Say what you will about Rudy Gobert, but there's no denying that he is a historically great defender. Gobert's four Defensive Player of the Year awards are tied for the most in league history. Even still, some people argue that Gobert struggles to guard smaller players on switches and isn't a good isolation defender.
Is Gobert one of the league's most versatile defenders who can guard every position like Bam Adebayo or Victor Wembanyama? No, he's not. Can he occasionally get exposed on isolations or switches? Yes, but so can everyone.
However, to say Gobert is a bad isolation defender who can't guard smaller players at all is factually incorrect, and this year is proof of that. The 33-year-old Gobert is holding opponents to 25 percent shooting on isolation shots, which ranks in the 93rd percentile.
Notably, this is the fifth time that Gobert has ranked in the 80th percentile or higher for isolation defense. Last playoffs, Gobert held opposing perimeter players to 6-for-19 shooting on isolation plays. Undoubtedly, these stats prove that this year isn't a coincidence and that Gobert is a high-level isolation defender.
Every Field Goal Attempt In The 2025 Playoffs Where A Perimeter Player Isolates Rudy Gobert pic.twitter.com/OGVZpsPwkM
— Pitless (@pitlessball) September 7, 2025
Gobert's isolation defense is a perfect complement to his rim protection
Of course, Gobert's main strength as a defender is his elite rim protection. Gobert has averaged 2.1 blocks per game over his career. He both erases mistakes made by his teammates and changes the mindset of opponents at the rim. Impressively, opponents are shooting just 39.4 percent within six feet of the hoop when defended by Gobert; the league average is 59.7 percent.
Gobert's elite rim protection, paired with Jaden McDaniels' elite perimeter defense, makes the Wolves a formidable defensive unit. Since trading for Gobert, the Wolves have had a top-10 defense every year, including the top-ranked defense two seasons ago.
The only defensive issue with Gobert has been maintaining defense without him. Gobert's minus-22.9 on/off defensive swing ranks in the 99th percentile per Cleaning the Glass. To put this absurd on/off swing into perspective, the Wolves have a 105.8 defensive rating with Rudy on the court, which translates to the second-best defensive rating in the league, but when he's off the court, Minnesota has a 128.8 DRTG, which translates to the worst defense in the league.
As mentioned earlier, Gobert's rim protection is what makes the Wolves' defensive scheme work. Gobert is often used in drop coverage, so he doesn't switch on to the perimeter a ton. However, it's sure nice that Gobert can defend in isolation when need be.
Gobert being able to sustain his stellar defense into his 30s is a remarkable feat.
Undeniably, Gobert's elite rim protection, paired with his on/off numbers, and underrated switchability make him one of the league's best defenders. Victor Wembanyama's eligibility is in jeopardy due to games played, so Gobert could very well be on track to win a record fifth DPOY.