The NBA’s 25 Best Players Right Now

25. Rudy Gobert — Minnesota Timberwolves

Career Highlights: 4x All-NBA, 3x Defensive Player of the Year, 6x All-Defensive, 3x All-Star

The T’Wolves dropped the bag for their new center. In total, four first-round picks plus Minnesota’s first-rounder from April (Walker Kessler) was shipped off to Utah in exchange for three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. Minnesota’s valuation of their new center is rooted in the belief that Gobert wasn’t at fault for Utah’s constant shortcomings in the postseason. Teaming him up with Karl-Anthony Towns makes for a jumbo front court, though Gobert will be surrounded by more athletically-gifted perimeter plays in Minnesota. He remains offensively-challenged, but Gobert can completely shift a game with his length and defensive instincts.

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