There may be no other player in the NBA more hated than Rudy Gobert. The All-NBA big man is a common target of criticism by people who question if he was ever worthy of his impressive record of accolades.
“Just look at the numbers,” Gobert told Sportskeeda in an exclusive interview. “Media manipulation and perception is one thing. But look at who is in the top five with guarding on switches last year or in isos. Look at the numbers. Numbers don’t lie.”
“A lot of people discredit some of the awards with Defensive Player of the Year,” Gobert said. “That’s great. But when you do that, make sure you come with the receipts. Make sure you come in with the numbers and the data that can prove your point.”
If you look at his resume, you’d never know that Rudy Gobert was such a controversial player. The star Frenchman averages 12.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game for his career, which spans across two different teams over 11 years.
Since his debut in 2013, Gobert has been decorated with awards including 3 All-Star appearances, 7 All-Defensive selections, and 4 All-NBA selections. He’s also a 4x Defensive Player of the Year, tying Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace for the most in league history.
Despite his trophies, Gobert is often ridiculed and discredited for his achievements. The fans claim that he didn’t deserve those Defensive Player of the Year awards and that he’s far too overrated and overpaid for the impact he makes on the floor. Players like Draymond Green have insulted his game in the past and NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has maintained a personal vendetta against the man.
Gobert’s response has always been to look at the numbers and they support his status as one of the league’s premier defensive bigs. In all but two seasons, Rudy has averaged at least two blocks per game and he consistently has his teams ranked near the top defensively.
Last season, Gobert ranked first on defense in isolation plays and allowed the fewest points per direct isolations on switches. As a team, Gobert’s presence made the Timberwolves a juggernaut defensively, where they ranked first with a rating of 109.0.
There is no question that Rudy Gobert is a superstar defender and his impact is felt on the court during games. On the other end of the court is where things get messy. Rudy has never been an elite scorer and his inability to shoot or really create any shot of his own has limited his effectiveness on the floor.
So far, he’s managed to do enough to earn some pretty big contracts but if he doesn’t meet expectations on the Timberwolves this year, it could be the final nail in the coffin for his run with Anthony Edwards and company.
For Gobert, this season is a chance to stick it to the haters and prove that they were wrong about his game. If he somehow wins another Defensive Player of the Year trophy, nobody will be able to challenge his legacy as one of the best rim protectors ever.
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