Rudy Gobert
I’ve already alluded to the fact that the Stifle Tower is having a career year, so let’s get right to it. Because, offensively, Gobert has been one of the best players in the league. Period. End of story. And he’s done so despite the (inaccurate) perception among casuals that his only real purpose is to block shots.
Gobert is averaging a career-best 15.3 points per game and currently leads the NBA in both field goal percentage and effective field goal percentage at 69.9. He’s managed to do so by becoming one of the most prolific dunkers the league has ever seen.
With 87 slams through just 22 games, he joins Giannis Antetokounmpo as a threat to break Dwight Howard’s single-season mark of 269 during the 2007-08 season. Gobert is currently on-pace for more than 320 jams.
Vertical spacing is a real thing, people. It’s why he’s currently third league-wide in individual offensive rating at 131.4 and sixth in offensive win shares with 2.2.
On the glass and defensively, he’s still doing his thing, averaging 12.5 boards and two blocks per game, both of which are top 10 marks.
There are areas where he’s dipped slightly on the D, and the team as a whole has struggled around him (which makes him look worse). The Jazz have even been killed in the paint in a handful of games. But, on the whole, Gobert looks like he’s beginning to inch back toward his DPOY form.
First-quarter grade: A-
Other first-quarter grades: Point Guards (Rubio, Exum, Neto)
Shooting Guards (Mitchell, Allen)
Small Forwards (Ingles, O’Neale)