All big men in the NBA get beaten off the dribble when they're switched onto smaller guards. That's just how things go. Guards are, well, very fast, and few big men have the foot speed to keep up with them on the perimeter.
For some reason, Rudy Gobert became the only big who gets real flak for it, though. Gobert has been one of the best interior defenders in the league for almost a decade, but the biggest conversation about his impact has been what he can't do, which is guard small guys on the perimeter in the postseason. That's weird for two reasons. Firstly, so what? That's not his job anyway, and no other big man is critiqued as heavily as Gobert is for getting beaten off the dribble.
Secondly, it's not really true. Gobert has one of the best stop rates in isolation, so teams trying to get him on an island really isn't smart basketball anymore. Gobert himself seems to (understandably) be fed up with this narrative, saying, "That's not what I hear on Instagram," in response to Chris Hine's question about his isolation defensive splits. At the same time, though, if teams keep thinking they can pick on Gobert in 1-on-1 situations, that actually is an on-court benefit for the Wolves. Social media nonsense has actually given them a slight advantage on the court. Huh.
Rudy Gobert on his isolation defensive numbers being good: “That’s not what I hear on Instagram.” pic.twitter.com/ZBhnvLpRNw
— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) March 26, 2026
Rudy Gobert's stop of Kevin Durant once again showed his
Late in the Timberwolves thrilling, historic win over the Houston Rockets earlier this week, Gobert was switched onto Kevin Durant in the cluch, and came up with a massively important block in a game the Wolves eventually pulled out (somehow).
Gobert was ostensibly beat off the dribble by Durant, but recovered, and is one of the few players in the league with long enough arms to challenge Durant, much less actually make that block.
There are no perfect defensive players in the NBA (although San Antonio has a guy who might be getting close), and Gobert, more than anything, just happened to have a few moments of weakness guarding on the perimeter that doomed him to a career of being thought of as the guy who can't defend out to the 3-point line — even though pretty much every center is that guy.
Gobert seems a little fed up with that reputation, and understandably. But if teams are going to take what they see online to heart and keep challenging him... Good for the Wolves!