It sounds like
Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwovles is the runaway favorite to win this season's
Defensive Player of the Year. This would be the fourth time that Gobert claimed the prize, a major honor that few people have achieved during their career.
But does he deserve it?
Former NBA star
DeMarcus Cousins doesn't think so. He recently shared his opinion on the "All The Smoke" podcast and he said that thinks Gobert shouldn't be Defensive Player of the Year.
Cousins said:
"You can't have a potential 4x Defensive Player of the Year who doesn’t finish games. I’m never going to be okay with this. 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."
He didn't stop there and then added:
"There should never be a scenario where you’re not able to fit into the scheme. That doesn’t make sense. How do we keep awarding this guy who can’t even stay on the floor in the playoffs? This is mind-blowing to me."
Many people think that Gobert is an excellent defensive player but Cousins isn't one of them, mostly because he feels the Timberwolves star isn't able to stay healthy during the playoffs.
It is true that Gobert has indeed been on the bench for moments during important games during his NBA career but does that really mean he's not a strong part of his team?
This year, Gobert has been a huge help for the Timberwolves, averaging 14 points, 12.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game.
Partly because of Gobert's work, the Timberwolves are in their best playoff position in years and are the third seed. They will face off against the Phoenix Suns in the opening round of the postseason.
This will be a chance for Gobert to prove Cousins and all the other critics wrong. If he plays his cards well, he could walk away with Defensive Player of the Year and his very first championship ring.
