Rudy Gobert may not play for the Utah Jazz anymore, but he still sets the bar for some of their current players, like Walker Kessler.
During Jazz Media Day, Kessler explained how one succeeds at playing elite defense. While talking about what it takes, he singled out Gobert
"A lot of defense is just positioning. You look at Rudy Gobert. A lot of times, he might not get a block on the play, but him staying in the paint deters a lot of shots somebody might shoot"
Gobert is coming off his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award, which he won in his second year in Minnesota. He still attracts plenty of high-profile haters like Shaquille O'Neal, but his work speaks for itself.
Of course, he's longer with the Jazz, but it's clear that players like Kessler are very much aware of his presence when he plays.
Can Kessler use Gobert's example to improve?
Following an unexpectedly excellent rookie season as a rim protector, Kessler appeared very much on track to be Gobert's replacement as the Jazz started their new chapter without him. However, Kessler's play wasn't nearly as impressive during his sophomore year, which led to trade rumors all offseason long.
Despite all of the noise, Kessler remains with the Jazz and may very well start on their opening night roster. It's not uncommon for players to struggle in their second year after playing well above expectations in their rookie year, just like it's uncommon for said players to bounce back in their third year.
Bouncing back does not seem out of the question for Kessler, nor does it seem unreasonable to believe he may be a long-term fixture for the Jazz. The question is, how much of the hole Gobert left on the defensive side of the floor can be filled by Kessler?
Expecting Kessler to be as good as Gobert was on the defensive side of the floor is perhaps setting the bar a little too high because the latter was one of the best defenders of all time. However, Kessler has shown that he can be an elite rim protector on his A-game.
If he can return to form in Year 3, he can be an invaluable cog in the Jazz's future. He doesn't necessarily have to be Gobert to have that kind of impact, but no one would blame him if he looks to Gobert's influence to become the best player he can be.