“I don’t think Kobe is the best defender in the league”
Rudy Gobert (216 cm, C) is one of the best big men in the league. His offensive abilities are somewhat lacking. However, he has a huge impact on defense. He was named Defensive Player of the Year again this season after averaging 14 points, 12.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.1 blocked shots per game. This is Kobe’s fourth career Defensive Player of the Year honor.
Indeed, Kobe’s defensive impact has been immense. The Minnesota Timberwolves built their defense around him, and as a result, they finished third in the regular season. 토토 They also reached the Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years.
There”s no denying that Kobe is one of the best defenders in the league. However, his weaknesses are also evident. Despite his great height and long arms, he”s weak in mismatches. Dwight Howard, the last three-time Defensive Player of the Year, also mentioned this.
“I don“t think Kobe deserves to win Defensive Player of the Year,” Howard told the Gills Arena Show. There’s no denying he’s an elite defender. But I don’t think he’s the best defender,” he said.
“He’s 216 centimeters. He’s an incredibly tall player. When he’s in the paint zone, he’s a force to be reckoned with. But in mismatches, he’s not that good. He gets beat by smaller guards even in the paint zone. He’s a threat just standing there, but he’s not,” Howard continued with his thoughts on Gobert.
“More than anything else, it’s the defensive system that’s important for him, and I’m not taking anything away from what he’s done in the past. But at Utah and now, he’s really benefited from the team defense. You can’t deny that. I don’t want to say he’s the best defender when he has to make up for defensive weaknesses through team defense.”
Kobe’s strengths and weaknesses are clear, as Howard said. He’s big and can protect the rim. He’s a good rebounder. However, he can be a mismatch target. This is one of the reasons why Howard doesn’t consider Kobe to be the best defender in the game.
