Let’s get one thing straight: when Rudy Gobert was inserted into the starting lineup for the Utah Jazz this past season, he absolutely dominated the rest of the league.
The Jazz were one of the best defensive teams in the NBA during the second half of the year directly because of Gobert’s play, as there really aren’t many big man capable of playing up to his level on that end of the floor.
ALSO ON HOOPSHABIT: Our Latest NBA Mock Draft
The closest comparisons in terms of both length and athleticism are Anthony Davis, DeAndre Jordan and Andre Drummond, but Gobert is on another level, especially since he added a lot of strength and body weight during the previous offseason.
He may not be the leaper that those other three players are, but he has a 7-foot-8 wingspan with a 9-foot-7 standing reach. Those physical numbers are impressive to say the least, and they allow him to stand out from almost every other big man in the league.
His defensive instincts combined with his physical tools make him a force to be reckoned with in terms of blocking shots and protecting the rim. Opponents shot 43.9 percent on him from two-point range during this past season, meaning that no one got easy looks at the basket when he was on them.
Whether it meant contesting shots near the rim or switching out and making a play on a perimeter shot, Gobert showcased his versatility and ability to play defense from multiple angles on the floor.
Now Gobert has a nice defensive frontcourt partner in Derrick Favors, but he plays closer to the rim on both ends of the floor, so having someone who is comfortable switching out like Gobert is a luxury that the Jazz took advantage of and will continue to in the future.
Speaking of Favors being bound to playing near the basket, playing two big men who have to be within five feet of the rim to be effective isn’t always the best move in today’s NBA that is all about floor spacing and consistent perimeter shooting, which is exactly why Gobert wants to take his game to the next level.
The J-Notes
Personnel who have gotten the chance to know Gobert have said he’s a hard-working individual, and that he’s determined to play on both sides of the ball, not just be a defensive ace.
It was reported earlier this week by Aaron Falk of the Salt Lake Tribune that Gobert will be working with Dirk Nowitzki‘s shooting coach in Germany.
Now I shouldn’t have to go too in depth to explain why this is huge news for the Jazz as well as the rest of the league. But in case it isn’t clear to you, let me elaborate on why this is an important move.
For starters, Nowitzki may be the best shooting big man the league has ever seen, so going to his mentor is smart on the part of Gobert who is slightly taller than Nowitzki at 7-foot-1.
He could go to someone in the United States that has plenty of experience teaching players how to effectively shoot a jump shot, but a lot of those coaches work with guards more than they do players of Gobert’s size, so going to someone who has experience working with a bigger player like Nowitzki could prove to be a smarter move down the road.
If Gobert were to acquire even a reliable 15-foot jumper, it could make all the difference for the Jazz moving forward. As previously mentioned, playing two big men who don’t have any range from the perimeter can prove to be problematic when trying to open up the floor as well as the lane for other players to come and open things up for the rest of the team.
So if Gobert could be counted on to hit shots away from the basket as opposed to just getting his points on easy dunk opportunities, then he could earn more playing time next to Favors which could completely solidify the Jazz’s defense moving forward.
More from Utah Jazz
- 5 NBA teams on the rise that will surprise everyone in 2023-24
- Grading the John Collins trade for the Atlanta Hawks and Utah Jazz
- Ranking the 10 championship-less NBA teams by closeness to title
- A former lottery pick may have a permanent home with the Utah Jazz
- 3 Teams that dodged a bullet with Russell Westbrook news
Gobert did average 11.4 points per game on 60.4 percent shooting per 36 minutes last season, but if he were to add some shooting ability to his offensive arsenal, that scoring average could skyrocket, especially if he acquired a decent enough handle to be able to face his man up and take him off the dribble.
Today’s league is all about scoring as many points as possible at a ridiculous up-and-down pace, but when a team can get gritty and play some quality defense along with that kind of offensive production, then they truly morph into a championship contender.
Gobert can bring that and more with his on-court presence, so being able to give him as many minutes as possible should be one of Utah’s biggest priorities moving forward.
As long as Gobert continues to build upon his offensive foundation, he shouldn’t have any problem helping the Jazz take the next step and enter the playoff hunt in the Western Conference.
Look out NBA, Gobert is coming.
*Statistics courtesy of NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.
Next: 5 Undrafted Free Agents The Utah Jazz Should Pay Attention To
More from Hoops Habit
- The 5 most dominant NBA players who never won a championship
- 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
- Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
- Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
- Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout