Shaq questions Rudy Gobert's status as an elite defender

Rudy Gobert. Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Shaquille O'Neal questions Rudy Gobert's status as an elite defender

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 3/13/24

Rudy Gobert has won three NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards. He is also a six-time All-Defensive First-Team selection. Therefore, he is considered one of the best defenders and rim protectors in the modern NBA.

Shaquille O'Neal believes that he is overrated, and the lack of physically dominant big men in the league has given Gobert an inflated reputation around the league.

"I never thought he was a great defensive player," O'Neal said via his "The Big Podcast." "…See, what it is, there’s not a lot of centers that are making him play defense. Like, he’s not doing that s--- against Joker… He’s 7’6", of course, if you lay it up, he’s going to block it. But defense to me is guard that guy and shut him down. You want to impress me? Hold Joker under 15 points. All that weakside shot blocking, that’s cool. But it’s not going to work against guys like me and Joker.”

Shaq calls Rudy Gobert an overrated defender

"I never thought he was a great defensive player… See, what it is, there’s not a lot of centers that are making him play defense. Like, he’s not doing that s**t against Joker… He’s 7’6", of course, if you lay it up, he’s going to… pic.twitter.com/prSRdD7Zqw
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 13, 2024

O'Neal's comments come at a strange time. Gobert is anchoring the best defense in the NBA. He's second in the league for rebounds per game. And his size ensures he's one of the league's best rim protectors and shot deterrents.

Yet, O'Neal's criticism is also fair. Gobert resides in a time when big men do most of their work on the perimeter. Non-shooters have developed passing skills or operate as playmaking hubs via hand-off actions. He very rarely has to deal with consistent physicality on the block.

That isn't Gobert's fault, of course. Yet, it does raise a fair question as to whether we would still view him as an elite defender if there were more physical bigs in the league. Fortunately, the league has trended away from low-post dominance in a big way. So, whether O'Neal likes it or not, Gobert will continue to be a force when protecting the rim.

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