After a 110-108 overtime thriller in which the Minnesota Timberwolves mounted the largest overtime comeback in league history to beat the Houston Rockets, I asked Rudy Gobert about a pivotal defensive possession in which he was isolated on Kevin Durant.
I started the question by complimenting Gobert on his incredible defensive isolation numbers. Then, Gobert asked me, in jest, to repeat that statement.
“That’s not what I hear on Instagram,” Gobert said with a smile.
He laughed as I asked him whether he was surprised that players continue to hunt for him in isolation, despite considerable data showing that doing so is no longer a good basketball decision.
“I don’t know if it’s surprising because Kevin Durant is Kevin Durant,” he said. “But overall, a little bit, I get excited. I’m a competitor, and I embrace these situations. You rarely see those clips on social media. When it comes to me, you see all the negative stuff, but I don’t really care; impacting winning is what I care about.”
Rudy Gobert lives in a very strange world; the analytical side of NBA media sees him as a one-man wrecking crew on defense. He’s able to single-handedly raise a team’s floor to at least a top-ten defense. Gobert’s stats indicate that he’s one of the best defensive players in league history. Yet, on social media or among NBA commentators, Gobert is often depicted as a bumbling big man who gets driven by, and they use his gaffes as ammunition to prove their points.
Usually, in cases like this, the truth lies somewhere between the two polar-opposite views; however, this season, Gobert has been excellent virtually everywhere on defense. Despite the data, he ranks third on the Defensive MVP ladder, according to the odds and the NBA media.
Breaking down Gobert’s defense is usually a case of trying to explain why, although he occasionally looks below average, he’s elite. It’s like trying to convince a friend to buy a CD of a band they don’t really like or know about. (People still buy CDs, right?) You highlight the one good song on the radio and try to tell them how the songs later on the CD are even better.
However, the one good song or highlight is usually a step-back three or someone dunking on him. It’s like trying to get people to listen to Rebecca Black based on the song Friday. It’s almost a lost battle before the discussion even happens. So, as we dig into Gobert, all I ask is that you forget about the public perception of him and focus on what the numbers tell us.
Gobert’s individual numbers this season are ludicrous. His 108.3 defensive rating is 3.9 points better than Minnesota’s seventh-ranked 112.2 team defense. Compare that to Chet Holmgren‘s 102.9 league-leading defensive rating, which is only 3.3 better than the Oklahoma City Thunder’s team ranking. With Gobert on the floor, Minnesota’s defense ranks second in the league; when the Wolves sub him out, they fall to 20th.
This is due to Gobert’s exceptional rim defense, which has led to 1.7 blocks per game and 0.8 steals per game. His rim defense has made opposing teams 6.2% less likely to attack the paint when Gobert is on the floor. He’s also responsible for 2.27 turnovers forced per game. That has resulted in 3.7 defensive win shares, which is expected to finish at 4.1 and would go down as his second-most in a season since joining the Wolves.
However, Gobert’s true superpower this season has been far different from the rim defense that had defined his career. He has become an elite on-ball defender. When switched onto guards, Gobert holds them to 41.9% shooting from the floor and 34.6% from three. It’s still well above average against forwards and wings, allowing just 45.6% from the field and 36.3% from distance.
Gobert’s isolation defense has been the biggest wrinkle that he has added to his game. For reference, Jaden McDaniels allows opponents to shoot 44.1% the floor and 33.3% from three. The development of Gobert’s ability to provide similar perimeter defense to McDaniels in spurts gives the Wolves a defense with far fewer holes than in past seasons.
Rudy Gobert has gained a reputation for defensive excellence over his career. Although he isn’t favored to win his fourth Defensive Player of the Year trophy this season, his defense hasn’t fallen off. Gobert has continued to evolve and perfect his defense. Most Wolves fans know his value, even if it doesn’t translate to IG reels.
