The Utah Jazz had a November to forget, but their big man certainly didn’t.
According to the official Twitter account of the Utah Jazz, two-time All-Star Rudy Gobert is now the first known Jazzman to lead the league in rebounding through the first 21 games in a season. His career-high 14.5 rebounds per game are almost one more than the average of No. 2 on the list, Denver Nuggets center and reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
Now, due to Gobert’s remarkable durability for his size and zero absences to date this go-round, the 29-year-old is well on his way to hauling in the most rebounds in the league for what would be the third season in a row.
But that’s not all Gobert accomplished with his sensational November.
A highly efficient and productive November for Utah Jazz gem Rudy Gobert
Although the Jazz (14-7) finished with an uncharacteristic 9-6 record for the month and fell to No. 3 in the Western Conference, Rudy Gobert added to an NBA record. Per Statitudes president Justin Kubatko, November marked the eighth month in the 7-footer’s nine-year career that he’s scored more than 200 points while shooting better than 70 percent from the field.
After tallying 21 points with a 9-for-11 clip from the field in Monday’s 129-107 home win over the Portland Trail Blazers (10-11), Gobert ended the month with 220 points and a 73.5 shooting percentage. The three-time and defending Defensive Player of the Year also snagged 202 rebounds, including 16 versus Portland on his way to posting a game-high plus-minus of +29.
In addition to 14.5 rebounds per game this season, Gobert has posted averages of 15.1 points and 2.1 blocks while shooting 73.1 percent from the field.
Rudy Gobert will look to dazzle out of the gates in December as well when the Utah Jazz host the Boston Celtics (11-10) at 7 p.m. MT Friday.