Rudy Gobert wants everyone to chill out about that viral video of LaMelo Ball on the bench during Wednesday’s tough 119-114 loss to the Golden State Warriors. The clip, showing Ball appearing to direct frustration toward the big man, has been making the rounds, but Gobert is playing it cool. He told Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic on Thursday that he wants to “see the images, see what it looks like,” claiming, “In the moment I didn’t feel like it was anything bad. And there’s been bad things in the past. But that wasn’t anything bad.” Sounds a lot like damage control to me.
Downplaying the Drama While the Team Slides
Gobert tried to brush it off, suggesting angles and assumptions can make things look worse than they are. “Sometimes people make an assumption and it’s totally something different, with the angles and stuff,” he explained. “There might be some of that. But I didn’t feel any animosity. There was some frustration, for sure. I was frustrated. They were frustrated. Those guys have been great.” But here’s the kicker: it was a truly forgettable night for Gobert. He managed just one single point and four rebounds in 20 minutes, missing all four of his field-goal attempts. He was largely a nonfactor, and you have to wonder if that performance contributed to Ball’s apparent frustration. While Stephen Curry exploded for 44 points and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg added 26 for Golden State, Minnesota looked lost.
Edwards’ Absence Puts Everything On The Line
This isn’t just about a single bench interaction, folks. This is about a team that started the season 3-0, looking hot, and has now dropped two in a row. Meanwhile, the Warriors are finally figuring things out with two straight wins after losing their first three. More concerning than the losing streak, though, is the massive void left by Anthony Edwards, who is sidelined for the foreseeable future with a knee injury. He’s the go-to offensive option, the guy who keeps pace with the league’s stars. His absence puts a huge target on the backs of players like Ball and Gobert, demanding they step up to keep the Timberwolves in the Western Conference playoff picture. They clearly couldn’t keep up with Curry and company on Wednesday, and if this trend continues, all that frustration Gobert admitted to is only going to boil over again. The heat is on, and the pressure is only building.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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