Minnesota Timberwolves star Rudy Gobert believes NBA fans will enjoy watching him wrestle. Although the team is 16-19 and in 11th place in the Western Conference, perhaps many basketball fans would like to see him play better.
Following Minnesota’s 119-118 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, the 10-year veteran was asked as he watched the fans boo him. “Once I started having success, when I started being an All-NBA All-Star who was the player of the year,” Gobert replied.
According to a few NBA betting sites, the Timberwolves have the 18th-best odds to win the championship in 2023. See which sportsbooks have the biggest odds for the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.
“A lot of people celebrate my failure,” Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert said. @Tania Ganguly. It’s a sign of respect for me to have people waiting for me to make a mistake or for my teams to start losing. https://t.co/zNNHzLMKVx
— NYT Sports (@NYTSports) December 28, 2022
“My team, when we start winning like 50 games and stuff,” Gobert continued, “people on social media are always very vocal. When I go out, usually all the interactions are positive.”
In 30 starts this season, Gobert is averaging 13.8 points, 12 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.3 blocks. It was the first time the three-time All-Star averaged less than an assist per game since his rookie season. The center is also shooting 66.7% from the field, the lowest by the Utah Jazz since the 2018-19 season.
Timberwolves star Rudy Gobert says people are letting him down.
“A lot of people celebrate my failure,” Gobert added. It’s a sign of respect for me to have people waiting for me to make a mistake or for my teams to start losing. Then they get really loud.
“And when my teams do well, it’s quiet again. You know, I’ll admit that it’s part of the outside noise that’s come from the successes we’ve had in Utah and the last few years of my career.
Except the Timberwolves aren’t playing well right now. The team ranks 11th with an average of 114.7 points per game, and ranks 22nd in points allowed per game (115.7). It is important not to confuse excessive ambition with prejudice.
Fun fact:
Rudy Gobert (29 games played) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31 games played) both have 34 total blocks this season 🤔 pic.twitter.com/gATMNUwDuG
– NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) December 28, 2022
Fans know what Gobert can do. He has proven that throughout his tenure with the Jazz. The center averaged a career-high 14.7 per game last season. Now, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year played under starting center Orlando Robinson in Minnesota’s 113-110 loss on Monday.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch benched the 30-year-old in the fourth quarter. Naz Reid replaced him. Reid finished with 21 points, 11 boards and two assists in 29 minutes. Most fans want to see Rudy Gobert play better, especially after seeing the team give up five first-round draft picks to acquire the center.
