Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert recently secured his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award, a prestigious accolade that has ignited significant debate. Nevertheless, former NBA player Paul Pierce views Gobert as overrated for such a celebrated title.
Pierce mentioned perceived inconsistency in Gobert’s defensive performance, contrasting him with legendary defender Ben Wallace.
.“The Defensive Player of the Year is a defensive liability… I wouldn’t have been able to say that about Ben Wallace,” Pierce said.
Apart from Pierce, Kendrick Perkins also slammed the Wolves’ star after getting DPOY title. Perkins announced his decision to step down from awards voting, citing Gobert’s recent win as the tipping point.
I’m retiring from voting… Voting this season for Rudy Gobert is an embarrassment for me for Defensive Player of the Year… He has tarnished the Defensive Player of the Year award. He’s not respected by his peers,” Perkins said.
The Wolves’ center garnered 72 first-place votes, nearly quadrupling the 19 votes received by San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama.
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Gobert’s defensive skills have been a cornerstone of his reputation, but his recent performances in crucial playoff games have sparked debates about his true effectiveness.
His performance in the first three games of the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks has been underwhelming. In Game 2, Mavericks star Luka Doncic passionately outplayed him, scoring the game-winning three-pointer. Over these first three games, Gobert’s stats include 33 rebounds, 5 assists, and 37 points.
Gilbert Arenas Calls for Rudy Gobert to Return DPOY Trophies
Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas also voiced his displeasure with Rudy Gobert’s DPOY win.
The former NBA player went so far as to demand that Gobert return his DPOY trophies, arguing that the award should not be given to a player perceived primarily as a help-side defender.
“I don’t need you to be a great help-side defender; that trophy says Defensive Player of the Year. Not help side defender. That means all-inclusive, b*tch… If they take you out of the game, dog, you should give your trophies back,” he said.
Gobert’s postseason performance has also been a point of contention. He has averaged 12.2 points, 10.2 total rebounds, 7.2 defensive rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game over 13 postseason contests leading up to Tuesday’s Game 4 against the Mavericks.
After losing the first three games, the Wolves finally avoided a clean sweep in Game 4, giving Gobert more chances to prove his DPOY award.
