Wolves center Rudy Gobert named NBA Defensive Player of the Year

<div>Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts during the second half of game three of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Footprint Center on April 26, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Timberwolves defeated the Suns 126-109.</div>
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<div class= — Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts during the second half of game three of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Footprint Center on April 26, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Timberwolves defeated the Suns 126-109.

**(Christian Petersen/Getty Images)**

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has been named the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, the NBA announced this on Tuesday.

This is the fourth time Gobert has taken home the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy. Before the vote, he received 72 out of 99 possible first-place votes.

Gobert was the anchor of the NBA’s best defense. The Wolves ranked first in the league in team defense rating for the regular season.

“They did the job… they did an unbelievable job defensively and offensively… it was something I will never forget.” 💯

Rudy Gobert on Minnesota’s dominant Game 2 performance pic.twitter.com/CkCCGwL7kG

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 7, 2024

Individually, Gobert averaged 2.1 blocks and 12.9 rebounds per game this season (second best in the NBA). He also led the league in defensive win shares – an advanced statistic that takes into account a player’s individual defensive performances and how they impact the team’s defense. For context, Gobert’s 5.8 defensive earnings stock rating in 2024 is the second-best of his career. (Fun fact: Anthony Edwards also finished third in the NBA in defensive win shares).

Gobert beat out rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama (19 first-place votes) and Heat center Bam Adebayo (three first-place votes) for the award. He was also one of three Timberwolves players named finalists for the end-of-season awards, joining coach Chris Finch and Naz Reid. Reid took home the Sixth Man of the Year trophy, while Finch came third in the Coach of the Year voting.

The Wolves currently lead the Nuggets 2-0 in the second round of NBA players, spurred in part by their suffocating defense. However, Gobert missed Game 2 of the series after returning to Minnesota for the birth of his first child.

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