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Utah Jazz Center Rudy Gobert has won his third Defensive Player of the Year award — and the voting wasn’t close.
The 7’1 Frenchman earned a total of 464 points, including 84 of a possible 100 first-place votes. His closest competitor, Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers, tallied 287 points.
This is the third NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award for Rudy Gobert. He is the fourth player to win the award at least three times, joining Dikembe Mutombo (four), Ben Wallace (four) and Dwight Howard (three).
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) June 10, 2021
More ➡️ https://t.co/63VBakX4xU
Full voting results ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Cmv6yR3SnC
Gobert won the award in 2018 and 2019. He now sits behind Dikembe Mutumbo and Ben Wallace who each won four DPOYs. Dwight Howard of the Philadelphia 76’ers won the award three times.
Gobert has been crucial to the Jazz’ meteoric rise and league-best record this season, averaging 2.7 blocks, 0.7 steals along with 14.3 points, 13.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists.
Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors), Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), Clint Capela (Atlanta Hawks) and Joel Embiid (76ers) also received votes.
Given the Portland Trail Blazers disappointing defensive season, no Blazers figured in the top 12.