New York: Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert won the 2024 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award on Tuesday, matching the league record by winning the award for the fourth time.
The 31-year-old Frenchman previously won awards with the Utah Jazz in 2018, 2019 and 2021, and this season is a key player for the T-Insects, the NBA’s premier defensive club.
Gobert matched Detroit’s Ben Wallace (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006) and Dikembe Mutombo for Defensive Player of the Year awards with Denver, Atlanta and Philadelphia in 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001, respectively.
The 7-foot (2.16m) star missed Minnesota’s playoff win over Denver on Monday so he could be with his daughter Julia Bonilla, who gave birth to a son a day earlier.
“His name is Romeo, and he’s a good guy,” Gobert told TNT NBA. “Many blessings. I am truly grateful.”
Gobert and fellow Frenchman Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, 20, who was named NBA Player of the Year on Monday with 19 votes, tied for third with Miami’s Bam Adebayo from the media panel. three.
Gobert is averaging 14.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.3 steals this season for the Timberwolves.
“Rudy has developed a defensive culture here,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “It’s a testament to how important his influence, presence, and defense is and how great he is when we play.”
Gobert said the secret to success was building a group of players determined to dominate the defense.
“It was a great team effort,” Gobert said. “We like to receive individual awards and all that stuff, it’s nice, but we can’t do it alone and I’m very grateful … all my colleagues believe in me and let me do my best. change the culture in Minnesota.
“It’s great for people to buy in and come in with the same mindset every night. We want to be a defensive-minded team and we can do that.”
T-Insets lead the NBA in fewest points allowed per game and hold opponents to the league’s lowest percentage.
Minnesota swept Phoenix in the first round of the NBA playoffs, and defending champion Denver’s final game in the best-of-seven battle, watched by his new father Gobert won at home.
“It’s amazing,” Gobert said. “As a competitor, you always want to be there for them to play. The guys do it, and I just do it, but they do it defensively and offensively.”
