ESPN news: Taking jabs at the Jazz and praising the Wolves, Rudy Gobert said, ”He was never cared for while he was with the Jazz”…..read more..
Rudy Gobert missed out on nine years with the Utah Jazz, but he still has a lot of love for his teammates and the Minnesota atmosphere.
Rudy Gobert has talked about the positive energy in his current locker room with the Minnesota Timberwolves, reflecting on his time spent with the Utah Jazz. In all honesty, Gobert stated that he had never been a part of a locker room this loving, and he described it as an extremely uncommon sight in the current NBA.
We’re triumphing against hardship. I don’t believe it began this year; I believe it began last year. Everything we’ve gone through, both as a group and as individuals, has strengthened our resilience and mutual trust. I’ve never been a part of a group where everyone gets along, cares about everyone else, and wants to see everyone succeed. It’s not something you find very often in this league.
During his nine seasons with the Utah Jazz, Gobert became the best defensive center in the NBA. In Utah, he took home three Defensive Player of the Year titles, and this season with the Wolves, he is likely to tie the record with four. Throughout the season, Gobert averaged 14.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks.
The French center was not friendly with his Jazz teammate Donovan Mitchell, whose friendship soured when Gobert dismissed COVID-19 as a joke and turned into the player whose positive test resulted in the league’s closure.
Donovan Mitchell was the only other player that contracted the infection with Gobert. This resulted in an uncomfortable playing relationship for a few seasons until the Jazz traded both players away.
Rudy Gobert Has Been Easier To Adjust
After being traded by the Utah Jazz for a large harvest of assets in the 2022 offseason, Gobert became a member of the Timberwolves. Because of Gobert’s exorbitant price, difficult match with Karl-Anthony Towns, and generally poor offensive and perimeter defense skills, the media made fun of the Wolves for the acquisition.
The Wolves almost avoided elimination from the 2023 Playoffs as Gobert played despite a back ailment, losing 4-1 in the opening round. The disappointing season led many to believe that the Wolves had already lost the trade, but this year they have returned with a fury. They defeated the Phoenix Suns and swept the first round of the playoffs, going undefeated after defeating the Nuggets in Game 1.
If the Wolves can defeat the Nuggets, they almost certainly will advance to the NBA Finals because they are designed to stop the reigning champions. Their first-ever Finals participation in franchise history would occur.
In their entire franchise history, they have only made it to one Western Conference Finals; Anthony Edwards and company might easily duplicate this accomplishment now, if not beyond it. It will not be simple to defeat the Nuggets over a seven-game series, but the Wolves are maybe the most likely to succeed.
