After the NBA announced that Minnesota Timberwolves star center Rudy Gobert won the Defensive Player of the Year award for the 2023-24 NBA season, former Oklahoma City Thunder big man Kendrick Perkins congratulated the Frenchman on X (formerly Twitter).
“Well deserved @rudygobert27,” Perkins said.
Fans React to Kendrick Perkins’s Message to Minnesota Timberwolves Star Rudy Gobert Winning the 2023-24 NBA Defensive Player of the Year

However, not a few fans on social media agree with Perkins’ take that Gobert earned the honor.
One fan said “Nah Wemby [Victor Wembanyama] or AD deserved it.”
Another shared: “based on stat it should be Wemby! but based on impact its Gobert!”
That seems like a fair assessment. Wembanyama averaged more steals (1.5) and blocks (2.8) than Gobert. However, Gobert’s Minnesota Timberwolves are more successful this season than Wembanyama’s Spurs. Moreover, Gobert recorded a higher Defensive Win Shares (5.8) than Wemby (4.4).
From another commenter: “Wemby should’ve got it I’m sorry I fw the wolves but still”

Gobert now has a trophy case that houses a total of four Defensive Player of the Year awards. That could be enough to build a strong case for the Hall of Fame one day, but he’s also got a golden opportunity to add to that with an NBA title. Gobert and the Timberwolves are on a roll in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, steamrolling past Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns in the first round and winning the first two games in the second round versus the reigning NBA champs, Denver Nuggets.
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