Howard Questions Gobert's DPOY Merit

Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves won his fourth NBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award for the 2023-24 season, sparking significant debate about the validity of his accolades. Former NBA star Dwight Howard, himself a three-time DPOY winner, argued on the 'Gil's Arena' podcast that Gobert's previous awards were largely due to his team's overall defense rather than his individual prowess. Howard acknowledged Gobert’s improvement in the 2023-24 season, particularly in pick-and-roll situations and his overall aggressiveness. Despite Howard’s criticisms, Gobert's defensive contributions helped the Timberwolves reach the Western Conference Finals and lead the league in defensive rating. Questions remain about Gobert's effectiveness in one-on-one matchups and his offensive limitations.