Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Struggles against promising rookie
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Gobert posted 12 points (4-8 FG, 4-5 FT) and 10 rebounds over 34 minutes during Wednesday's 106-98 loss to Portland.
Gobert had his hands full against Donovan Clingan, who effectively ruled the day under the basket. the synergy between Gobert and Julius Randle continues to improve, but neither player could contend with Clingan's size. A few appearances at the charity stripe helped to pad Gobert's totals, but it was an disappointing evening overall.
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Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Excellent as two-way threat
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Gobert notched eight points (4-5 FG), 15 rebounds, two assists and three blocks in 23 minutes during Friday's 127-102 victory over Portland.
Gobert was efficient from the field, dominant on the glass and active as a rim protector, ultimately making a sizable impact on both ends of the court in this huge blowout win for the Timberwolves. Gobert has been a bit inconsistent in the scoring column, but other than that, he's having a solid start to the year. Through nine appearances, the big man is averaging 11.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.
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Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Comes close to double-double
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Gobert closed with 21 points (9-11 FG, 3-3 FT), nine rebounds, three assists and one block over 32 minutes during Thursday's 135-119 win over the Bulls.
Gobert engaged in a battle with Nikola Vucevic, and while the Bulls big man outplayed him from a statistical perspective, the Frenchman delivered an impressive outing in his own right. Gobert missed just two of his 11 shots from the field and finished just one board shy of what would've been his fourth double-double of the campaign. This should be categorized as a huge bounce-back effort for the veteran, who had scored 10 or fewer points in three of his previous four contests.
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Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Will go vs. Hornets
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Gobert (ankle) has been cleared to play Monday night against Charlotte.
Gobert was considered a true game-time decision leading up to tipoff, and he was able to prove his health during pregame warmups. The big man logged only 23 minutes in his previous appearance Saturday against the Spurs but figures to take on a larger workload Monday night.
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Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Racks up third double-double
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Gobert accumulated 17 points (7-10 FG, 3-4 FT), 14 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal in 36 minutes during Friday's 119-116 victory over Denver.
That's three double-doubles in five games for Gobert, who is still adjusting to having Julius Randle as his new frontcourt partner instead of Karl-Anthony Towns. Gobert's shot volume is down -- he's managed only 6.6 FG attempts a game so far, which would be his lowest mark since 2015-16 -- but the veteran center is averaging 11.8 boards and 1.4 blocks per contest while shooting 63.6 percent from the floor.
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Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Minimal offensive role in win
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Gobert ended Thursday's 117-115 win over the Kings with three points (1-2 FG, 1-2 FT), 11 rebounds, one assist and two steals over 35 minutes.
Gobert has never been a high-volume scorer but only two field-goal attempts is still a low mark for him. The good news is that the four-time Defensive Player of the Year has logged double-digit rebounds in both of his outings this year and played exactly 35 minutes, giving him plenty of playing time to rack up defensive stats.
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Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Logs double-double in opener
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Gobert supplied 13 points (5-8 FG, 3-4 FT), 14 rebounds, two assists and one block across 35 minutes during Tuesday's 110-103 loss to the Lakers.
Gobert grabbed his share of rebounds, but he had no answer for Anthony Davis in the paint. The combination of Gobert and Julius Randle needs some time to develop, as the trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks happened less than a month ago. It will take a few games for the duo to gain a better understanding of their roles in the new scheme, but Gobert should continue to be a nightly double-double threat.
The Timberwolves signed Gobert to a three-year, $110 million extension Tuesday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
After trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks, Gobert will likely remain with the club for the long haul after this extension. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year averaged a double-double for the eighth consecutive season in the 2023-24 campaign. Last season, Gobert averaged 14.0 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.8 combined steals plus blocks across 34.1 minutes per game in 76 regular-season appearances. The 32-year-old is expected to decline his player option for the 2025-26 season, allowing him to receive a fresh extension through the 2027-28 season, according to Charania.
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Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Healthy scratch vs. Denver
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Gobert isn't playing in Thursday's preseason game against the Nuggets due to rest purposes.
Gobert and the rest of Minnesota's starters will get the second half of a back-to-back off. Luka Garza is starting at center in Gobert's absence.
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Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Back in starting five Sunday
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Gobert (undisclosed) is available and starting in Sunday's preseason matchup against the Knicks.
Gobert was able to suit up for the Timberwolves' preseason opener on Oct. 4, though he has yet to play since. The 32-year-old will give it a go Sunday, though it is unclear if he will be limited ahead of Opening Night.
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Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Won't play vs. 76ers
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Gobert (undisclosed) won't play in Friday's preseason game against the 76ers.
Gobert was initially listed as a game-time call Friday, but he won't be suiting up. This means the Timberwolves will go with Naz Reid at center and Jalen McDaniels at power forward in a very small lineup. Gobert's next chance to play will be Sunday against the Knicks.
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Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Game-time call for Friday
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Gobert (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision for Friday's preseason game against the 76ers, Alan Horton of the Timberwolves Radio Network reports.
It's unclear if the Timberwolves want to rest Gobert or if the Frenchman is dealing with an injury, but a decision on his status will be made closer to the 7 p.m. ET tip-off. If he doesn't start, then Naz Reid, Luka Garza and even Leonard Miller would be in line for bigger roles in the frontcourt.
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Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Plays off bench in win
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Gobert (finger) played off the bench during France's 73-69 semifinal win over Germany, seeing five minutes and posting zero points (0-1 FG), one rebound and one assist.
Gobert saw a handful of minutes despite finger surgery, but France didn't need him much to secure a victory, getting a big performance from Guerschon Yabusele. Now, France advances to the gold medal game, where it will face either Serbia or the United States.
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Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Plays despite finger surgery
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Gobert (finger) recorded one rebound in three minutes during Tuesday's 82-73 win over Canada in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics.
Gobert didn't check in until 7:30 left in the second quarter and played only three minutes. Gobert's removal from the starting lineup and lack of playing time sparked speculation. However, he announced after the game that he injured his left ring finger in practice, underwent surgery Monday and was thankful to play at all Tuesday, per Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. Gobert's status for Thursday's semifinal matchup versus Germany remains unclear.
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Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Game-high 15 boards in Olympic win
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Gobert produced seven points (3-6 FG, 1-5 FT), 15 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal across 27 minutes in France's 94-90 overtime win over Japan in the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.
Gobert was unstoppable on the glass Tuesday, and he totaled a game-high 15 rebounds. The 32-year-old was quiet on offense, but he will likely not be tasked with too much responsibility on the offensive end alongside Victor Wembanyama and Evan Fournier. The defensive juggernaut's size and ability to protect the paint will be crucial for the squad in securing a medal in Paris. However, Gobert will likely not be expected to shoulder much of the offensive workload with only 14 points in two group-phase games thus far.
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Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Limited run in Olympic win
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Gobert chipped in seven points (3-3 FG, 1-2 FT), three rebounds, two blocks and one assist across 18 minutes in France's 78-66 win over Brazil in the Paris Olympics on Saturday.
Gobert was quiet on the offensive end, but in limited minutes he was able to make an impact on defense and shoot 100 percent from the field. The 32-year-old has made a name for himself as one of the best defenders in the world, and his ability to protect the rim will be crucial as France attempts to make a run in the Olympic Games.
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Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Defensive stalwart for France
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Gobert is on the French national team's roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
After tying an NBA record for the most career Defensive Player of the Year awards by achieving his fourth in 2023-24, Gobert is now set to play for France in the Olympics. Alongside Victor Wembanyama, Gobert's elite rim protection should make it a nightmare for any opposing team looking to score inside.
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Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Plays reduced minutes in Game 5
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Gobert provided nine points (4-8 FG, 1-2 FT), five rebounds, one assist and one steal in 26 minutes during Thursday's 124-103 loss to the Mavericks in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.
Gobert's 26 minutes were his lowest of the series despite recording just one foul. The 2023-24 Defensive Player of the Year was often forced to play away from the rim and come out to meet Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on the perimeter in the pick-and-roll. Gobert averaged 11.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 34.0 minutes across the five games against Dallas.
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Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Records double-double
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Gobert closed Friday's 109-108 loss to the Mavericks in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals with 16 points (6-10 FG, 4-6 FT), 10 rebounds, two assists, one block and two steals in 38 minutes.
Gobert will probably be remembered for being unable to defend Luka Doncic on the play that gave Dallas the victory late in the fourth quarter, but the towering Frenchman was having a solid game before that. He has recorded three double-doubles over his last six playoff contests while scoring in double digits five times in that span.
Gobert totaled 13 points (3-7 FG, 7-9 FT), nine rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal in 36 minutes before fouling out of Sunday's 98-90 win over the Nuggets in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
Despite scoring only 13 points, Gobert connected on several key baskets down the stretch. This included a turnaround jumper as the shot clock expired, impressing even his own teammates. With the win, the Timberwolves advance to their first Western Conference Finals appearance in 20 years. Gobert will once again be a force on the defensive end of the floor, tasked with limiting both Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively.
