The NBA announced that Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert has been named a finalist for both the Kia Defensive Player of the Year and NBA Most Improved Player awards. The winners will be announced at the inaugural 2017 NBA Awards on TNT on June 26 on TNT (7 p.m. MT).
Appearing in 81 games (all starts), Gobert averaged career highs of 14.0 points, 12.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game while posting career-bests in field goal percentage (.662) and free throw percentage (.653) while helping the Jazz to their first 50-win season since 2009-10. Gobert on Thursday was named to the 2016-17 All-NBA Second Team.