NBA Player Power Rankings: Mid-March MVP Rankings

May 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defends in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 8, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) elevates for a slam dunk against the Houston Rockets during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /

15. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz

Position: Center
Age: 24 (6/26/1992)
Experience: 4th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .656/.000/.662
2016-17 Season Averages: 33.6 MPG, 13.2 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 3.8 ORPG, 1.2 APG, 2.5 BPG, 0.7 SPG

Gordon Hayward may be the closer and primary scoring option, but Rudy Gobert is the Most Valuable Player on the Utah Jazz. That much was further established this past week, when Utah lost the only game Gobert didn’t play in.

Hayward has been sensational in 2016-17 and deserved his All-Star nod, but Utah wins because of its defense, and Gobert is the anchor.

Utah has net ratings of +9.0 with Gobert on the court and a team-worst -3.5 without him. Not only is Utah at its worst without Gobert on the court, but he’s the only player on the roster without whom the Jazz have a negative net rating.

Net rating isn’t a definitive number, but in this instance, it’s a fair reflection of how valuable Gobert is to the 43-26 Jazz.

This past week, Gobert returned with 11 points and 10 rebounds during the 114-108 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. He followed with 12 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and four blocks during a 97-83 win over Andre Drummond and the Detroit Pistons.

On a night where no other player showed up, Gobert ended the week with 20 points, 19 rebounds, two blocks, and two steals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.