Chris Finch Makes Big Claim About Rudy Gobert's Defensive Season

Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch is not one to throw around praise without reason, and after his team's latest performance, he made a statement that is sure to get the attention of Defensive Player of the Year voters across the league.

"I think he's far and away the leader for defensive player of the year," Finch said about his star center Rudy Gobert, according to reporter Jon Krawczynski.

Finch also pointed to Gobert's impact when he is on the floor as the game changer for the Timberwolves, and looking at the numbers, it is hard to argue with him.

Through 60 games this season, Gobert is averaging 11.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting an incredible 70.4 percent from the field, numbers that reflect just how efficient and dominant he has been on both ends of the floor.

The four-time Defensive Player of the Year has posted 27 double-doubles on the season, good for eighth-most in the league, and has recorded at least three blocks in 14 different games so far.

Even beyond what shows up in the box score, Gobert's presence as a rim protector changes the way opposing teams attack, as opponents shoot far below the league average when they go at him near the basket.

His on-court impact has been staggering all year, and the Timberwolves have looked like a completely different team defensively when he is off the floor compared to when he is anchoring the paint.

This is not the first time Finch has spoken publicly about Gobert's case for the award, as he previously called his play "every bit as good as it was two seasons ago and every other time he's won the award," a nod to Gobert's 2023-24 DPOY campaign with Minnesota.

Sitting at 40-23 and holding down a top-four spot in a loaded Western Conference, the Timberwolves are one of the best teams in the NBA and Gobert is a massive reason why.

While Anthony Edwards is leading the charge offensively with 29.5 points per game on a career-best level and Julius Randle has settled into a strong playmaking role, it is Gobert who holds the defensive end together and gives the rest of the roster the freedom to play aggressively.

The Timberwolves have felt the difference when Gobert is not available, as they suffered a blowout loss to the 76ers when he served a one-game suspension for accumulating too many flagrant foul points, and teammates were quick to point out just how much they missed his presence in the paint.

Gobert will never be a flashy player and he still has his shortcomings, especially on the offensive end where his free throw shooting sits at just 50.6 percent on the year, and he does not stretch the floor or create his own shot the way some modern big men do.

He has also drawn criticism from fans and media at various points this season, including a stretch in February where the team's defense was not living up to its usual standard and Gobert himself publicly called on Finch to start benching players who were not bringing enough effort.

But even with all of that, Gobert's value to Minnesota is clear and the numbers back it up, as the Timberwolves have looked like a legitimate title contender when he is at his best and their championship hopes run directly through his ability to lock down the paint every night.

If Gobert were to win the award, he would become the first player in NBA history to claim five Defensive Player of the Year honors, breaking the record he currently shares with Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace, both of whom won it four times.

The biggest thing working against him at this point may be voter fatigue rather than his actual play, as some voters may be hesitant to give the award to a player who has already won it four times, even if the numbers and impact are there.

With Victor Wembanyama dealing with an injury that could make him ineligible for awards, the door is wide open for Gobert, and his head coach clearly believes he should walk right through it.