Top 50 NBA players: 21. Rudy Gobert
Previous Rank: 26
It is far too commonplace to besmirch the name of Rudy Gobert in the present-day NBA. Fans of other teams look at the postseason results for the Utah Jazz and jump to the assumption that that means there must have been something wrong with the three-time Defensive Player of the Year. At least this past season, that was not what ailed the Jazz in the playoffs.
Gobert was astonishing yet again last season. He made his second All-Star appearance and posted a line of 14.3 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. He led the league in effective field goal percentage at 67.5 percent. He was second in the league in defensive rating, behind only teammate Mike Conley. He was fifth in the league among starters in defensive rebounding percentage and overall rebounding percentage. Even better, for the first time in his time with the team, the Jazz were the top seed in the league before injuries derailed their season in the second round of the playoffs.
This season should be expected to be even more of the season. Gobert is dependable, missing just six games over the last three seasons in total. The Jazz enter the season as one of the favorites to host a first-round playoff series in a loaded Western Conference. Still, the questions will continue to persist until the Jazz are able to take the next step on the grandest stage.