Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert are emerging as the two finalists for Defensive Player of the Year down the stretch of the 2023-24 season. Gobert is listed with -900 odds at BetMGM, while Wembanyama is a distant second at +700.
The case for Gobert is easy to make. He’s the best player on the best defense in the league, and his three previous DPOY awards are proof enough that he’s elite on that end of the floor.
Wembanyama’s candidacy isn’t being taken quite as seriously. He’s a rookie who is playing on the No. 23 defense in the league. But this is theoretically supposed to be an individual award. When you do a deep dive into each player’s impact, Wembanyama comes out on top.
MORE: Victor Wembanyama is having the second-best rookie season of all time
Victor Wembanyama vs. Rudy Gobert stats in DPOY
In some of the most basic defensive stats, Wembanyama has a sizeable advantage over Gobert.
Both players are unbelievable rim protectors, but Wembanyama is leading the league in blocks thanks to his 8-foot wingspan. Gobert’s 7-9 wingspan can’t quite reach that same level.
| Wembanyama | Stat (per game) | Gobert |
|---|---|---|
| 3.4 | Blocks | 2.1 |
| 1.3 | Steals | 0.6 |
| 8.2 | Defensive rebounds | 9.2 |
| 2.9 | Deflections | 1.6 |
Wembanyama’s 3.4 blocks and 1.3 steals put him in elite company. Only five players have ever reached those totals in NBA history, and they all did it in way more than Wembanyama’s 28.8 minutes per game.
Wembanyama clearly has the advantage over Gobert in blocks and steals, and by a pretty wide margin. Where Gobert might have more influence is altering shots at the rim.
One of the most important stats that voters like to look at is how well opposing players shoot from inside 6 feet against a defender. That stat shows that while Wembanyama gets his hand on more shots (8.2 contests per game compared to 7.9), Gobert forces more misses.
Voters also like to look at all-in-one impact statistics, which measure how well a team performs while a player is on the floor. These adjust for the quality of teammates and opponents. Wembanyama looks like the more impactful defender in them.
| Wembanyama | Stat | Gobert |
|---|---|---|
| +3.3 | Defensive EPM | +2.6 |
| +2.8 | Defensive LEBRON | +3.1 |
| +3.3 | Defensive RAPTOR | +3.2 |
MORE: Draymond Green downplays Victor Wembanyama’s Defensive Player of the Year case
The most important stat for many voters is, of course, team success. The award is generally won by a player on a top-five defense.
That is what makes Wembanyama, whose Spurs currently rank 23rd on defense, a long shot to win. Gobert’s Wolves rank No.1 in the league. As their defensive anchor, he has a much stronger narrative behind him.
2024 Defensive Player of the Year prediction
Wembanyama shouldn’t be punished too harshly for his team’s lack of success. He was drafted onto the worst defense in league history, and the Spurs retained most of that roster to play alongside him. None of his teammates will be in contention for any defensive awards. Some of them (Keldon Johnson and Doug McDermott before getting traded) are considered well below average.
Gobert has a lot more help on his team. Jaden McDaniels will get All-Defensive consideration. Kyle Anderson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are above-average. Mike Conley is one of the smartest help defenders at his position. And Anthony Edwards is a good one-on-one defender who can make spectacular plays when he’s locked in.
MORE: Anthony Edwards stuns NBA world with game-winning block vs. Pacers
If Wemby swapped places with Gobert, the rookie would win the award. He’s only 20 years old, but there’s a pretty strong case that he’s already the best defender in the league. His intimidation factor is massive. Players simply refuse to challenge him.
Gobert is fantastic in his own right, but he has more weaknesses. While he has gotten better at guarding out on the perimeter, it’s still a struggle for him. That is another area where Wembanyama has an advantage.
One area where Gobert has the edge is in raw strength. Wembanyama is still a wispy 210 pounds to Gobert’s 258. Some players, such as Houston’s Alperen Sengun, have had success in muscling Wembanyama down low.
At the end of the day, these are two amazing defenders who are way above everyone else in the league this year. If team success matters, then Gobert should be the winner. If the most impactful defender in the league should get the award, then it should go to Wembanyama.
