February 21: Gobert’s latest flagrant foul 1 was upheld and he has been suspended for Sunday’s game, the NBA confirmed in a press release (Twitter link)
February 20: Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, who has accumulated six flagrant foul points this season, is likely to be suspended for Sunday’s contest vs. Philadelphia after receiving a flagrant foul 1 in Friday’s game vs. Dallas, per Chris Hine of The Star Tribune (Twitter link).
The four-time Defensive Player of the Year was given the flagrant at the end of the second quarter for a play involving Marvin Bagley (video link). It was initially called a common foul, but upon a review from the officials, Gobert was assessed the flagrant for “unnecessary flail contact to the neck area of Bagley.”
Gobert already received a one-game suspension from the NBA last month after accruing his sixth flagrant foul point for a reckless closeout on Victor Wembanyama. Assuming his latest flagrant foul 1 is upheld by the league, the 33-year-old big man will lose another $201,149 of his salary, while the Wolves will receive a tax variance credit of $100,575.
With Gobert likely now at seven flagrant foul points, any future flagrants will result in an automatic two-game suspension. His flagrant counter will reset in the playoffs, Hine notes (Twitter links), but if Gobert receives a flagrant in either the penultimate or final game of the regular season, his suspension would carry over to the postseason.
Through 54 games, Gobert is averaging 11.0 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 31.3 minutes per contest. He finished Friday’s win with 22 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks in 32 minutes.
Dirty Gobert!
Gobert who they allow defend i now dirty…
This means… something.
Something indeed.
Gobert who they all defended is now dirty*
I have never defended him… IMO he has never been able to defend for his life, as simple as!
Not gonna lie this is actually a pretty effective way to duck the tax. 4th quater of back to backs Gobert might just start punching guys.
Good for the team, bad for Goberts wallet. ;P
Soft.
That was a really weak flagrant foul.
Says the Timberwolves fan. Rudy is just a dirty player
Yeah, I am a Wolves fan, doesn’t stop that from being a weak flagrant.
So what? I could name 50 other dirty players.
Where does the fine money go?
Adam Silver uses it as restitution for all his victims at Hogwarts
Half goes to the NBA, half goes to the NBPA. Both distribute it to charities. There was an interesting article about this in The Athletic a few years ago: link to nytimes.com