Predicting Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert’s All-Star stats
Rudy Gobert, again, is not exactly the consummate NBA All-Star.
In terms of on-court impact, he’s more than that. His Defensive Box Plus/Minus (DBPM) of 2.1 ranks 10th in the National Basketball Association. For those who prefer more sophisticated metrics, his Defensive RAPTOR of 6.6 leads the entire league.
He’s not even strictly a defensive specialist. His 2.6 Value Over Replacement Player (VORP) is 18th in the NBA (as an aside, Mitchell ranks one spot ahead of him, at 2.7). Anyone who watches the Jazz knows that Gobert’s efficacy as a rim-runner plays a vital role in keeping the Utah Jazz atop the league’s leaderboard in Offensive Rating.
All of which explains Gobert’s inclusion in the game. He just doesn’t wow audiences with high flying theatrics, or difficult dribble moves, or no look passes. His game is predicated on fundamentally perfect, traditional center play.
That’ll get you praise from the coaching staff. It’ll get you accolades, and it will get you paid. It’s less likely to get you heavy reps in the All-Star Game.
Look for Gobert to get a few minutes out there, and make an impact when he does. As long as he’s playing basketball, it’s practically impossible for him not to. Just don’t expect Team Durant to lean too heavily into the 3x Defensive Player of the Year. It would practically go against the spirit of the exhibition.
Utah Jazz fans should celebrate that Gobert is even included in the contest. He undoubtedly deserves it, but nobody watches the All-Star Game to watch someone protect the rim. The people want dunks, and Coach Erik Spoelstra is unlikely to deny them that.
Prediction: 4 points, 6 rebounds, 1 block