facebook-pixel

Weekly Run podcast: Rudy Gobert is the NBA’s best center right now.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Rudy Gobert puts his hand on rookie Dante Exum as they prepare to be photographed during Jazz Media Day at the Zions Bank Basketball Center in Salt Lake City, Monday, September 29, 2014.

He’s back.

After months of rehab and two practices with the Salt Lake Stars, Danté Exum will return to the court tonight against the Phoenix Suns. For Exum and the Jazz, this homestand looks like the perfect time to knock off the rust. The Jazz host the lottery-bound Suns, Kings and Hawks before traveling to Dallas.

On this episode of the Weekly Run podcast, we look at what to expect from Exum in his first games back. Can he help fill the backup role for the injured Raul Neto? Perhaps more importantly, can he be ready to give the Jazz’s second unit meaningful minutes in the postseason?

One thing is for certain: When it comes to the debate over who is the NBA’s best center, our Tony Jones believes the answer is Rudy Gobert. And Tony breaks down why he likes Gobert over Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Here’s a quick guide to this episode:

At 1:00 — Tony thinks Exum will play 5 minutes a half in his first few games back. Can he recapture some of the success he had in summer league and the preseason over the next month?

At 8:50 — Raul Neto just can’t catch a break.

At 12:00 — Why did it take so long for a passer like Ricky Rubio to sync up with a roll man like Rudy Gobert?

At 15:55 — Towns? Embiid? Jokic? Tony says Gobert is a better center than them all. But there is one big man he would take over the Jazz’s No. 27.

At 23:50 — We think the Jazz are headed for the postseason. So who in the West is going to miss out?

At 30:00 — The Pistons had a choice: Luke Kennard or Donovan Mitchell? Where did things go wrong? And how did Mitchell get all the way to the Jazz at No. 13?

You can subscribe on iTunes.

Or listen via SoundCloud.