Top Candidates For NBA Defensive Player of the Year!

1.Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)

Rudy Gobert is a prime candidate to win NBA DPOY

While both Embiid and Davis, along with many other players across the league, have laid their respective claims to the prestigious DPOY award, perhaps nobody has done so as authoritatively as Rudy Gobert has. Despite missing 26 games due to posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) issues and repetitive bone bruise injuries to his right knee, Gobert has been a one man wrecking crew for the Utah Jazz at the defensive end this season.

The fact that he is number one on this list despite missing a large part of the season due to injury is testimony to his amazing defensive abilities. When he has been on the floor, he has put up an absolute show for the Jazz at the defensive end. In an age where perimeter shooting has become the major part of team offenses, Gobert has ensured that whatever offense the opposition tries to run from the interior of the floor is thwarted.

Gobert has the longest standing height in the entire NBA at a mind boggling 9 ft 7 inches (although this particular record will soon be matched by Mo Bamba). This helps him deflect passes that guards make to team-mates inside the paint and to block shot attempts from under the basket.

In fact, before his three week injury absence in November, he was actually leading the league in blocks per game at 2.5- ahead of Anthony Davis who picked up the pace after the season ending injury to DeMarcus Cousins. Gobert was also the NBA leader in blocks last season and is third overall this season. This season, he has improved when steals are considered.

He is averaging a career best 0.8 steals per game- an improvement of 0.2 from last season. Due to his enormous contributions, the Utah Jazz have been able to consistently maintain a Top 5 defensive ranking in the NBA for the entirety of the season. This accomplishment is put into perspective considering that Utah does not boast of any other player who is particularly specializing or skilled in defense. Gobert is carrying the entire Jazz team on his shoulders when defense is considered.

Perhaps the greatest measure of Gobert's defensive value is made clear by the following fact: Players have actually stopped even attempting shots from the interior against the Jazz because of Gobert! No team in the NBA allows fewer shots from the interior than the Jazz. On the other hand, the Jazz allow the second MOST shot attempts from beyond the arc. Opponents simply have no option against Gobert! They are forced to pull up for threes because he is so good at protecting the paint on the interior!

Well, if that;'s not DPOY worthy, we don't know what is. After missing out narrowly on the prize last season, this time might just be the charm for Rudy Gobert!