New York Knicks: 5 players for Mitchell Robinson to study during suspended play

Rudy Gobert

The gold standard for long defensive big men in the modern NBA is Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert. A two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Gobert utilizes his monstrous wingspan and unique athleticism to contest shots at the rim and blow up the pick and roll.

If Mitchell Robinson is aiming to be the best defensive player in the NBA, then studying the center who currently sits on that throne would be a rational way to go about it.

Accolades aside, Gobert is a one-man defensive system around whom the rest of Utah’s game plan revolves. He not only blocks shots at the rim, but forces teams to become more perimeter-oriented in their gameplan.

There may be an abundance of three-point shooters in the modern NBA, but any time you can eliminate an aspect of a team’s offense, you’re doing something right.

Offensively, Gobert has developed into one of the best pick and roll finishers in the NBA. He utilizes his size and length to finish above the rim, as one would expect him to, but he also does a great job of keeping his body in line with the basket and holding the ball high when inside.

Combined with an elite presence on the defensive glass, Gobert’s active approach on defense, as well as his supplemental value offensively, is something to aspire to emulate.

It doesn’t hurt that Gobert knows how to do all of this without getting into foul trouble.