Ranking Rudy Gobert’s 10 greatest blocks

When Kawhi Leonard has the rock, the Los Angeles Clippers usually can get a bucket. However, when The Klaw tried to bail them out with just under two minutes remaining, Gobert was there to shut the door on the Clippers, as Leonard’s teardrop attempt went for naught. There’s no question that few players can so easily reject Leonard.

9. Devin Booker gets rejected

It’s safe to say that Devin Booker is a deadly scorer. Although he managed to find an open lane, Gobert was there to block his shot off the glass. After getting the stop, the Timberwolves quickly converted the defensive play into an easy Anthony Edwards bucket. With Gobert’s defense, it’s easy to see why the Timberwolves managed to sweep the Phoenix Suns in the playoffs.

8. Blocking Luka Doncic with authority

Luka Doncic usually dazzles thanks to his wide array of moves as a scorer. However, Luka Magic didn’t work when he saw Gobert pick him up in an isolation play.

As Doncic drove to the basket, his layup was swatted away with authority by the four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Although the Mavericks superstar usually has his way against the French center, it wasn’t to be this time.

7. Denying KAT’s dunk

Before joining the Timberwolves, Rudy Gobert was a riddle that Karl-Anthony Towns was unable to solve when they matched up. In fact, he saw his dunk get rejected at the rim. Fortunately for KAT, Gobert joined the Timberwolves. Nowadays, these two behemoths form an effective twin-tower combination.

6. Blocking Delon Wright in the clutch

While Gobert loves to block shots on a regular basis, the endgame pressure also doesn’t affect him. In fact, when the Mavericks needed to tie the game, a Delon Wright layup was easily denied by the elite rim protection of the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

5. Game-saving block vs. Clippers

Although Gobert usually blocks shots at the rim, the French center has proven that he can also close out on 3-point shooters, an unusual trait for his size and position. Down by three, the Clippers resorted to a corner three for Marcus Morris. Despite initially falling for the fake, Gobert miraculously recovered fast enough to get up for a clutch block the sealed the game for the Jazz.

4. Rejecting Joel Embiid’s hook shot

Despite winning four Defensive Player of the Year Awards, Gobert is usually outside of the elite center conversation. However, when the Wolves got a chance to face Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers, Gobert reminded everyone why he should be.

Embiid could usually bully his way into the paint. While he managed to fake Gobert on a drive, his hook shot wasn’t quick enough to escape the French center’s defense.

3. Blocking the three-time NBA MVP

Nikola Jokic is arguably the best big man in the NBA today, especially after winning his third NBA MVP. However, it’s safe to say that Gobert was unfazed by Jokic. In fact, coming from the weak side as a help defender, Gobert was able to execute a monster block that sent Jokic’s shot the other way.

2. Saving the game 

Down by two, Buddy Hield got his death wish when he opted to challenge Gobert one on one. Although slow-footed, the French center managed to keep in step to swat away Hield’s layup in midair with his outstretched arms.

It was another clutch rejection to add to Gobert’s stacked list of  emphatic blocks. It’s safe to say that challenging the four-time Defensive Player of the Year in the clutch isn’t really a smart play.

1. Meeting Ja Morant at the rim

Ja Morant made a name for himself with his athletic plays and scoring prowess. In fact, the Memphis Grizzlies star even wanted to add Gobert to his list of victims on a poster. However, he learned the hard way that the French center’s rim protection is just on a different level.

Despite jumping high enough for an acrobatic dunk, Gobert met him on the rim with two hands to ultimately deny him the dunk. It was truly a powerful defensive play shown by Gobert against an athletic freak like Morant.