Utah Jazz: Player Awards at the Halfway Point

Defensive Player of the Year

The Utah Jazz boast the best defense in the league in terms of opponent points per game. And while it takes a whole team to pull off a feat such as that, there’s no questioning who’s the anchor of their defense. The one and only Stifle Tower, Rudy Gobert.

Gobert has become such a dominant defensive force, in fact, that not only is he the clear pick as the Jazz’s Defensive Player of the Year, but he very well may be the only one of my Jazz award winners who could actually also win the corresponding league award.

Not only does he lead the team in blocks, but he’s first in the entire league with a staunch 2.5 swats per game, which accounts for 70.6 percent of his team’s total blocks. He posts a defensive rating that is under 100 and has an impressive plus/minus of +5.3.

Rudy constantly challenges opposing players at the rim and when he isn’t swatting the ball away, he’s likely forcing opponents to change their shots dramatically. His ability to do so and serve as a constant force down low have made him one of the greatest rim protectors in the game.

Thus it comes as no surprise that the Utah Jazz’s Defensive Player of the Year at the midway point would go to none other than Rudy Gobert.

DPOY – Rudy Gobert