Rudy Gobert wins NBA Defensive Player of the Year award

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert clinched the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy for this season’s NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday.

Gobert is the third player in NBA history to secure the elusive award on four occasions after Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace. He also won the award in 2020-21, 2018-19 and 2017-18.

The 31-year-odl is the first player in Timberwolves’ history to bag the Defensive Player of the Year honors.

“Led by Gobert, the Timberwolves had the best defensive rating, allowed the fewest points per game and held opponents to the lowest field goal percentage in the NBA. The top-ranked defense helped Minnesota (56-26) post the second-best record in franchise history and earn the No. 3 playoff seed in the Western Conference,” NBA said on its official website.

“This season, Gobert averaged 14.0 points on 66.1% shooting, a team-best 12.9 rebounds and a team-high 2.13 blocks per contest. His 2.13 blocks were his most blocks per game since 2020-21 (2.68 bpg). He ranked second in the NBA in rebounding (12.9 rpg), second in field goal percentage (.661), second in offensive rebounds (3.8 rpg), fourth in defensive rebounds (9.2 rpg), sixth in blocks (2.13 bpg) and fifth in double-doubles (54).

“Gobert received 72 first-place votes.”

“This year, training camp, we came Day 1 and said we wanted to be a top defence in this league,” Gobert said on TNT. “Every guy has bought in. Everyone has put in the work every single day, and now we’re here with one goal in mind, to try to get this championship.”