“Rudy, You Are 7’4!”: 3x DPOY Dwight Howard Was “Pissed At” Minnesota Star for This Reason

The 2023-24 DPOY has been finally announced, and Rudy Gobert has received this honor for the fourth time in his career. The Minnesota Timberwolves center has impacted all parts of the floor this year, guarding players from one to five, which the fans have been impressed about. Former Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard had high praise for the French sensation today, but he was initially “pissed“ at the way Gobert played defense in the NBA. What made Howard feel frustrated about Gobert’s defense? 

Howard appeared on Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller’s podcast The OGs where they spoke about Gobert and his chances of winning the DPOY. Howard believes he saw a difference in the way Gobert played defense this year. He said, “In the playoffs, remember they couldn’t put him in the fourth quarter. They had to go smaller, but this year, when he gets in the game, he’s picking up on the guards, he’s playing one-on-one, he’s playing great defense.” However, in the earlier days, Howard did not see Gobert do this. 

The 3x DPOY added, “I used to be pissed off. Because I’m like, ‘Rudy, you’re 7ft 4, you are the tallest player’...You represent all the centers…You gotta show everybody why you’re this guy. This year he has shown people his defensive prowess.” 

Despite such a huge claim about Gobert, Howard chose Victor Wembanyama as his DPOY for this season. Anyhow, after the Wolves center won the accolade today, Howard had big praise for him on Twitter. 

Dwight Howard terms Rudy Gobert’s defense the “greatest” despite choosing Victor Wembanyama 

Howard made it clear that he chose Wembanyama for the DPOY because he was a better individual defender than Gobert this season. However, when it came to team defense, the Wolves center was the better one. After the DPOY was announced today, Howard wrote on Twitter, “From one DPOY to another, I will say this has been the greatest defense I’ve seen out of all the other times you’ve won!” 

The Orlando Magic icon also gave Gobert a challenge, “Get that ring this year then go for another and be the only one with 5! I’m telling y’all that Darkness retreat will turn you into a different animal.” Howard has been appreciative of Gobert for the past few days. When the French star missed game 2 vs the Denver Nuggets for the birth of his son, Howard said, “Great father!” appreciating his decision to stay with his wife.  Not just Gobert, but Howard has been appreciative about a lot of young veterans in the NBA.