He repeated the record: Rudy Gobert was again chosen as the best defensive player in the NBA

The 31-year-old Minnesota Timberwolves center received such an honor in 2018, 2019 and 2021.

The 6-foot-2 Gobert was the main reason the Timberwolves posted the league’s best defensive rating in the regular season, allowing just 108.4 points per 100 possessions.

“This is great teamwork. We love to receive individual awards, but you can’t do it alone. A big thank you to my teammates for believing in me and letting me do my best every day. We’re trying to change the culture here in Minnesota.”

Out of 99 members of the press who voted, 72 gave R. Gobert the first place. 24 respondents saw him in the second position, one – in the third. The Frenchman scored a total of 433 points.

Another Frenchman, Victor Wembanyama, was second. The San Antonio Spurs rookie received 19 first-place votes for a total of 245 points.

Third place was taken by Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat, 91 points), fourth – Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers, 83 points), fifth – Herb Jones (New Orleans Pelicans, 14 points).

Gobert finished sixth in the league in blocks (2.1 avg.) and limited opponents to 45.2 percent. in hitting, tied for first among 38 players who faced at least 1,000 shots. The Frenchman also took fourth place in defensive rebounds (average 9.2).

The Timberwolves, represented by R. Gobert, finished third in the Western Conference in the regular season, and currently have an unexpected 2-0 lead in the conference semifinal series against the defending champion Denver Nuggets.