Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert called out his teammates’ lack of effort following a 119-115 home loss to the floundering Pelicans on Friday.
“At some point, if the players don’t have accountability, someone has to have accountability for the players,” Gobert said, per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. “I’m on straight effort. I’m just talking straight effort. I’m not even getting to the basketball side of things, like there’s always mistakes are a part of the game, but the effort to me for a team that wants to play for a championship, it’s unacceptable.”
The four-time Defensive Player of the Year didn’t mention any player in particular. However, Krawczynski noted that while the team’s other stars — Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle — scored a combined 59 points, they didn’t appear locked in on the other end of the floor.
Gobert implored the coaches to bench players if they’re not giving their all.
“It should start with ourselves, but it seems like we don’t have that, so I think at some point (it has to come) from the coaches,” Gobert said. “It’s not an easy position for a coach to take guys out of the game. It’s not something that you want to do, but I think if the players don’t show any effort, at some point, no matter how talented we are as a team, if you don’t have that, you just can’t be a winning team.”
Minnesota has lost eight of its last 15 games, ranking 18th in the league defensively during that span. Gobert didn’t give himself a free pass after Pelicans forward Zion Williamson powered for 29 points, mostly near the rim.
“It starts with me. If I’m not showing effort, bench me,” Gobert said. “Take me out of the game. Everybody else will follow. Our best players, leaders, if we don’t show any effort, it doesn’t matter if you score 50, we’re not going to win.”
At 32-21, the Timberwolves sit in sixth place of the Western Conference standings, barely above the play-in line.
“We want to be a championship team. We want to lift that trophy in June,” Gobert said. “This is a lesson that we need to get right now. It starts at the top.”
kinda been an issue for a few years now, but it is a long season and it’s tough to be at your best every game. shouldn’t be losing home games to lottery teams
Ant’s defense has gotten a lot worse lately. But Julius Randle is the main problem. He is such a defensive liability. They will need to dump him at some point.
I think they were hoping their young core would step up more and instead they just look like a very shallow team.
Never does good to blame other team mates when you lose. Gobert thinks he is the player he used to be 6 years ago.
But he’s still giving max effort. And he’s actually having a great season minus the free throws.
He is having his regular season but I have noticed he is a little slower on moving those feet like most older players. He is compensating on offense because Edwards and Randle are offense players first and without a true PG to run the offense.
@arc
Gobert acknowledged he had lapse as well and suggested that he and anyone should be called out of they aren’t giving effort.
Gobert was the most hated player in the entire NBA almost 6 years ago to the day so this is kind of poetic lol
Play Terrence Shannon more when he is back healthy. He plays hard and really talented!!!
Hes a one trick pony, straight line drives to basket as long as he can finish on left side. Has no right hand finishing and not much of a shooter or defender.
People are going to hate because it is Rudy saying this but he is absolutely right
I’ve definitely had my fair share of criticizing Gobert (mostly off here, i don’t post on hoops that much) but mostly my critiques have been just thinking he was over hyped by a certain group of people. Like Hollinger voting him for MVP was ridiculous. But he’s 100% right here. There was a lot of guys on the floor that didn’t look interested.
Death, taxes, and the Wolves blowing it
TWolves do stink up at times still lol. Don’t really know what that’s about.
I am excited to see how Ayo works with this team. I got a good feeling about this move.
I, as well, thought the Ayo move was one of the best moves made at the entire deadline
Tim Connelly is really sharpening his sword year after year
I got him at 3 Rn in my GM rankings
1- Brad Stevens
2-Sam “Tanker” P
3- Tim Connelly
Ant has definitely been playing hurt lately. Not sure if that’s what’s going on with him or what. I saw he’s thinking about skipping the all star game and resting. I hope he does.
I like that about him. Dude would have rings if he wasn’t on the Jazz for most of his career.
Let’s not act like his time in Utah was wasted on uncompetitive rosters. The Jazz were playoff main stays for the better part of a decade.
They were formidable, but that conference was STACKED. Jazz have really bad at being good at the worst possible time. I was there for all that, but there was always a bigger fish.
Isn’t Connelly the same guy who spent a Kings Ransom to get Gobert?
And he’s the same guy who got Rob Dillingham from the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for a 2030 protected first-round pick swap and an unprotected first-round pick in 2031. But then Coach Finch couldn’t get him to perform in the Timberpuppies system in two years of trying. Now DILLY is gone BEFORE the picks used to get him in the first place have not even been moved.
Same old Timberpuppies.
What else would you expect from an organization that:
Used their 1st ever draft choice on POOH !
Passed on Steph Curry TWICE in a draft in which they drafted 4 PGs.
NBA Rosters are littered with players who were tried to build around KAT except the Timberpuppies FINALLY realized the problem was not them, it was KAT.
The U of M even has a class on
How NOT to draft Basketball Players 1001
using the Timberpuppies as their model.
And so it goes and has gone since they came into the league.
What an embarassment !!