7. Rudy Gobert - 18.8
One of the few players who'll likely end up in the Hall of Fame on the list, Rudy Gobert comes in at number seven. Despite never being considered one of the best players in the NBA, Gobert certainly has the hardware to show for.
In his 11-year career, Gobert has made the All-Star team three times, made an All-NBA team four times, been selected to the NBA All-Defensive first team six times, and won the Defensive Player of the Year thrice.
The "Stifle Tower" has accomplished quite a bit by his age 31 season. And after leading the NBA's best defense this season, it appears as if Gobert is well on his way to winning his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award. If Gobert can achieve this feat, he'll tie Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo as the only players in NBA history to win the award four times.
While he's incredibly accomplished now, Gobert had relatively modest beginnings. He was selected at the end of the first round in 2013 and averaged a measly 2.7 points per game as a rookie. However, his ascension was steep, making an NBA All-Defensive first team by his third season.
Gobert, using his incredible 7-foot-9 wingspan, patrolled the paint to block every shot in his vicinity. From 2014 to 2022, Gobert averaged at least two swats and ten rebounds per game. A major shift in Gobert's career occurred in 2022 as he was traded from the Utah Jazz to the Timberwolves.
Playing only two seasons in Minnesota, Gobert has played a large part in turning the Wolves into contenders. This season, Gobert is back to averaging multiple blocks per game and leads the league in defensive win shares.