Rudy Gobert, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ defensive anchor and supposed rim protector, just had a moment against the Milwaukee Bucks that is making the entire NBA community lose its mind. This wasn’t some minor mistake. We’re talking about a baffling defensive lapse that allowed Bucks rookie Brayden Burries to waltz in for an easy layup, and it looked like Gobert was totally in a daze.
What Just Happened With Gobert?
Picture this: A missed shot, and instead of securing the rebound, Gobert unnecessarily spiked the ball away. That’s already not ideal, right? But then, instead of crashing the board, he just… disengaged. He seemed completely lost, not making any attempt to guard Burries, who was right there in a prime scoring position. It was a pair of easy points the Bucks shouldn’t have gotten, and frankly, it left everyone scratching their heads. The sheer manner of it sparked outrage.
Fans on social media platform X wasted no time voicing their thoughts, and they did not hold back. You had comments like, “Nah, he’s got to be gambling. I’ve seen enough,” and “He’s gambling, bro. I’m convinced.” Another user questioned, “He’s not even trying, man. What’s going on in the NBA?” Someone else pointed out, “Everyone’s trying to convince me he’s worth 200 million,” which, oof. The speculation went wild: “Nah, he’s got to be trolling. There’s no way,” and even “Either he’s really a, or he’s trolling to get traded.” One fan straight up called him “the most washed player in NBA history.” Some are even suggesting he should be cut, or that he has “ulterior motives.” It makes you wonder, is this really an NBA game? That’s how bad it looked.
Early Season Struggles and What It Means
Look, it’s early in the season, and Gobert has struggled to keep up his defensive performance for entire games. This isn’t an isolated incident either. Just recently, in a 119-114 loss to the Golden State Warriors, both Anthony Edwards and Jonathan Kuminga looked visibly annoyed by Gobert’s shortcomings. It’s one thing to have an off night, but when your teammates are clearly frustrated with you, that’s a problem.
Even in the ongoing game against the Bucks, where the Wolves are holding a sizable 100-89 lead with under four minutes left in the fourth quarter, Gobert hasn’t been a huge asset. He’s logged 10 points, 10 rebounds, and a block in 30 minutes, which isn’t terrible, but it’s not the impact you expect from a defensive anchor, especially when the team’s roster condition means they need him to step up big on both ends. This latest lapse, combined with fan speculation about gambling and trolling, is just plain egregious. If he can’t consistently be more impactful, you have to wonder if a trade could be on the table to keep their title aspirations alive. This kind of effort, especially against a rookie, just can’t fly if the Timberwolves want to be serious contenders.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply