May 2024 Basketball Wiretap

Rudy Gobert Wins NBA Defensive Player Of The Year For 4th Time

May 7, 2024 8:38 PM

Rudy Gobert has been named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for a record-tying fourth time.  

Gobert had 72 first place votes and 433 total points. Victor Wembanyama finished second with 245 total points out of 19 first place votes, 44 second place votes and 18 third place votes. Bam Adebayo finished third with 91 total points ahead of Anthony Davis with 83.

Gobert joins Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace as the only four-time winners of the award, which has been presented annually since the 1982-83 season.

In the 2023-24 regular season, Gobert ranked sixth in the NBA in blocks per game (2.13) and fourth in defensive rebounds per game (9.2).  Opponents shot 43.4% from the field when Gobert was the closest defender, 6.1% lower than their expected percentage on those shots (49.5%).  That difference was the largest among the 105 players who defended at least 800 shots during the season.

Led by Gobert, the Timberwolves had the best defensive rating, allowed the fewest points per game and held opponents to the lowest field goal percentage in the NBA.  The top-ranked defense helped Minnesota (56-26) post the second-best record in franchise history and earn the No. 3 playoff seed in the Western Conference.  

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Tags: Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Award

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Victor Wembanyama Wins 23-24 NBA Rookie Of The Year With Unanimous Vote

May 6, 2024 8:48 PM

Victor Wembanyama is the recipient of the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy as the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year.

Wembanyama is the third player to earn the honor with the San Antonio Spurs, joining David Robinson (1989-90) and Tim Duncan (1997-98).

Wembanyama received all 99 first-place votes from a media panel, making him the first unanimous NBA Rookie of the Year since Karl-Anthony Towns in the 2015-16 season.

In the 2023-24 regular season, Wembanyama led all rookies in points, rebounds and blocks per game, in addition to ranking fourth in assists and second in steals per game.  He is the second rookie to lead all NBA players in blocks per game in a season, joining Manute Bol (1985-86).  Wembanyama and Bol are also the only two rookies to lead the NBA in total blocks in a season since blocks were first recorded in the 1973-74 season.     

Wembanyama became the first player to average at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in fewer than 30 minutes per game in a season.  He is also the first player to have at least 1,500 points, 700 rebounds, 250 assists, 250 blocks and 100 three-pointers made in a season.

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Tags: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs, NBA, NBA Award

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Alex Caruso Wins 23-24 NBA Hustle Award

May 2, 2024 12:16 PM

Alex Caruso has been named the winner of the 2023-24 NBA Hustle Award.  Caruso, a 2022-23 NBA All-Defensive First Team selection, has won the NBA Hustle Award for the first time. 

Presented annually since the 2016-17 season, the NBA Hustle Award honors a player who makes the effort plays that do not often appear in the traditional box score but help determine team success. Hustle statistics include deflections, loose balls recovered, charges drawn, screen assists, contested shots and box-outs.

In the 2023-24 regular season, Caruso led the NBA in deflections per game (3.7) and finished second in total deflections (265). He also ranked seventh in the league in both total loose balls recovered (73) and total contested three-point field goal attempts (221).  Caruso drew 12 charges, making him one of 18 players to reach or surpass that total.

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Tags: Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls, NBA, NBA Award

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Mike Conley Named 23-24 NBA Teammate Of The Year

May 1, 2024 12:40 PM

Mike Conley has been named the 2023-24 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year.  Conley has won the annual award for the second time, having previously earned the honor in the 2018-19 season. 

The Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment and dedication to team.

Conley finished first ahead of Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson.

Jrue Holiday had won the award three out of the past four seasons.

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Tags: Mike Conley, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Award

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