Utah Jazz quarter-point grades: Rudy Gobert paces center spot

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 9: Jae Crowder #99 and Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz speak to the media after the game against the Boston Celtics on November 9, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 9: Jae Crowder #99 and Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz speak to the media after the game against the Boston Celtics on November 9, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
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In many ways, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert is having a career year, but is he worthy of an A-grade at the season’s quarter point?

The J-Notes’ quarter-season player grades for the Utah Jazz continue with a look at the men (man?) in the middle. Specifically, the center spot, where Rudy Gobert acts as the cornerstone for everything the Jazz do.

Make no mistake about it — while Donovan Mitchell scores the most points and grabs the most headlines, the Jazz are still Gobert’s team.

Behind him, we have Ekpe Udoh and Tony Bradley, neither of whom have been given much of a chance to contribute. Of course, between Gobert and Derrick Favors (who essentially acts as the team’s back-up center despite starting at power forward), there aren’t exactly a lot of minutes to go around.

Still, we have tape on both and, with the 2018-19 campaign more than 25 percent complete, I’d say it’s high time to render judgment on the lot (I feel so powerful!).

As part of our continuing series, here’s my report card for the center position. As the starting power forward, Favors’ grade will be reserved for that position group.

Now, with that disclaimer out of the way, here are the grades…