For the first two editions of this summer’s best/worst case scenario series, I went ahead and previewed the Utah Jazz’s pair of rookie standouts Donovan Mitchell and Royce O’Neale. As they aim to make yet another leap as second-year players, they’ll face high expectations but also ample opportunity to shine.
For today’s overview, I’m looking at a player who’s a bit more seasoned than those young bucks, yet his expectations remain similarly high. That man is reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. And Gobert’s first order of business for next season will likely be defending the coveted hardware that he took home in 2017-18.