Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert won his third Defensive Player of the Year plum on Wednesday night, edging out Ben Simmons, Bam Adebayo, and Draymond Green, among others, for the award.
With the announcement, Gobert joins Dikembe Mutombo, Ben Wallace, and Dwight Howard as the only players to take home the top defender trophy at least thrice.
Gobert has established himself as one of the best defenders of all time. Behind all the distinctions, the Jazz big man never forgets to give his mother a shoutout.
Via Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune:
“My mom. She sacrificed a lot. She believed in me as a kid. She allowed me to do what I wanted to do. … Three of them is just amazing, and it’s on her. She gave me everything.”
Rudy Gobert is one of the most important pieces to the Jazz juggernaut that has Salt Lake City feeling mighty proud for having the league's best regular-season record. His disruptive presence on the defensive end has given nightmares to opposing teams.
Gobert isn't just about blocking shots. The French national's length and high basketball IQ allow him to become a threat beyond the shaded area. In the Jazz's Game 1 win over the L.A. Clippers, Gobert displayed his defensive acumen by way of a game-saving block against Marcus Morris.
At 28 years old, Gobert still has plenty of elite years ahead of him. Mutombo and Wallace share a tie for the most DPOY trophies at four apiece. When it's all said and done, the Jazz star may very well accompany or even move past the two lockdown legends.