Rudy Gobert made history this week by winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award for a record-tying fourth time.
The Minnesota Timberwolves center joines Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace as the only players to ever win DPOY four times.
This latest award for Gobert begs the question: Is he now a lock for the Basketball Hall of Fame?
Let’s take a deeper look at Gobert‘s career accomplishments and projections to determine if he has already sealed his place among the all-time greats.
Gobert’s Standout Defense and Rebounding
There is no doubt that defense is Gobert‘s calling card. He has now won DPOY in four out of the last seven seasons, establishing himself as one of the most dominant defensive forces the NBA has ever seen.
Gobert‘s ability to protect the rim is unmatched. He has led the league in blocks in three seasons and has finished in the top six in blocks per game every year since 2015.
His career average of 2.2 blocks per game ranks ninth all-time.
Beyond his shot-blocking, Gobert is an expert at altering shots and discouraging opponents from even attempting shots at the rim. He has anchored a top-five defense in six of the last seven seasons, including the #1-rated defense with the Jazz in 2021 and the Timberwolves in 2024.
Gobert is also an elite rebounder, averaging over 10 rebounds per game for his career with a career-best 14.7 per game in 2021.
His combination of rebounding, rim protection, and ability to defend in space make him one of the most impactful defenders the game has seen.
Individual and Team Accolades
In addition to his four DPOY awards, Gobert has made three All-Star appearances and earned six selections to the All-Defensive First Team. He also has two All-NBA selections.
Gobert played a key role in transforming the Utah Jazz into a consistent 50-win team that made the playoffs in each of his last six seasons there.
His impact has been immediate with the Timberwolves as well, as he helped lead them to 56 wins and the #3 seed in the West in his first season in Minnesota.
The Timberwolves now find themselves in the Western Conference Finals in just Gobert‘s second season. He has never played in the Finals but still has potentially many prime years left to help lead his team there.
Statistical Projections
At 31 years old, Gobert likely has at least five more elite seasons ahead of him. Projecting his future production based on his career averages per 36 minutes, Gobert is on pace to finish with over 17,000 career rebounds and 3,000 career blocks.
Only three players in NBA history have eclipsed both of those thresholds: Hakeem Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Dikembe Mutombo. Gobert reaching these numbers would put him in a truly legendary big-man company.
Could Gobert win any more Defensive Player of the Year awards?
Absolutely. At 31 years old, Gobert likely has several prime defensive seasons ahead. If he keeps the Timberwolves elite defensively and his athleticism declines gradually, he could contend for DPOY for the next three to four years potentially.
Matching Ben Wallace‘s record of four DPOY awards seemed unfathomable just five years ago. It would be unwise to bet against Gobert continuing to make history with his defense moving forward.
The Verdict
Given Gobert‘s standout career accomplishments already at just 31 years old, he appears to be a near-lock for the Hall of Fame even if he retired today. If he plays at an elite level for even half of the five seasons he likely has remaining, he will only further cement his case.
The combination of ranking among the all-time leaders in major defensive categories, capturing four DPOY awards, consistently contributing to contending teams, and projecting to cross some historic statistical thresholds makes Gobert’s Hall of Fame odds seem extremely favorable right now.
Sources:
www.startribune.com/rudy-gobert-nba-defensive-player-of-year-dpoy-timberwolves/600364343/
sports.yahoo.com/rudy-gobert-wins-record-tying-224230035.html
www.thescore.com/nba/news/2896281
