Minnesota Timberwolves Rudy Gobert wins NBA Defensive Player of the Year award for fourth time

Rudy Gobert, the Minnesota Timberwolves center, was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year for 2023-24 on Tuesday. The other two candidates were Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, who earned Rookie of the Year on Monday.

Rudy Gobert is currently a four-time winner, having won the award in 2018, 2019, and 2021. In NBA history, only Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace have been awarded the league's top defensive player four times each. 

As per AP News, “It’s great teamwork,” Gobert, the best defender on a Timberwolves team that had the best defense in the NBA this season, said on TNT during the award’s announcement. “We love to get individual awards and all these things, and it’s great but you can’t do it alone.”

Rudy Gobert  is in his second season with Minnesota Timberwolves, Gobert ended the regular season averaging 12.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in a little over 34 minutes per game. He was one of two players in 2023-24 who averaged more than two blocks and 12 rebounds per game. 

The Timberwolves, led by Gobert, posted the NBA's top defensive rating of 108.4. While Gobert has another defensive honor on his resume, his time with the trophy may be coming to an end. Wembanyama finished second this year, and in March he delivered a lighthearted warning to his fellow Frenchman that his time had come. 

Gobert's accomplishment adds to the Timberwolves' take haul this year, as they had their finest season in 20 years. Minnesota had not won a playoff series since 2004 until defeating Phoenix Suns in Round 1, and it currently leads defending NBA champion Denver 2-0 in the Western Conference semifinals, both wins coming on the road. 

Other NBA honors not announced yet

Gobert's defensive brilliance has carried over into the postseason, where he has averaged 11.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game as the Timberwolves lead their second-round series against the reigning champion Denver Nuggets 2-0. Gobert did not play in Game 2 on Monday night because his first kid was born. 

Other NBA honors that are still to be disclosed include the All-Defensive, All-Rookie, and All-NBA teams, which will be unveiled next week, as well as the recipient of the Social Justice Award, which will be announced Thursday.