It seems that it has almost become cool to be a Rudy Gobert. Remarkable names such as Shaquille O’Neal and Drayond Green have done their endless Gobert Bashing. Many were awe for how much the Timberwolves it tasks to acquire him in 2022. The fact remains that he is still one of the better centers of the competition.
On his substit, Iztok Franko ranked the top centers In the Western Conference. It may have surprised some that Gobert stands above.
Best centers in the Western Conference
On the Franko list, it should not surprise anyone who was on top of it. Of course triple MVP Nikola Jokic was at the forefront. There should be no debate about that.
Victor Wembanyama comes in second place. There must be few arguments about that. After the season of Ivica Zubac, he did not seem to be in third place. However, it could certainly be claimed that Alps Sengun should be for him in fourth place.
It was the next two that make some readers possibly have done a double take. Is Gobert, who came to the fifth, a really better big man than Domantas Sabonis (ranked sixth)?
Sabonis vs. Gobert
Death, taxes and Sabonis register a Double-Double. The 29-year-old had a piece of 61 consecutive Double-Doubles that finally ended in April 2024. In 2024-25 he led the competition in recovery for the third Straight season. Seen by many as the best passing big man, except Jokic, Sabonis has now had 50 Triple-Doubles in the last three years.
Gobert certainly does not place the assist totals that Sabonis does, and he also scores less often. However, it is not easy to compare the two. The Wolves Center is a four -time defensive player of the year and offers rim protection that few others can do. That is something Sabonis is absolutely not known for.
Who is the better NFL player, Broncos Cornerback Patrick Surty II or Vikings wide recipient Justin Jefferson? They are both elite, but play different sides of the field. Although it is not an exact analogy, that is what it is like to debate who is the better basketball player, Sabonis or Gobert.
Both players raised 1011 -Win shares last season, although Gobert had the least edges in wind resources per 48 minutes (.204 to Sabonis’ .199). Gobert’s Minnesota teams have also had more success lately than the Sacramento teams from Sabonis.
So although it may surprise many to see Gobert ranking for Sabonis, it should not be as far -fetched as it seems.
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