It's no secret that Rudy Gobert is an elite rim protector who elevates the Minnesota Timberwolves' defense. During the 2023-24 season, the "Stifle Tower" won his fourth Defensive Player of the Year and anchored the NBA's best defense.
The Wolves maintained a high-level defense last season, ranking sixth in defensive rating. However, one key difference was the defense when Gobert was off the court. In the 2023-24 season, the Wolves posted a 111.3 defensive rating, which is equivalent to the NBA's second-best defense with Gobert off the court. Last season, with Rudy on the court, they posted a 108.