Specialists rarely command nine-figure contracts. And when they do, they’re expected to transcend that elite skill. Take Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert. He’s known almost exclusively as a defensive anchor—but dismissing that role would be a mistake. A four-time Defensive Player of the Year, Gobert has consistently lifted his teams to the top of the Western Conference’s defensive rankings.
Specialists are usually thought of as knockdown shooters, like Duncan Robinson or Malik Beasley, or elite perimeter defenders, like Davion Mitchell and Kris Dunn. You could also throw in rim protectors and energy guys, but the point remains the same.