The 50 greatest NBA players of the 2020s (so far), ranked

27) Rudy Gobert

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert is a polarizing player, to say the least, but it's hard to argue against him being deserving of this list. Thus far, he's posted a solid 14.4 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 351 games during the first half of the 2020s.

Add in four All-Defensive first teams, three All-Star appearances, and two Defensive Player of the Year awards during the decade so far, and it's clear he's among the best big men on this list. Gobert spent the first three seasons of the decade with the Utah Jazz before being traded to the Timberwolves in a massive deal that saw them trade five first-round picks for him.

Although that was an obvious overpay, Gobert was acquired for his defensive ability, and he made a huge impact on the Wolves, with them leading the league in defensive rating in 2023–24. Better still, they finished with the third-best record in the Western Conference and made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals that year.

At 32, Gobert could still play at a high level for most of the back half of the decade and he has the chance to further add to his possible Hall of Fame resume by winning a fifth Defensive Player of the Year. As is, he's the 27th best player of this era so far.