Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Player Power Rankings: The Top 5 Undergoes Changes

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 10, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) reacts during the second half against the Golden State Warriors at FedExForum. Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Golden State Warriors 110-89. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 10, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) reacts during the second half against the Golden State Warriors at FedExForum. Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Golden State Warriors 110-89. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 21
Next
Dec 5, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) dunks the ball during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) dunks the ball during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

20. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz

Position: Center
Age: 24 (6/26/1992)
Experience: 4th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .682/.000/.681
2016-17 Season Averages: 32.3 MPG, 11.8 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.2 ORPG, 2.8 BPG

The No. 20 spot on this list came down to four players: Rudy Gobert, Draymond Green, Gordon Hayward, and Hassan Whiteside. Whiteside has the gaudiest numbers, but Gobert and Hayward are leading a franchise turnaround, and Green is the glue for the best team in the NBA.

All four players were undeniably deserving of this final spot, but in the end, it was Gobert who won via his impact on a resurgent 16-10 Utah Jazz team.

Hayward had a case to make, but he’s missed seven games due to injury—26.9 percent of the full 2016-17 NBA regular season. Thus, the player selected is Gobert, who’s currently No. 1 in the NBA in true shooting percentage and No. 5 in both Win Shares and Win Shares per 48 minutes.

More importantly, he’s the defensive anchor and overall stabilizing force for the No. 1 ranked scoring defense in the Association.

Utah has net ratings of +11.0 with Gobert on the court and a team-worst -0.3 when he’s on the bench. In recent games, Gobert had 20 points and 17 rebounds against the Golden State Warriors, and 17 points, 14 rebounds, and six blocks against DeMarcus Cousins and the Sacramento Kings.

One could argue that Hayward is re-emerging as Utah’s Most Valuable Player, but until he plays in a higher percentage of games, Gobert deserves the No. 20 spot.