Ben Simmons Calls Out Rudy Gobert's Defensive Skills

Ben Simmons doesn't think Rudy Gobert should be in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year and he was quick to point this out on Tuesday during an interview with ESPN's Rachel Nichols.

Simmons may have been tongue and cheek here as he took some playful jabs at the Utah Jazz center, who he reminded everyone couldn't guard him the last time the Jazz played Simmons' Philadelphia 76ers:

I'm one of those guys who can guard one through five. Obviously, it's a lot of respect for Rudy. I know what he's capable of. I know he's great down there in the paint but he's not guarding everybody, and that's just what it is. He guarded me in Utah ... and I had 42. And apparently, I'm not a scorer, so, it is what it is. But I have a lot of respect for him, and at the same time, I think it's mine this year.

This game took place back in February and with his running mate Joel Embiid out of the lineup, Simmons dropped 42 points, 12 assists and nine boards in a 134-123 loss to the Jazz.

While Gobert is certainly in the running, he sits second in the league in blocks behind Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers. It's certainly going to come down to the wire and perhaps some more politics get played before season's end from the potential candidates.