Rudy Gobert is set to take out his fourth Defensive Player of the Year, but many think he isn’t deserving – including former NBA big man DeMarcus Cousins.
Cousins’ argument is that Gobert doesn’t contribute to closing out games for the Timberwolves.
“You can’t have a potential four-time Defensive Player of the Year that doesn’t finish games.” said Cousins on the Bully Ball. “I’m never going to be okay with this. For me, I see things in black and white. If you’re the best defender on the best defensive team, you should never be off the floor. There should never be a scenario where you’re not able to fit into the scheme. That doesn’t make sense. So how do we keep awarding this guy who can’t even stay on the floor in the playoffs? We seen it time and time again. This is mind-blowing to me.”
The Frenchman has won DPOY in three previous seasons – 2018, 2019 and 2021.
Although Gobert is favorite to take out this year’s award, Kings forward Domantas Sabonis averaged the most rebounds per game this season (13.7), compared to Gobert’s 12.9.
The Wolves center also didn’t even rank in the top five for blocks per game, instead ranking sixth after averaging 2.1 blocks per contest.
However, Minnesota were ranked as the best defensive team in the league during the regular season, leading the NBA in defensive rating at 108.4 points per 100 possessions.
Superstar Rookie Victor Wembanyama makes far more sense as the leading DPOY candidate, Cousins says.
“It’s easy for me to pick Wemby,” Cousins said. “We can sit here and say he’s on one of the worst defensive teams in the league. I think that’s more credit to Wemby because now you really stick out as a defender. If you got a bunch of above-average defenders around you, it can make you do things at a higher level. When you’re sticking out as the only guy defending, and you’re still exceeding the guys who are the so-called favorites, it doesn’t add up.”
Wemby led the league in shot blocking and was the only player to average at least three blocks per game this season (his average came to 3.6).
Though the Spurs ranked 21st in league in defensive rating and finished the season in 14th place in the Western Conference.
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