The next Rudy Gobert is lurking quietly in Portland

Minnesota Timberwolves Center Rudy Gobert is a big defender of all time. His rim protection and the ability to anchor elite defenses distinguish him from others. Gobert’s Four Defensive Player of the Year Awards are the most bound in competition history. In addition, Gobert made eight-defensive teams in his 12-year career. This number would be even higher if the NBA had previously accepted positive all-defensive teams.

Although it is difficult to say that he will match Gobert’s performance, Portland Trail Blazers Big Man Donovan Clingan has clear stylistic similarities with Gobert. Clingan is already an elite edge protector who, like Gobert, is a coverage style in coverage that changes the strategy of the opponent. It is not far -fetched to believe that Cingan will anchor many major defenses during his career.

Gobert was a common concept comparison for the UConn product and he showed why in his Rookie season. Let’s dive further in the game of Clingan and his similarities with Gobert.

The similarities between Clingan and Gobert

As Rookie, Cingan was quietly one of the best peripheral protectors in the NBA, on average 1.6 blocks in just 19.8 minutes. The 3 blocks of Clingan were in second place behind Victor Wembanyama, and Clingan placed 100 blocks in second place, and the NBA led per 100 assets. Cing Kong also placed an elite 7.5 block percentage. Clingan actually had more blocks than Gobert on average, who had an average of 1.4 blocks last season. For his career, however, Gobert has an average of 2.1 blocks.

Clingan is not yet completely tearing off the opponent’s shots at Gobert’s level. Nevertheless, Clingan showed Flits to change the opponent’s thinking process, and this is likely to progress during his career.

When monitors by Clingan, opponents shot only 50.8 percent on the edge, which is 12.8 percent below average. Moreover, the blazers with Clingan on the field had the fourth best defense, but they only placed the 19th best defense without him on the field. That is a Gobert-like impact if I have ever seen one. At the same time, Clingan’s defensive impact flew under the radar.

If Clingan is all this elite, a defender like a Rookie is him on an incredible route. Again, it is unlikely that Cingan will be a four -fold DPOY as Gobert, especially with Wemby in the competition. However, Clingan is probably a multi-year all-defensive player and could win a DPOY at some point.

Offensing, Clingan plays a similar role as Gobert as a screener and an interior threat. Clingan was able to work on his efficiency while shot 53.9 percent of the field, and the wind instruments could use him more as a lob threat. Nevertheless, Clingan made a solid offensive impact, on average 6.5 points. As he progresses and earns more minutes, Cingan can be a consistent double-double threat such as Gobert. Clingan also showed solid passing pork chops, on average 1.1 assists as a rookie.

It is common to see second -year players make a huge leap and Clingan checks many boxes for this, especially with Deandre Ayton in Los Angeles. He has already shown his benefit as an elite rim protector and defensive anchor. Expect Clingan to take a few steps offensively while he will remain elite over the defense. Clingan’s Playstyle is creepy similar to that of Gobert, and fans will probably notice this in his second season.