Rudy Gobert on DPOY Race: 'I've Been the Most Impactful Player This Year'
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert is ramping up his Defensive Player of the Year campaign, and he's not being shy about what he brings to the table.
"I've been the most impactful player this year," Gobert told ESPN.com's Tim MacMahon.
"It's a team game. The Defensive Player of the Year is the guy that makes his team better. Not only gets stats, it's the guy that also has an impact on his teammates and leadership."
He has a point.
With Gobert patrolling the paint, the Jazz have allowed 97.9 points per 100 possessions. By comparison, the Boston Celtics lead the league at 101.2. When Gobert sits, that mark has ballooned to 105.3—which would rank 12th overall.
If there's a knock against the Frenchman, it's that he's only appeared in 48 games this season after missing significant time because of a sprained PCL and bone bruise.
And while there is precedent, considering Kawhi Leonard took home the 2014-15 DPOY hardware despite appearing in 64 games, Gobert will be able to max out at 56 contests if he doesn't miss one the remainder of the season.
If voters view that as a demerit, the award could be Joel Embiid's to lose.
The Philadelphia 76ers center has anchored the NBA's fourth-ranked defense (102.7 points allowed per 100 possessions), and the club has logged a defensive rating of 99.7 with him on the floor.
Plus, opponents are shooting just 49.9 percent inside of six feet when Embiid has operated as their primary defender over his 62 appearances.
While the Sixers have already locked up an Eastern Conference playoff spot, the Jazz are fighting for their postseason lives out West.
They've gone 20-4 since Feb. 1 and are two games clear of the ninth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers and a half-game up on the eighth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.
Utah (42-32) will try to hold steady Wednesday night when it hosts the Boston Celtics at Vivint Smart Home Arena.
Stats courtesy of NBA.com.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
