For the past few years, Rudy Gobert has become an oft-debated player. With high-profile players/former players such as Draymond Green and Shaquille O'Neal making disparaging remarks regarding Gobert, it has helped create the narrative that he isn't as good as his accolades say. Many think the four-time Defensive Player of the Year is overrated, but the fact remains that the Timberwolves have reached never-before-seen heights since acquiring him.
HoopsHype recently ranked the best centers in the NBA, and they placed Gobert 10th. Notably, Gobert's teammate Naz Reid also cracked the top 15.
Rudy Gobert listed as league's 10th-best center
Now 33 years old, Gobert is who he is at this point in his career on the offensive end. He has always been a strong offensive rebounder, though, and his 12.0 points per game in 2024-25 were his lowest in the last eight years.
The 7-foot-1 big man is still one of the best rim protectors. His days of winning Defensive Player of the Year may be over, but a defense will almost always be in the upper half with the Stifle Tower. The Timberwolves have finished sixth, first, and 10th in defensive rating the last three years since Gobert joined the team.
While 10th may seem low to some Wolves fans for Gobert amongst the game’s top centers, a couple listed ahead of him may be starting power forwards this season. Bam Adebayo could be manning the four if Erik Spoelstra goes with second-year player Kel’el Ware as the starting center for the Heat. Many believe Mike Brown will start Mitchell Robinson at center with the Knicks, moving Karl-Anthony Towns to power forward. This is, of course, what Minnesota did with Towns for two years after adding Gobert.
Naz Reid comes in at 15th
Also listed on HoopsHype’s top 26 centers list is Naz Reid, who comes in at 15th. That’s an impressive placing for the 26-year-old as he is the top center on there that will be coming off the bench this season (unless the Hawks decide to keep Kristaps Porziņģis out of the starting lineup).
While Reid will never be the level of Gobert on the defensive end, he certainly makes an impact on offense. After winning Sixth Man of the Year in 2023-24, he finished fifth last season. The 6-foot-9 center averaged career-highs last season in scoring (14.2), rebounding (6.0), and assists (2.3). It should be a third-straight season where Reid is in the running for top bench player honors.