The odds say Rudy Gobert will be the near-unanimous NBA Defensive Player of the Year, but is that really the case?
Sitting as a -1000 favorite at BetRivers Sportsbook, Gobert has been a favorite for almost the entire season, but don’t forget about the eighth wonder of the world, Victor Wembaneyama.
Since the All-Star break, Wenbanyama has averaged an impressive 2.0 steals and 4.6 blocks per game.
The San Antonio Spurs’ French prodigy has finished the season in incredible fashion, and his odds should improve between now and April.
Wenbanyama is averaging 5.7 blocks and steals per game this season. This is the highest total since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1992-1993, and a feat that has only been achieved eight times in NBA history.
And assuming the health of the NBA’s up-and-coming superstars, that number will go up even more.
Since the All-Star break, Wenbanyama has averaged 6.6 blocks + steals per game, matching David Robinson’s 1991-92 season when he averaged 6.8 blocks in 68 games.
From now on, Wenbanyama will be the subject of most of the discussion on this award, so it would be worth a shot at 12/1 in the second half of the season to get a hold of him, who is rapidly gaining momentum.
It’s a worthwhile gamble considering where his stats stand with 20% of the season still left.
Wembaneyama said Thursday that he knows Gobert has an inside track, but he issued a warning to the rest of the league going forward.
“We know that Rudy (Gobert) has a very good chance of winning this year, and rightly so. Let’s let him win now, because after that it’s not his turn anymore. ” Wenbanyama said.
The rest of the league should be, and probably will be, afraid of Wenbanyama’s defensive abilities.
And while the odds are that it’s all about Gobert, it’s also worth noting that he’s been less productive lately as a result of losing running back Karl-Anthony Towns to a torn meniscus. worth it.
He led all centers in defensive field goal success rate, but since then he has fallen far behind Wenbanyama and ranks in the middle among centers.
This means it’s more than reasonable to expect Wenbanyama to establish himself somewhat here over the next 20 games, and Gobert’s impact is diminished with Towns out.
Media coverage within the industry is also increasing. When betting on awards, in addition to who is the deserving winner, it’s also important to keep track of where the voters are talking about it.
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Recent Voter Ryen Rusillo appeared on his podcast “I vote for Wembangyama Defensive Player of the Year.”
Much of this sentiment will continue within league circles as Wembaneyama continues to adapt to the American game and put up flashes that Gobert can’t match.
It is expected that more voters will pay attention to Wenbanyama, who is also expected to win the Rookie of the Year award.
