 26 | 60.4 | 0.0 | 62.3 | 3.2 | 6.2 | 9.5 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 8.4 |
| 2015-16 | UTH | 61 | 32 | 55.9 | 0.0 | 56.9 | 3.4 | 7.5 | 11.0 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 9.1 |
| 2016-17 | UTH | 81 | 34 | 66.1 | 0.0 | 65.3 | 3.9 | 8.9 | 12.8 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 14.0 |
| 2017-18 | UTH | 56 | 32 | 62.2 | 0.0 | 68.2 | 3.0 | 7.8 | 10.7 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 13.5 |
| 2018-19 | UTH | 81 | 32 | 66.9 | 0.0 | 63.6 | 3.8 | 9.0 | 12.9 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 15.9 |
| 2019-20 | UTH | 68 | 34 | 69.3 | 0.0 | 63.0 | 3.4 | 10.1 | 13.5 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 15.1 |
| 2020-21 | UTH | 71 | 31 | 67.5 | 0.0 | 62.3 | 3.4 | 10.1 | 13.5 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 14.3 |
| 2021-22 | UTH | 66 | 32 | 71.3 | 0.0 | 69.0 | 3.7 | 11.0 | 14.7 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 15.6 |
| 2022-23 | MIN | 70 | 31 | 65.9 | 0.0 | 64.4 | 3.3 | 8.3 | 11.6 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 13.4 |
| 2023-24 | MIN | 76 | 34 | 66.1 | 0.0 | 63.8 | 3.8 | 9.2 | 12.9 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 14.0 |
| Total | 757 | 30 | 65.5 | 0.0 | 63.9 | 3.4 | 8.4 | 11.8 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 12.7 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
| Dwight Howard | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2004-05 | ENT | 82 | 33 | 52.0 | 0.0 | 67.1 | 3.5 | 6.5 | 10.0 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 12.0 |
| 2005-06 | ENT | 82 | 37 | 53.1 | 0.0 | 59.5 | 3.5 | 9.0 | 12.5 | 1.5 | 3.4 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 15.8 |
| 2006-07 | ENT | 82 | 37 | 60.3 | 50.0 | 58.6 | 3.5 | 8.8 | 12.3 | 1.9 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 3.9 | 1.9 | 17.6 |
| 2007-08 | ENT | 82 | 38 | 59.9 | 0.0 | 59.0 | 3.4 | 10.8 | 14.2 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 20.7 |
| 2008-09 | ENT | 79 | 36 | 57.2 | 0.0 | 59.4 | 4.3 | 9.6 | 13.8 | 1.4 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 20.6 |
| 2009-10 | ENT | 82 | 35 | 61.2 | 0.0 | 59.2 | 3.5 | 9.7 | 13.2 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 18.3 |
| 2010-11 | ENT | 78 | 38 | 59.3 | 0.0 | 59.6 | 4.0 | 10.1 | 14.1 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 3.6 | 2.4 | 22.9 |
| 2011-12 | ENT | 54 | 38 | 57.3 | 0.0 | 49.1 | 3.7 | 10.8 | 14.5 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 20.6 |
| 2012-13 | LAL | 76 | 36 | 57.8 | 16.7 | 49.2 | 3.3 | 9.1 | 12.4 | 1.4 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 17.1 |
| 2013-14 | WHOA | 71 | 34 | 59.1 | 28.6 | 54.7 | 3.3 | 8.9 | 12.2 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 18.3 |
| 2014-15 | WHOA | 41 | 30 | 59.3 | 50.0 | 52.8 | 2.7 | 7.8 | 10.5 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 15.8 |
| 2015-16 | WHOA | 71 | 32 | 62.0 | 0.0 | 48.9 | 3.4 | 8.4 | 11.8 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 13.8 |
| 2016-17 | ATL | 74 | 30 | 63.3 | 0.0 | 53.3 | 4.0 | 8.7 | 12.7 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 13.5 |
| 2017-18 | CHA | 81 | 30 | 55.5 | 14.3 | 57.4 | 3.2 | 9.4 | 12.5 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 16.6 |
| 2018-19 | WAS | 9 | 26 | 62.3 | 0.0 | 60.4 | 2.7 | 6.6 | 9.2 | 0.4 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 12.8 |
| 2019-20 | LAL | 69 | 19 | 72.9 | 60.0 | 51.4 | 2.5 | 4.9 | 7.4 | 0.7 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 7.5 |
| 2020-21 | PHL | 69 | 17 | 58.7 | 25.0 | 57.6 | 2.8 | 5.7 | 8.4 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 7.0 |
| 2021-22 | LAL | 60 | 16 | 61.2 | 53.3 | 65.8 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 5.9 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 6.2 |
| Total | 1242 | 32 | 58.7 | 21.4 | 56.7 | 3.3 | 8.4 | 11.8 | 1.4 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 15.7 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
