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The Minnesota Timberwolves and star center Rudy Gobert aren’t have the best time of things these days.
The T-Wolves traded about every first-round NBA Draft pick they own for the next decade in order to acquire Gobert from the Utah Jazz in the offseason.
That decision isn’t looking so hot in the early going of the 2022-23 NBA season. Minnesota is 16-19 through its first 35 games of the season and sits in 11th place in the Western Conference. The Timberwolves are 1.5 games behind the Golden State Warriors for the final playoff spot.
As for Gobert, his individual numbers have also dipped. His 1.3 blocks per game are the lowest average since his rookie season in 2013-14. Every year since he’s been at 2.0 or better. He’s also averaging 12.0 rebounds per game, the lowest of his career since 2017-18.
Gobert is a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. But this season his -0.1 defensive box plus-minus is by far the worst of his career. His next worst season came as a rookie in 2013-14 at 0.9.
Despite this, Gobert isn’t concerned.
Rudy Gobert Offers Message To The Haters Amid Slump With TImberwolves
Gobert’s struggles, coupled with those of his team, have led many to wonder if the 30-year-old Frenchman is either overrated, over the hill, or both.
But in a recent interview with Tania Ganguli of the New York Times, he says he isn’t worried about what they have to say.
“The average fan might not understand what I bring to the table,” Gobert said, “but the G.M.s in the league do.”
Clearly, Timberwolves GM Tim Connelly saw Gobert’s value when he acquired him over the summer. But the comment isn’t likely to get fans off of his back. Especially when fellow Jazz teammate Donovan Mitchell is currently starring for the Cleveland Cavaliers while leading them to a 22-13 record.
Mitchell and Gobert’s relationship seemed to fall apart following Gobert’s involvement in the NBA’s COVID-19 shutdown. From that point on, things in Utah appeared to take a turn for the worse.
While the two have since made amends, things appear to be working out far better for Mitchell in his new destination than for Gobert in Minnesota.