Video Surfaces Proving NBA Refs Will Allow Just About Any Crime Against Rudy Gobert
The Minnesota Timberwolves will play game four of the NBA Western Conference semifinals Monday night against the Golden State Warriors. They enter the ring with a 2-1 series lead, meaning a Wolves win tonight would give Anthony Edwards & Co an opportunity to close the Warriors out back in Minneapolis Wednesday night, in game five.
If the Warriors want any chance of evening this series, they’ll have to find a way around Rudy Gobert. He leads this series in total rebounds (33), rebound % (23.7), blocks (7) and block % (8.2) by a rather wide margin (Basketball-Reference).
| West Semis | Off Reb | Tot Reb | *Reb % | Blk | *Blk % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R. Gobert | 10 (T) | 33 | 23.7 | 7 | 8.2 |
| Next Best | 10 J. Butler | 27 A. Edwards | 12.6 A. Edwards | 6 J.McDaniels | 5.3 J. McDaniels |
And he’s doing all this, oftentimes, with at least one hand literally tied behind his back by defenders. Head coach Chris Finch broached the subject last week, after the Timberwolves went down 1-0 in the series, when asked about how Golden State was able to limit Rudy to just 9 points and 11 rebounds in game one.
Essentially, NBA referees have turned a blind eye to the crimes being committed against Rudy Gobert in these playoffs. As Finchy put it, the “fouling, shoving, holding, pushing and tackling” that’s allowed against Rudy is something that nobody else with his NBA pedigree has to deal with.
Chris Finch vindicated on Rudy Gobert + NBA refs?
The Wolves coach suddenly shifting the Rudy conversation toward referees was a bit surprising. But Finch remained adamant, even going as far as to say, “…my God, you should see some of these clips. They look like pulling guards and linemen out there, just taking shots at Rudy”.
Related: Timberwolves Coach Dumbfounded by Refs’ Mistreatment of Rudy Gobert
So what happened in game two? Well, Gobert went for just 5 points and 9 rebounds, one of his worst statistical games of the postseason. Nobody thought of it, being the Minnesota Timberwolves won and tied the series 1-1.
But, as Finchy requested, a look back at one replay caught by a fan in the Target Center stands gives a glimpse of just how bad Rudy Gobert has it right now. After contesting a Buddy Hield shot, Hield lands on top of Gobert and sits on him until the Wolves’ defensive possession is over.
— Wolves In 6 (@WolvesInVI) May 12, 2025
Watch as Nickeil Alexander-Walker even comes off the Wolves bench in his full sweatsuit to try and help Rudy out from under Hield. You can see the ref on the far right side of the screen. About halfway through the video, he turns around and looks right at what is happening underneath the wrong basket… but no whistle is blown.
Minnesota Timberwolves big man can play defense anywhere
Rudy Gobert has yet to repeat his performance from game five vs the Lakers, when he went for an absurd 27 points, 24 rebounds and 2 blocks to single-handedly close out LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Nonetheless, the French big man’s presence in the defensive paint is impossible to deny.
Related: What We Learned About the Timberwolves in Comeback Game 3 Win Over Warriors
The seemingly accepted false narrative across the league that Gobert can be cooked by wing players in isolation has also helped the Minnesota Timberwolves take advantage of easy defensive possessions throughout the Wolves’ first two series, as well. Perimeter players think they want to iso Rudy… and almost always wind up regretting it.
Rudy Gobert has been excellent guarding in isolation on the perimeter this postseason. pic.twitter.com/1XEzHcaS4C
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) May 10, 2025
More About:Minnesota Timberwolves