Nearly a year ago, Rudy Gobert was often the target of criticism and jokes within the NBA community. His place in the league was doubted, his four Defensive Player of the Year awards were questioned, and his effectiveness in the playoffs was widely dismissed.
Discussions about Gobert`s playoff performance had occurred before, but a step-back three from Luka Dončić in the previous year`s Western Conference Finals felt like a decisive blow, not just to the game, but potentially to Gobert`s reputation. It suggested that while the 7-foot-1 center could defend well in the regular season, his ability to handle elite perimeter scorers during the playoffs, where switches are common, was limited.
These concerns resurfaced in this year`s first-round series between the sixth-seed Timberwolves and the third-seed Los Angeles Lakers. Gobert was again challenged to defend isolation plays against Dončić, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves, all skilled scorers and playmakers. Since the Lakers often played without a traditional center, they frequently used smaller lineups, which at times minimized Gobert`s impact.
Across the first four games, even when facing Lakers lineups without players taller than 6-foot-9 for significant periods, Gobert managed only 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting and gathered 25 rebounds over nearly 105 minutes. He recorded just two blocks. Although the Timberwolves secured wins in three of these four games, it appeared Gobert would not play a major role in the series.
However, that perception changed.
In Game 5 on Wednesday, where the Wolves clinched the series with a 103-96 victory over the Lakers, Gobert demonstrated that traditional centers, including himself, can still be highly effective in the NBA playoffs. He controlled the paint from the start, ending the game with career playoff bests of 27 points and 24 rebounds, shooting an efficient 12 of 15 from the field.
Following the game, Minnesota head coach Chris Finch praised Gobert: “Rudy is a winner of the highest caliber,” he stated. “He contributes significantly to winning. Regardless of personal opinions about him, how he plays, or his appearance, having him on your team makes you understand what a professional and a winner embodies. He`s also an incredibly competitive individual.”
Gobert`s impact went beyond statistics. After falling behind early, the Lakers gradually narrowed the gap. Yet, whenever they threatened to seize momentum from the Wolves, Gobert would secure a crucial offensive rebound – he grabbed nine in total – sometimes capitalizing with a powerful put-back dunk.
It was a dominant display from the French center, who desperately needed such a significant playoff performance to enhance his potential Hall of Fame credentials.
Finch commented on Gobert`s focus, saying, “He pays no attention to external criticism, and neither do we.” He added, “Nobody is prouder of Rudy right now than his teammates, especially Anthony [Edwards], who made sure everyone on the court knew this was Rudy`s game and he was unstoppable.”
The Timberwolves critically needed his performance, as it coincided with the worst 3-point shooting display in NBA playoff history. Minnesota shot just 7 of 47 from beyond the arc, missing an unprecedented 40 attempts in a playoff game. Their 15% shooting percentage is also the lowest ever for a team attempting at least 34 threes.
Most missed 3-pointers in a game, NBA Playoff history
| Year | Team | Missed 3s |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Timberwolves | 40 |
| 2020 | Thunder | 39 |
| 2023 | Heat | 39 |
It is truly remarkable that a team could shoot so poorly from three and still secure a victory, a feat solely attributable to Gobert`s control of the paint. He was the only Timberwolves player in Game 5 to shoot above 50% from the field, effectively compensating for the struggles of their usual star, Anthony Edwards, who had a dismal 0-for-11 night from three-point range and finished with only 15 points.
After the win, Edwards described Gobert`s impact: “He was a dragon tonight,” Edwards stated. “He was like the dragon from Game of Thrones.”
Will Gobert replicate this level of performance consistently in the next round? Likely not. Is he even guaranteed to have another such game this postseason? Uncertain. However, for this single night, the big man proved that traditional centers can still thrive when opponents opt for smaller, less imposing lineups.
Reflecting on the team`s mindset after the game, Gobert said, “We are just a group of players determined to win. Many of us have faced significant challenges throughout our careers and lives. We genuinely care for each other.”
Jasper Hawthorne