On the night of the 2013 NBA Draft, the Jazz more or less bought the No. 27 pick from the Nuggets to take Rudy Gobert. Six years later, he probably goes No. 2 overall in a re-draft; just behind Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. Some may even select him with the first overall pick.
That’s about as big a draft steal as is even possible.
In any case, the Stifle Tower has gone from being relatively unknown to a cornerstone player and a star in the league. He’s been developing and diversifying his game around his elite size and length since his first game in the Association.
In doing so, the Frenchman has morphed from a 12th man to a defensive specialist to a game-changing rim protector and has rounded out his game offensively as an elite screen-setter, roll man, and rim finisher. Now, he’s undeniably a top two or three center in the NBA.
Gobert recently picked up his second All-NBA nod, could officially repeat as the Defensive Player of the Year later this month, and it would be a major shocker if he doesn’t play in his first All-Star Game next season. It’s a major shocker he was snubbed in 2019, quite frankly.
It’s downright unbelievable at this point that he once played behind guys like Enes Kanter and Jeremy Evans. I’m no Tyrone Corbin hater, but dude…really?
More than any player in recent years — even Mitchell and Hayward — Gobert defines the identity of the Utah Jazz.
Next: No. 3