Rudy Gobert has a trait that few can match (and it's saving the Timberwolves)

Rudy Gobert will never get enough credit for his immense impact. The Minnesota Timberwolves center is often mocked for lowlights on social media -- but people fail to mention that by every measure, he is one of the best defenders in league history. Outside of his defense (somehow) not being praised enough, Gobert's consistency doesn't get discussed nearly enough.

This season, Gobert is on track to make his ninth All-Defensive team in 10 years. He has been an elite defensive anchor and rim protector for a decade plus. Since 2015-16, Gobert has anchored a top-10 defense in all but one season; this level of consistency is remarkable.

Offensively, Gobert isn't elite, but he's a consistent threat to score double figures with impressive efficiency. Notably, Gobert is on pace to lead the league in field goal percentage for the fourth time. Night in and night out, the Timberwolves know what to expect from Gobert. That's a true luxury, especially for a team that has many inconsistent players.

Gobert's consistent play uplifts the Timberwolves

Gobert's ability to anchor a defense is truly remarkable. The Wolves' defense is 16.2 points better with Gobert on the court, a mark that leads the league per Cleaning the Glass. When Gobert is on the court, the Wolves have a 108 defensive rating (which is equivalent to the second-best defense in the league), but when he's off the court, the Wolves have a 124.2 DRTG (which is equivalent to the worst defense in the league).

This swing is unprecedented, but it highlights Gobert's immense defensive impact. Gobert erases his teammates' mistakes and changes the thought process of opposing players. Notably, Gobert ranks first (by a good margin) in defensive shooting influence, a stat that measures a player's ability to reduce both shot quality and efficiency.

Gobert simply never has an off-night defensively. Every single night, his rim protection puts the Wolves in a better position to win.

While Gobert is more impactful (and consistent) on defense, I don't want to ignore his offensive consistency entirely. Gobert currently leads the league with a 71.7 field goal percentage. He has only shot below 50 percent from the field four times this season. Yes, Gobert operates around the rim, but this level of consistency is still impressive.

Gobert also unlocks the Wolves' offense with his connective screening. His 4.2 screen assists per game rank fourth in the league. Furthermore, Gobert crashes the glass at an elite level -- among players who have appeared in 10 or more games, he ranks fifth in offensive rebounds per game. Gobert's ability to do the little things, such as screening setting, and crashing the glass at an elite level every night, greatly benefits the Wolves.

Overall, the Timberwolves know exactly what to expect from Gobert every night (especially on defense), which is a massive advantage and an underdiscussed element of their success.