Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert always finds a way to get in the middle of controversies. He was infamously patient zero for the NBA when the COVID-19 pandemic began, as he was the first player to report positive after touching all of the microphones at a press conference.
The end of his tenure with the Utah Jazz, who traded him this past offseason to the Timberwolves for a monster haul of players and draft picks, was checkered as well. His relationship with Donovan Mitchell soured to be a point of no return, which led to the Jazz beginning their rebuild.
Most recently, Gobert has decided to take some shots at the NBA. He believes that the league is conspiring to get certain teams into the postseason. In Gobert’s opinion, the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings are all being aided by the league in a big conspiracy.
“It’s bullshit. It’s bullshit. It’s not fair. It’s really not fair. Every night. I’ve been in this league for 10 years and I try to always give the benefit of the doubt, but it’s hard for me to think they’re not trying to help [the Suns] win [last night]. It’s hard for me to think they didn’t try to help the Warriors win the other night or Sacramento Kings the other night. It’s just so obvious. As a basketball player that’s been in this league for so long, it’s disrespectful.”
This is an outrageous take from Gobert, who will likely face a huge fine for these comments. To be fair, there has been a lot of discussion about the level of refereeing in the league this season, but Gobert’s accusations go beyond that.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Rudy Gobert & Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
Would the league prefer having star-laden teams such as the Suns and Warriors vying for a championship in the postseason? Sure, that is most likely very true. Having massing markets such as New York, Boston and Los Angeles playing more games is never a bad thing for the league.
Had Gobert stopped there with Phoenix and Golden State, people may have taken his claims more seriously. But to include the Kings, who up until Wednesday night were riding a record-long 16-year playoff drought, is absurd.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Rudy Gobert & Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
If there was any validity to Gobert’s claims, the league would be doing more to help the Dallas Mavericks, who have sunk like a rock in the standings and are on the outside looking in of the Play-In Tournament currently. What he is accusing the league of is quite bold and there will assuredly be repercussions against him.
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