Jazz, Gobert agree to reported 4-year, $102-million extension
The Utah Jazz finalized a reported four-year contract extension worth $102 million with center Rudy Gobert on Monday.
The deal is virtually identical to the one the Oklahoma City Thunder have reportedly agreed to with center Steven Adams. Like the Thunder, the Jazz had until midnight Monday to extend Gobert, who is in the fourth and final year of his rookie-scale contract.
The 7-foot-1 Frenchman has, in his young career, quickly ascended the ranks of the game's best rim protectors and overall defenders. He's ranked third in the NBA in blocks per game in each of the past two seasons, and led the league both years in opponents' field-goal percentage at the rim. The next-closest qualified center last season allowed opponents to shoot 4.1 percent better at the rim than Gobert did.
On top of his boundless length and preternatural timing, Gobert brings great mobility for his size, allowing him to track ball-handlers far from the hoop and still recover in time to alter shots at the rim. His offense remains a work in progress, but he's an effective pick-and-roll dive man with improving passing instincts and touch around the hoop.
Through three games this season, he's averaging 11 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and 2.7 blocks.