3-Time DPOY makes incredibly ironic Rudy Gobert statement

Rudy Gobert is such an interesting case study in the world of NBA players and how their achievements are perceived by the masses. Minnesota Timberwolves fans are more than aware of his greatness. It was Gobert's ability as a defensive anchor that got them over the hump this past season and made them a bona fide championship contender.

Over the years in his professional career, Rudy has proven time and again how much his skills can change the outlook for any team he suits up for. And yet, there are still those who want to come in and play a game of mental gymnastics, questioning whether he is really who we think he is. You can count three-time Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard as the latest addition to this increasingly long list of doubters and naysayers.

Appearing on Gilbert Arenas' podcast, Gil's Arena Show, Howard was asked about his assessment of Gobert's impact at the defensive end of the floor. The host essentially threw him a half-court lob, because Dwight proceeded to throw down the equivalent of a posterizing dunk with his answer.

"It's tough to say because I never want to say nothing negative about any players," said Dwight. You can guess where this is about to go. "But I don't think he deserved those Defensive Player of the Years like he got them. I feel like he's a great team defender, but for what he did to get those Defensive Player of the Years, I don't see it. I don't see him being an elite defender."

Dwight Howard: "I don't think he deserved" DPOY awards

It is of course incredibly ironic to say you don't want to speak a negative word about any current players... and then proceed to say the player you are talking about did not deserve arguably his most defining career accolades. Howard explains that part of his argument deals with the talent of Rudy's teammates over the years.

"I see him as somebody who has the size," Dwight said. "He's 7'2", so when you're 7'2" and you're playing with athletic guys, you don't have to do nothing but clean up their mistakes or just be big in the paint. So it's really hard to say that he is an elite defender to have four Defensive Player of the Year awards."

Once again, this rings of profound irony considering until he arrived in Minnesota, Rudy was working with some perimeter defenders in Utah that were lackluster to put it kindly. In many ways, he made up for their mistakes and raised the Jazz's ceiling despite some of his teammates' shortcomings.

Timberwolves fans will no doubt scoff at hearing Howard say that Gobert is his least favorite Defensive Player of the Year. But Dwight did decide to give a little bit of credit where due as well. "I think this year was his best defensive year in the regular season," he said. "This year he was actually up in the pick-and-rolls, he was moving his feet, he was talking more, he was actually being aggressive."

Still, Howard could not help himself from trying to diminish Gobert's overall legacy. It is a shame that so many players feel this way about him, but we have to remember that Rudy does not owe them anything. Outsiders can continue to talk all they want, and the four-time DPOY can sit back and let his resume speak for itself.