Rudy Gobert, widely regarded as one of the league’s most formidable defensive players, has expressed his dissatisfaction after the NBA announced its finalists for the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award, and he was not among them.
Gobert, who has consistently elevated his performance on the court, believes he deserved to be recognized as a candidate for the award. In the recently concluded season, he ranked third in rebounds per game and fourth in blocks per game, while also playing a career-high number of minutes. He has also been crowned Blocks Champion three times and selected to the All-Defensive Team four times throughout his career.
Despite his impressive accolades, Gobert was notably absent from the list of three finalists for the DPOY award. This omission has left him feeling frustrated and undervalued. In an interview, he expressed his disappointment, saying, “I’m not happy about it.”
Gobert’s exclusion from the DPOY finalist list is particularly puzzling given his consistent defensive contributions. He has been a cornerstone of the Utah Jazz’s success, anchoring their defense and helping them establish themselves as one of the top teams in the league.
While Gobert is now 31 years old and has faced some injury concerns throughout his career, he remains a dominant force when healthy. His frustration over the DPOY snub suggests that he is determined to prove his worth and earn the recognition he believes he deserves.
The three finalists for the DPOY award are Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat, Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies, and Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics. The award winner will be announced at the NBA Awards ceremony on June 26th.
