Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert is favored to win the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year award, per BetOnline.ag.
The online betting site has Gobert at a -500 to win the award. Milwaukee Bucks star swingman Giannis Antetokounmpo is at a +350 and Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Paul George is at a +900.
Gobert won the Defensive Player of the Year award last season. The Jazz center beat out Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid. This season, Gobert averaged 15.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 66.9 percent from the field. The Jazz won 50 games in the regular season and had the fourth-best defense in terms of opponents points per game. Utah allowed 106.5 points per night.
Gobert was fourth in the NBA in rebounds per game, second in total rebounds, third in blocks per game and second in total blocks. The Jazz lost to the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2019 playoffs in five games. Gobert put up 11.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in the five-game series and shot 59.4 percent from the floor.
Gobert was visibly upset when he wasn't named to the All-Star team this season. He said defense should be valued as well and that basketball isn't all about offense. The Jazz love the passion Gobert plays with and value him a lot.
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