If you're still an avid basketball fan in 2026 and you come to the conclusion that Rudy Gobert gets cooked in isolation defense, can't guard the perimeter, can be easily exploited in a five-out offense, etc. Then I'm not sure what to tell you, because those social media narratives couldn't be more false.
According to Genius Sports, Rudy Gobert has statistically been one of the most impactful isolation defenders in the entire league this season, not just amongst other bigs. Out of 31 players who have defended more than 150 pure isolation possessions this season, you'll never guess who is holding opponents to the lowest points per chance. Yeah, It's Rudy.
Why is the "bad perimeter defender" narrative still alive?
Rudy hasn't been a bad perimeter defender in years, quite frankly, but for some reason, the few times he's got on the wrong end of a highlight, major media outlets don't hesitate to publish it. The two that have burned in people's brains the most are the Luka Doncic game-winner on Gobert in the 2024 WCF and the infamous Terance Mann game during Gobert's Jazz tenure.
In Luka's case, he hit a tough shot, and Gobert arguably shouldn't have been switched onto Luka in that moment anyway. With Mann, it's simple: the Jazz had no capable defenders outside of Gobert, and Mann was the Clippers' worst offensive player. They put Gobert on Mann to float off of him and play supreme help defender.
Unfortunately for Gobert, Mann struck lightning in a bottle and turned in the best offensive game of his career.
The Jazz were willing to live or die with Mann shooting threes from the corner, and it was just his night. But due to one role player having an extreme outlier performance, people ran with the idea that Gobert couldn't guard the perimeter and that he is easily exposed in a five-out offense.
Gobert has been an elite perimeter defender in Minnesota
Anthony Edwards is the Timberwolves' ceiling, and they go as far as he can take them. But the reason they haven't bottomed out once in Gobert's tenure is that Gobert's defense is such an elite fallback option that the team's floor is always high.
Last year in the playoffs, Luka tried to get Gobert in isolation more times than I can count. If you were wondering how that series went, the Lakers won one game.
He's guarded Kevin Durant extremely well as well, dating back to the playoff matchup two years ago. Stars keep trying to go at him, and they keep failing.
It's rare that a player who is virtually a zero on one side of the ball, and yet still has a crystal clear Hall of Fame resume. That's what Rudy Gobert is. Like it or not, it shouldn't be a shock whatsoever when he has his name in Springfield, Massachusetts, when it's all said and done.