Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert plans to win a championship with his new team in the 2022-23 season.
On Sunday, following the Timberwolves’ 119-117 preseason win over the Los Angeles Clippers, Gobert made his wishes clear to NBA.com’s Mark Medina.
“Every night is going to be an opportunity for us to be good,” Gobert said when asked about his expectations with Minnesota. “Basketball is not a perfect science. “There is no such thing as perfection.”
According to some NBA betting sites, the Timberwolves have a top-15 chance of winning their first title in 2023. Few opponents list the team as the dark horse of the Western Conference.
“But if you can play off each other and compete every minute on the court, we’re going to keep getting better,” Gobert continued.
Our goal is to be one of the best teams in the Western Conference and then make it to the playoffs and play for the championship.
In July, the Utah Jazz traded Gobert to the Timberwolves for Malik Beasley, Leandro Bolmaro, Patrick Beverley, Jared Vanderbilt, Walker Kessler, a 2023 first-round draft pick, a 2025 first-round draft pick, a 2026 first-round draft pick. , a 2027 first-round draft pick and a 2029 first-round draft pick.
Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert wants to play for a championship in the 2022-23 season.
When asked if the Timberwolves plan to win a title in 2023, Gobert said, “It’s going to take a lot of hard work and a lot of effort. We need every single person in this locker room. It’s a long season.”
“But if you have the right mindset to get better every night, you’ll be in good shape when the playoffs come.”
He is not wrong. Last season, Gobert finished second in total rebounds (968) and blocks (137). The center also led the NBA in rebounding, averaging a career-high 14.7 boards per game and finished with a league-best 71.3 percent field goal percentage.
Kat is indeed back.
19 pts./ 6 reb./ 6 as. pic.twitter.com/c6Gpxw3QJJ
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) October 10, 2022
During the 2021-22 season, Gobert also averaged 15.6 points, 1.1 assists, and 2.1 blocks in 66 starts with the Jazz. The ninth-year player earned his sixth NBA All-Defensive First-Team selection.
Of course, the 7’1″ Frenchman knows all about pressure. The center led France to second place in FIBA EuroBasket 2022. In the championship game, the team lost to Spain 88-76. Gobert averaged 12.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks during the tournament.
With Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves have a good shot at winning the NBA Championship in the 2022-23 season. Their roster is loaded with talent.
The Timberwolves have advanced to the NBA Finals in franchise history. However, the team made an appearance in the Western Conference Finals in the 2003–04 season. They went on to lose in six games to the Los Angeles Lakers, but at least Kevin Garnett won the MVP that season.
