It’s sad to admit, but the hype-train has derailed for Rudy Gobert. He used to be the darling of the NBA, loved by analytics-oriented stat-obsessed fans and actual-game-watching highlights-craving fans alike. A future with him as the best defender in the NBA seemed an inevitability. What happened? Two things:
One, he regressed a bit this year. Scoring is down, efficiency is down, blocks are down, turnovers are up. A sombre reminder that not every young talent can continue to improve indefinitely.
And two, Hassan Whiteside came onto the scene. He gets more blocks than Rudy and fills the “heel” role of the NBA nicely. In today’s media landscape, people love the newest and flashiest thing, and Hassan is both.
It’s okay, Rudy. Dry your eyes. Utah fans still like you a lot, and I bet there a bunch of French people who still really like you as well. Who cares if the average NBA fan has forsaken you? They were never your true fans.