Snyder: Gobert's All-Star case is 'self-evident'

Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder thinks it's time for center Rudy Gobert to make his first All-Star Game appearance.

"To be honest, to me, it's one of those things that's just self-evident," Snyder said after Saturday's game against the Dallas Mavericks, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "It's (about) the things that he does to help his team win."

The 27-year-old played a pivotal role in the Jazz's 112-107 win against Dallas. He not only recorded a massive 22-point, 17-rebound double-double with five blocks, but he also essentially iced the game with a superb defensive play against a driving Delon Wright late in the fourth quarter.

Gobert missed out on being named an All-Star starter this year. Among the Western Conference frontcourt players, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year finished fifth in media voting and ninth in balloting among his fellow players, but just 11th in the fan vote. The Los Angeles Lakers' duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Clippers' Kawhi Leonard received the West's three starting frontcourt player slots.

But with All-Star reserves being determined by the coaches in each conference, Gobert stands a solid chance of earning his first All-Star selection.

It appears the towering Frenchman has already locked up Rick Carlisle's vote.

"He's probably going to be Defensive Player of the Year again," the Mavericks coach said postgame. "He impacts the game massively at the defensive end. He doesn't just do it around the basket. He does it on the perimeter, too, on switches. He does a great job of spacing guys when they drive. We were able to score on a couple of drives on him, but the play he made on Wright's drive at the end of the game was an amazing play.

"Look, he's a great, great defensive player."