NBA: Identifying the best defensive player at each position in 2022
Center – Rudy Gobert – Utah Jazz
This was the easiest choice for the group.
Rudy Gobert is easily the best defensive center in the world right now and it’s not even close. At 7-foot-1 with a 7-foot-9 wingspan, Gobert can challenge shots that no one else can, which is why he is the best rim-protector out of any player in the league that defends at least four shots a game.
Gobert is also 2nd in the league in Blocks per Game (2.3), 1st in Defensive Rebounds per game (11.5), 1st in Defensive Win Shares (6.9), and 2nd in Defensive Rating (99.7).
Next. NBA Power Rankings: Buy or sell the Chicago Bulls atop the East?. dark
Simply put, Gobert is the best anchor in the NBA and will be the Defensive Player of the Year winner for the 4th time, which would make him the joint-highest ever winner, along with Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace.