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Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on in the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, April 7, 2024. /CFP
Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves has been named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year this season, the league announced on Tuesday.
It was the fourth time for the French giant to win this award after receiving it in 2018, 2019 and 2021 with the Utah Jazz. He joined Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace as the only four-time winners of the honor in NBA history.
"It's a blessing and an honor to join this small group," Gobert told ESPN. "These two guys are legends. Every story is unique. I will keep writing mine and try to be the best version of myself every day and enjoy every step of the way. I'm grateful that my teammates and this organization believe in me and allowing me to be who I am. It's always about the team and pushing each other to give our best every day."
In his second season with the Timberwolves, Gobert averaged 14 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. He limited the opponents to a 45.2 effective field goal (FG) percentage, the lowest among all 38 players who contested at least 1,000 shots during the 2023-24 campaign, according to Second Spectrum data.
Rudy Gobert (#27) of the Minnesota Timberwolves deflects a shot by Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference semifinals at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, May 4, 2024. /CFP
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves allowed 106.5 points to their opponents per game with a defensive rating of 109, leading the NBA on both fronts. They finished the regular season in third place in the Western Conference, swept the Phoenix Suns in the first-round playoffs and lead 2-0 over the reigning champions, the Denver Nuggets, in the Western semifinals at the moment.
"It's great teamwork," Gobert told TNT. "We love to get individual awards and all these things, and it's great, but you can't do it alone. I really have a lot of gratitude for ... all my teammates for believing in me, allowing me to do what I do best every day and just try to change the culture here in Minnesota. It's great for the guys for buying in."
The Timberwolves went through the first round of the postseason this year for the first time since 2004. They advanced to the Western Conference Finals that year, which was their best record for the playoffs.