Top 5 biggest snubs from the 2021-22 All-NBA Teams: 2. Rudy Gobert
Like Adebayo, Rudy Gobert’s upward mobility on the All-NBA roster was impacted by the glut of centers in front of him. And like his teammate, there’s a legitimate question as to where Gobert will be contending for this honor next year.
Still, it was another big year for the French big man. Gobert averaged a double-double for the sixth-straight season. He was just a few buckets away from setting a career-high in scoring, averaging 15.6 points per game. His 14.7 rebounds per game were a career-best and led the NBA.
Rebounding isn’t the only area where Gobert led the NBA – in fact, it’s one of many. He also had the best field goal percentage (71.3 percent), two-point field goal percentage (71.8 percent), effective field goal percentage (71.3 percent), and true shooting percentage (73.2 percent).
Unsurprisingly, the advanced rebounding stats also put Gobert at the best level in the league. He led the NBA in total rebound percentage (25 percent) and defensive rebound percentage (36.3 percent). Gobert must be kicking himself for only finishing seventh in offensive rebound percentage.
Gobert couldn’t take his fourth Defensive Player of the Year crown, losing out to Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart. But his defense once again put him in elite company, earning All-Defensive First Team honors for the sixth consecutive season.
While Gobert can’t stroke it like the big men ahead of him on the All-NBA list, he is the premier defender at his position in the league. The case for his inclusion on an All-NBA team – which would’ve been his fifth appearance – is warranted for that alone.