Rudy Gobert made some history. Victor Wembanyama nearly did.
Gobert, the Minnesota center, was announced Tuesday as the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year for a record-tying fourth time — joining Basketball Hall of Fame inductees Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace.
It was the fifth time in the last 11 seasons that a French center won defensive player of the year — and it sure seems like Wembanyama will add to that country's total before long. The San Antonio rookie center, announced Monday as the league's Rookie of the Year, was second in the voting and fell one spot short of being the first player to win the DPOY trophy in Year 1 of his NBA career.
Viva la France, indeed. Joakim Noah became the first Frenchman to win DPOY when he was the overwhelming choice in 2014, and Gobert now has the trophies for 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2024.
“It’s great teamwork,” Gobert, the best defender on a Timberwolves team that had the best defense in the NBA this season, said on TNT during the award’s announcement. “We love to get individual awards and all these things, and it’s great but you can’t do it alone.”
It's the ninth time in Gobert's 11 seasons that he has been seventh or better in the DPOY voting. He was second in 2017, third in 2020 and 2022, fifth in 2015 and seventh in 2016 — and picked up this trophy one day after missing a playoff game for the birth of his son, Romeo.
“A lot of blessings,” Gobert said. “Just really grateful.”
Miami center Bam Adebayo was third, his best-ever finish in the voting. He was fourth in 2021 and 2022, along with fifth in 2020 and 2023.
Adebayo — an Olympic gold medalist from 2021 and part of the team that USA Basketball has picked to play in the Paris Games this summer — is the only player to have been in the top five of the DPOY balloting in each of the last five years. He's gotten at least one first-place vote in all five of those seasons, the only player in the NBA who can say that.
Gobert was second in rebounds per game and sixth in blocked shots per game — a category where Wembanyama led the league. The Timberwolves led the NBA this season in fewest points allowed per game. They also held opponents to the lowest field-goal percentage.
“This year, training camp, we came Day 1 and said we wanted to be a top defense in this league,” Gobert said. “Every guy has bought in. Everyone has put in the work every single day, and now we’re here with one goal in mind, to try to get this championship.”
Gobert's win adds to an awards haul this year for the Timberwolves, who are having their best season in 20 years. Minnesota hadn't won a playoff series since 2004 before knocking off Phoenix in Round 1, and now has a 2-0 lead — both wins on the road — over defending NBA champion Denver in the Western Conference semifinals.
“Great things take time,” Gobert said. “You guys all know winning is not something that happens overnight. You need to overcome adversity, you need to go through some ups and downs as a group.”
Other major Timberwolves award finishes this spring saw Naz Reid winning Sixth Man of the Year,Mike Conley winning the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award, Chris Finch finishing third in the Coach of the Year voting (won by Oklahoma City's Mark Daigneault ), Tim Connelly placing third in the Executive of the Year race (won by Boston's Brad Stevens ) and Anthony Edwards finishing eighth in the Clutch Player of the Year balloting (won by Golden State's Stephen Curry ).
The winner of the NBA's top individual award will be announced Wednesday.
Three international players — Denver's Nikola Jokic, Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dallas' Luka Doncic — are the finalists for MVP. Jokic is seeking what would be his third MVP award in the last four seasons, while Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic are aiming to win the trophy for the first time.
Philadelphia's Joel Embiid, last season's MVP, was not eligible this year because of the league's new policy requiring players to appear in a certain number of games before being considered for most awards.
Other NBA honors yet to be announced are the All-Defensive, All-Rookie and All-NBA teams — which won't be revealed before next week — and the Social Justice Award winner, which will be announced Thursday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives to the basket as Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, center left, defends during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Monday, April 29, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Phoenix Suns forward Josh Okogie (2) dunks against Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) during the second half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Phoenix. The Timberwolves won 122-116, taking the series 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, left, goes up to block a shot by Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, as Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) looks on in the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, left, is congratulated by center Rudy Gobert as time runs out in the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
ROME (AP) — The Italian Open was where it all began for Alexander Zverev with his first Masters Series title seven years ago.
On Sunday, another Rome trophy signaled a career revival.
Zverev put on a serving clinic to beat 24th-ranked Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 7-5 and earn his biggest trophy since tearing his ankle apart two years ago.
“The last two years have been extremely difficult,” Zverev said during the trophy ceremony. “I didn’t know whether I was ever going to be on this stage — regardless of winning or losing — so this moment is extremely special.”
It was Zverev’s third final in Rome. He won in 2017 by beating Novak Djokovic in straight sets then lost to Rafael Nadal in the title match a year later.
"Rome is a very special place for me,” Zverev said.
Zverev opened the match with three straight aces and won 20 of his 21 service points in the first set. The German didn't drop a point on his first serve until late in the second set when the 6-foot-7 (2.01 meter) Jarry ran down a well-placed drop shot and replied with a cross-court winner.
In all, Zverev won 44 of his 49 service points — helped by getting in 95% of his first serves.
“His service, apart from being very good, is very different from all the other servers. He takes the ball very high, so the bounce is very special,” Jarry said. “It took me time to get the trajectory of it.”
It’s been a long road of recovery for the fifth-ranked Zverev after tearing three ligaments in his right ankle during the 2022 French Open semifinals against Rafael Nadal.
When Zverev broke Jarry to convert his fourth match point, he dropped to his knees on the red clay court, leaned back and let out a scream.
This year’s French Open starts next Sunday and now Zverev has established himself among the favorites again — especially with top-ranked Djokovic and 14-time Roland Garros champion Nadal both struggling lately. Djokovic and Nadal were eliminated in the second and third rounds, respectively, in Rome.
There are also injury concerns for second-ranked Jannik Sinner (hip) and third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz (right forearm) — who both withdrew from Rome.
“The focus is on Paris," Zverev said. "But let me enjoy this one for a day or so, and then I’ll have my full focus on Paris.”
Zverev, who has disputed a penalty order from a German court over allegations that he caused bodily harm to a woman, faces a trial starting during Roland Garros. He said recently that he won’t attend the start of the legal proceedings.
And Zverev isn’t 100% healthy either. He had the pinky on his left hand bandaged due to a fall in his quarterfinal win over Taylor Fritz, after which he said he “tore a capsule” and that his finger was “crooked.” The German plays right-handed but uses a two-handed backhand.
Zverev will also be defending his gold medal when the Paris Olympics tennis tournament is held at Roland Garros starting in late July.
Jarry, a Chilean playing in his first Masters Series final, upset Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals.
“This has been an incredible week," Jarry said.
Jarry was cheered on by his grandfather, Jaime Fillol, who was a top-20 player and who gave Jarry his first racket as a kid. Fillol was on Chile’s Davis Cup team that lost the 1976 final to Italy.
Jarry's wife and two sons were also courtside and he grew emotional during the trophy ceremony and had to look away from his family to regain his composure.
“This is a fantastic example of what a family life on tour can look like,” Zverev said.
“I’m not so emotional,” Zverev added. “My dad cries, I don’t cry. It’s a good mix.”
It was Zverev’s first Masters final since getting beat by Alcaraz at the 2022 Madrid Open. The only previous titles he won since his ankle injury came in Hamburg, Germany, and Chengdu, China, last year.
Zverev earned a winner’s check of 963,225 euros (more than $1 million).
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek beat No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s final on Saturday.
In the women’s doubles final, Coco Gauff double faulted on match point to hand Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini of Italy the title with a 6-3, 4-6, (10-8) victory. Gauff teamed with Erin Routliffe.
Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos beat Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic 6-2, 6-2 for the men’s doubles title.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, plays with his children Santiago and Juan after his Italian Open tennis tournament final match against Alexander Zverev, of Germany, at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, poses with his trophy and his parents, Alexander and Irina, after defeating Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, in the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Second placed Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, left and winner Alexander Zverev, of Germany, pose with their awards at the end of his Italian Open tennis tournament final match against Alexander Zverev, of Germany, at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, serves to Alexander Zverev, of Germany, during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, reacts during his Italian Open tennis tournament final match against Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, prepares to serve to Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, prepares to serve to Alexander Zverev, of Germany during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, returns the ball to Alexander Zverev, of Germany during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexanders Zverev, of Germany, left, serves to Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, wipes his face during his Italian Open tennis tournament final match against Alexander Zverev, of Germany, at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, right, and Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, embrace each other at the end of the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, reacts after defeating Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, in the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, returns with a backhand to Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, serves to Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, reacts after scoring a point against Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, poses with his trophy after defeating Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, in the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, reacts after defeating Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, in the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
