Rudy Gobert has countered “overrated player” claims against him with a historic feat. Notably, a recent poll released by ‘The Athletic’ showed that NBA players anonymously voted Rudy Gobert as the “most overrated player” in the league. However, the same poll also projected Gobert as the Defensive Player of the Year for this season.

The Minnesota Timberwolves star not only stood true to this projection but has also registered his name in NBA history for a particular record. Notably, Rudy Gobert has now become the only third player after Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award 4 times.

It is worth mentioning that Rudy Gobert suspects other NBA athletes term him overrated because of his awards. “In their eyes, I’m more like the odd guy from France that’s winning a lot of awards, and it can bother people,” he told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon this month.

Gobert further stated that he has his own unique impact on the game. But he feels this impact may not be as cool or flashy as other guys. “So it’s sometimes harder for them to respect that. I just think I’m just mostly misunderstood. I think I trigger a lot of these guys,” the 31-year-old said.

In fact, even the article by The Athletic itself stated, “Gobert has long been a favorite target of players around the league who believe that his defensive reputation is overstated…” However, with a fourth DPOY award to his name, one may wonder if this belief has any ground for itself.

A closer look at Rudy Gobert’s defense’s impact on his team

Gobert, with the DPOY award, joined Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace. This feat alone is enough to give a hint of what Gobert brings to the table for his franchise. Notably, the Timberwolves have garnered the highest defensive rating (108.4) this season. The team has not only faced the fewest points per game but also witnessed the lowest field goal percentage.

As for the stats, Rudy Gobert averaged 14.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game this season. It is worth mentioning that both his rebound and block stats are the best for any player on the Timberwolves. Additionally, he ranks second in the league this season in terms of both total rebounds and rebounds per game.

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The stats and the impact on the team reflect that Gobert’s defensive abilities are most likely not overstated. However, his offensive abilities being questioned is a different topic altogether. Notably, there has been an argument against Gobert that he struggles with his footwork in the paint and doesn’t stretch the floor at all. What is your opinion of the “most overrated” claim against Rudy Gobert? Let us know your views in the comments.