On a recent episode of the Game Theory podcast, Sam Vecenie and Bryce Simon ranked the NBA's 16th through 9th best defenders. Minnesota Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert came in as the 10th-ranked defender. Vecenie described Gobert as an "unbelievable rim protector and an absolute wall at the rim." Simon noted that he changes the mindset of offensive players and that he changes the trajectory of their shot attempts.
Undoubtedly, Rudy Gobert is a historically great rim protector. His four Defensive Player of the Year awards are tied for the most in NBA history, with his most recent award coming in the 2023-24 season. Plus, Gobert has made eight All-Defensive teams. For his career, Gobert has averaged 2.1 blocks per game.
Given his defensive dominance, it's worth wondering if Gobert should have been higher. To that point, Vecenie and Simon mentioned Gobert's versatility, age, and a slight slip in his positioning as reasons for him not being ranked higher. Notably, versatility was the main reason. While I would have likely ranked Gobert slightly higher, these are valid arguments, and being ranked 10th still puts Gobert in an elite class.
Let's dive into what makes Gobert such a dominant defender before circling back to his ranking.
Rudy Gobert is a historically great rim protector
Since being traded to Minnesota in 2022, Gobert has led the Wolves to a top-10 defense each season, including the league's best defense in 2023-24. He has changed the Wolves' trajectory and been a key part of the team's back-to-back conference finals appearances. The 7-foot-1 Frenchman has a strong case to be the best defensive anchor of this generation. Incredibly, opponents shot just 53.7 percent when defended by Gobert within less than six feet of the basket last season. Compared to the league average of 63.4 percent, it's easy to see Gobert's dominance as a rim protector.
Gobert also posted an impressive -4.4 on/off defensive swing. He averaged 1.4 blocks, which is below his career average but still places Gobert among elite company. As Vecenie and Simon discussed, Gobert isn't just a great shot blocker; he truly changes how the opposing offense plays. Overall, by all accounts, even at 33, Gobert has a strong case as the league's best rim protector.
Gobert's ranking might seem low, but it's reasonable
While 10 might seem a little low, the big men above him are more versatile. The entire list isn't revealed, but it's fair to assume Evan Mobley, Victor Wembanyama, Bam Adebayo, Anthony Davis, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Draymond Green will be on the 8-1 portion of the 25 best defenders list. All of these big men offer elite rim protection and versatility.
Gobert isn't a complete stiff on switches like some people will tell you, but his versatility doesn't compare to this group. Given this it is understandable to bump Gobert down a bit. I would have Gobert above Alex Caruso, who was ranked one spot ahead of Rudy, given Caruso's lack of minutes. However, the big men who are likely above Gobert seem fair to me despite his historic dominance.
Vecenie also brought up that Gobert is 33 now, meaning his days of being a top-five defender might be over, even if he's still elite. Additionally, he was a little concerned about Gobert having a bigger role following Nickeil Alexander Walker's departure, given his age. It's also worth mentioning that the Wolves don't have another rim protector close to Gobert's level. Ultimately, Gobert remains an elite rim protector and defender, but his lack of versatility and age hold him back from within the top-five range.