The Minnesota Timberwolves were one of the most disappointing teams in the league last season.
They drew mockery and plenty of criticism for their trade for Rudy Gobert, as they gave up a massive haul for a player who had been constantly exposed in the playoffs and who most people around the game already thought was vastly overpaid.
Fast forward to today, and the narrative around Gobert and the Timberwolves has taken a big turn.
They’re still in the running to be the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, and Gobert is one of the leading candidates for Defensive Player of the Year again.
With that in mind, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch made a rather telling comment about the French big man, claiming that there’s a difference between being the reason you win and the reason you don’t lose, adding that Gobert is the reason why they don’t lose often (via The Athletic).
“Rudy is the reason we don’t lose,” Finch said.
The Timberwolves will finish the 82-game NBA season without ever losing three consecutive games.
On a night when Anthony Edwards struggled through illness and Karl-Anthony Towns returned, it was Rudy Gobert who was their anchor.
✍️ @JonKrawczynskihttps://t.co/TixMhIDM5Q pic.twitter.com/9I8t7h1QFI
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 13, 2024
Notably, the Timberwolves haven’t lost three consecutive games all season, and they have had the best defense in the game for most of the year.
Needless to say, Gobert is the main one responsible for that, being a dominant rim protector as usual and making great strides on the perimeter and isolation situations as well.
There’s still a feeling that the Timberwolves lack another player to take another step, and Gobert still needs to prove that he’s not going to be a liability in the postseason.
But people must give credit where it’s due, and he’s redeemed himself in Minnesota this year.
NEXT:
Karl-Anthony Towns Has 1-Word Message Ahead Of His Return