Rudy Gobert, Jazz agree to contract extension

The Utah Jazz and Rudy Gobert have come to terms on a contract extension

The Utah Jazz announced today that they have come to terms with their defensive anchor, Rudy Gobert.

At 7’1″,  Gobert broke NBA combine records for wingspan and standing reach before the 2013 NBA Draft. The 20-year-old Frenchman was considered raw, however, and he lasted until the 27^th pick of the draft before the Utah Jazz acquired his rights. Many assumed the Jazz were stashing the raw Gobert abroad and were surprised when Utah opted to bring him over immediately. They already had recent high draft picks in bigs Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors and many thought they would focus on developing just them.

Gobert played sparingly during his first year with the club and the Jazz finished in last place in the NBA’s Western Conference. As a result, he was off most people’s radars coming into his second season. Though Derrick Favors was now playing more power forward, Enes Kanter was considered the starting center of the future. Jazz fans were hopeful that Gobert could become a contributor eventually but expected nothing from him in the near future.

The French star started the year backing up Kanter but earned minutes as the year went on because of the difference he made on the defensive end of the court. Using his length and above average athleticism, Gobert showed why he can be one of the league’s best defensive anchors once he received playing time. Eventually people took notice of Gobert and the France native earned the nickname “The Stifle Tower” league-wide. He emerged as a surprise starter of the Jazz and made Kanter, the ex-second overall pick, expendable. Enes Kanter was traded and the team moved forward with Gobert, and the Jazz established a new grinding identity with their new frontcourt. Rudy Gobert finished third in Most Improved Player voting during the 2014-2015 season.

Coming into last season, many were curious what the Jazz would get out of Gobert during his first season of the starter. And though he missed 21 games due to injury, Gobert anchored the Jazz’s defense. He finished amongst the league leaders in most key defensive statistics a big can: third in the league in blocks per game and percentage, eighth in defensive rating, and second in defensive box plus/minus, according to BasketballReference. The Jazz finished in the top ten in team defensive efficiency and could have finished higher if they had got a full year from the The Stifle Tower. The Jazz narrowly missed the playoffs in the Western Conference, but Gobert proved that he was much more than a one year fluke.

Now 24 years old, Gobert is still developing his offensive game and is little more than a finisher and strong offensive rebounder on that end. But he is already one of the league’s top defensive players and will likely make the All-Defense team this year barring injury. He has the potential to be a special defensive player capable of contending for Defensive Player of the Year one day. Through three games this year, he has averaged 11 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks per game and has looked more comfortable on offense. The Utah Jazz and their fanbase should be excited to have Rudy Gobert locked in for the future.

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Rudy Gobert joins six other members of the 2013 rookie class to sign extensions before the deadline.

Shabazz Muhammad and Cody Zeller remain candidates to be extended before the deadline, but have not yet been as of the time of this writing.