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Rudy Gobert is officially the Defensive Player of the year beating out Anthony Davis and Joel Embiid. Rudy Gobert averaged 13.5 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks. In only 56 games, Rudy Gobert’s elite defense propelled Utah to a defensive rating of 101.6 for the season, but when he was healthy the Utah Jazz averaged a defensive rating of 96.0 post All-Star break. He wasn’t just a defensive threat either. The Utah Jazz averaged an offensive rating of 122 with Rudy Gobert.
Can @rudygobert27 complete his quest for the DPOY? Find out in the final chapter of Rudy’s Quest for the DPOY! pic.twitter.com/4d6bZZUrRh
— SLC Dunk (@slcdunk) June 25, 2018
Rudy Gobert’s impact was most felt when he returned back from injury the second time and help propel Utah to one of the NBA’s most historic midseason turnarounds. The Utah Jazz won games at a 60-win team clip while pulling from 10th in the Western Conference to 5th by the end of the season. His defensive prowess brought Utah a 1st round victory and made the Rockets uncomfortable in the second round.
The official announcement! @rudygobert27 #NBAAwards Defensive Player of the Year. He joins 2-time award winner @markeaton7ft4 as the only #UtahJazz #DPOY winners! Oh...Jazz suit game is on. Rudy in pink, Donovan in red. (You'll see them together at :25 in this clip...) pic.twitter.com/uWyGDXo6Zs
— Dave Fox (@Davefox2) June 26, 2018
Rudy Gobert finished second last year to Draymond Green, but in only 56 games, Rudy Gobert made himself the clear winner. The future is bright for Utah with a Rookie of the Year runner up and a Defensive Player of the Year winner.
Rudy Gobert, when asked "A lot of your contemporaries are considering going to other teams to team up and build a better team for a championship. What is your thought about that, and would you consider going to a different team to complete your goals in the NBA?": pic.twitter.com/Uu8rKGdRNf
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) June 26, 2018
Utah Jazz Reaction
Congrats @rudygobert27!!
— Joe Ingles (@Joeingles7) June 26, 2018
LOOK HOW PROUD QUIN IS pic.twitter.com/tvS2aner1O
— Taylor Griffin (@griffdunk) June 26, 2018
Rudy Gobert on what the award means to him: "It just means a lot. I think it's something that the Jazz organization, Coach Quin [Snyder], my teammates, we really work [hard] every day. This is an individual award, but I'd never be here without them. So it means a lot."
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) June 26, 2018