Rudy Gobert started last season determined to become the NBA's next Defensive Player of the Year. Come the end of the regular season, he was among the two other finalists for the award — two-time award-winner Kawhi Leonard and Draymond Green, who he had tied with a league-leading 98.9 defensive efficiency rating.

The Frenchman came up short, as Green earned his first DPOY award in his third time as a finalist, but Gobert claims he hasn't been rattled by this snub, but rather motivated to put in the work toward this upcoming season.

“No matter what, I want to keep getting better and winning,” Gobert told Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype. “When you play in a smaller market, you have to do three times what the guys in the big markets do. That’s okay; I’ve learned that. It’s fine though because I’m just focused on this team and winning games.”

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Yet Gobert did make the All-NBA Second Team, making this a sign of his constant improvement year after year.

“I mean, it was great,” Gobert said of his new accolade. “Individual awards obviously aren’t what I play for, but it was great to have some recognition and it just pushes me to keep getting better. I’ve learned that the best thing to do is just go play and show people what I can do.”

The 7-foot-1 center will have an even bigger role with the departure of Gordon Hayward, but is excited to have new teammates like Ricky Rubio and rookie Donovan Mitchell to play alongside of come October.