Utah’s Rudy Gobert vs. Philly’s Joel Embiid is an old-school matchup of top NBA centers — but with some 2018 wrinkles

It’s counterintuitive to old-school NBA fans that 7-footers — you know, the guys who can get nearest the 10-foot-tall hoop — are not the most important players on the court anymore. Conversely, in this era of 3-point shooting above all else, many young, modern fans of the game almost view big men who don’t space the floor as antiquated relics of a bygone era.

Kind of weird that a game originally premised around having lots of tall guys isn’t necessarily a big man’s game anymore. Then again, this current NBA doesn’t really have a Wilt vs. Russell, does it? Or Kareem vs. Elvin vs. Lanier vs. Walton vs. Moses? Or Olajuwon vs. Ewing vs. Robinson vs. Shaq vs. Mourning vs. Mutombo?

Is there any modern equivalent? Marc Gasol vs. Nikola Jokic features a couple of talented behemoths, but they don’t really get the pulse racing the way those old-school clashes of the titans did, right?

Nope. It would seem the closest thing we’ve got these days is … Rudy Gobert vs. Joel Embiid.

They’re both prodigiously talented. They both have some tangible level of displayable personality. They also both have some degree of enmity for one another. And now, mother of all coincidences, they’re facing off on Thursday, as the Jazz host the Philadelphia 76ers at Vivint Smart Home Arena.

Gobert was asked at Monday’s practice what it meant to have a matchup against another of the league’s elite centers upcoming.

“Tomorrow I’m going against [Portland’s Jusuf] Nurkic, so I’m worried about Nurkic,” Gobert replied. “When it’s time to be worried about Embiid, I’ll worry about him.”

OK, fast forward to Tuesday evening, in the aftermath of dispatching Nurkic and the Blazers … Now then, Rudy — you’ve got a matchup Thursday against Joel Emb—

“You mean the Sixers? Yeah, we’re playing the 76ers,” Gobert interjected. “… Yeah, just come out there, play defense, play as a team, and try to get a win.”

Got it. No discussing Joel Embiid. Perhaps not surprising, considering the amount of trash talking they’ve directed at one another in the past, whether via social media or through the physical, peopled media.

As much as any matchup of centers is must-watch these days, Gobert vs. Embiid most closely fits the parameters. Gobert is averaging 14.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks, while hitting 65.1 percent of his shots this season. Embiid is putting up 26.6, 13.2, and 1.8, while shooting 48.3 percent overall.

They’ve squared off once already this season, in the Sixers’ 113-107 victory in Philadelphia back on Nov. 16. Gobert, not yet playing at his peak this season, totaled 12 points (on 5-of-10 shooting), 10 rebounds, and a block. Embiid, meanwhile, had 23 points (albeit on 7-for-20 from the floor), seven boards, and three blocks.

Watching how Gobert defends Embiid will be one of the more fascinating subplots of the game. After all, he’s not only a 7-foot, 250-pound beast in the paint, he’s also embraced the stretch-5 movement — firing up almost four attempts from beyond the arc per game (though he’s making only 28.2 percent).

Still, Gobert’s recent display of ability to step out to negate perimeter attackers and still recover for rim protection has been one of the primary facets in Utah’s escalation of defensive efficiency. He acknowledged he was not comfortable with it earlier this year, and so hedged on it. Finally, though, it all clicked.

“I kind of sat there and was like, ‘Why wouldn’t I be able to do that?’ I think it was more mental than anything. I just wanted to stay more comfortable and do what I [what I had always done],” he conceded. “But I realized I can do anything — I can still be great moving my feet, recover, then go back and rebound, go back and block a shot, or impact a play. So I’m able to do those things and make the team better.”

Teammate Thabo Sefolosha said that seeing Gobert get out of his comfort zone has, indeed, benefitted the Jazz.

“I think [Rudy] understands that’s kind of what we were missing. We maybe relied too much on him close to the basket, but at the same time, the game is changing a little bit, so he has to be out on the perimeter, making it tough for those guys that can shoot, even some of the bigs who can stretch the floor,” Sefolosha said. “He understands that, he’s working on it, and he’s been doing better and better. And the results have been showing.”

In the meantime, Gobert is ready to prove himself again. Even if he’s not willing to say who it is he’ll be proving himself against.

“I’m ready for anyone,” he said simply.