The J-Notes
Fansided

Midseason Grades For Every Utah Jazz Player

By Ryan Aston

Dec 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) warms up prior to their game against the Toronto Raptors at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) warms up prior to their game against the Toronto Raptors at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Rudy Gobert Utah Jazz Nene Houston Rockets
Nov 29, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) tries to get past Houston Rockets center Nene Hilario (42) and to the basket during the third quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Utah Jazz win 120-101. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports /

Rudy Gobert

Numbers don’t quite tell the tale of how great Rudy Gobert has been this season. Since declaring himself the best center in the game, the Stifle Tower has accomplished something few in such a position actually do — he’s backed up the talk. Not only has he been the most intimidating defensive presence in the league, but he’s also morphed into a major threat on offense.

Again, numbers aren’t the end all, but I’m going to hit you with the litany anyway because his are sensational. This is what Gobert has done statistically and where he ranks league-wide in each category —

66.2 FG percentage (2nd)
68.4 True shooting percentage (1st)
1.88 Points per shot (1st)
12.5 Rebounds per game (5th)
2.56 Blocks per game (1st)
7.0 Block percentage (1st)
42.9 Defensive FG percentage at the rim (T-3rd)
29 Double-doubles (4th)
127.8 Offensive Rating (3rd)*
97.3 Defensive Rating (1st)*
3.4 Defensive win shares (1st)
4.6 Defensive box plus/minus (2nd)

*The NBA and other statistical firms have different methods of calculating Per 100 poss. ratings. I went with Basketball Reference here.

If you wanted to extend the categories and go beyond Top 5 status, we could be here all day. However, none of his numbers impress me as much as his free throw percentage. After being the player that opponents intentionally fouled in the clutch throughout his career, he’s flirting with 70 percent from the line this season.

Gobert was always really, really good. This season, he’s approaching greatness.

Grade: A

Next: Gordon Hayward

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