Minnesota has plenty of talent, and Chris Finch will be looking to completely unlock the group this season. After being bounced by the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder, the only thing remaining is for the Timberwolves to win the whole thing.

Plenty of their players rank amongst the best in the league, and ESPN highlighted a handful in the latest top 100 rankings.

Minnesota Timberwolves show prominently amongst ESPN top 100

You don’t need to have any sort of a list inform you that Anthony Edwards is among the best players in the NBA. His play speaks for itself, and he’s clearly one of the game’s superstars. He’s not along on the Minnesota roster though, and ESPN ranked multiple Timberwolves among their top 100 players for this season.

Every Timberwolves player moved up slightly except for center Rudy Gobert. That’s probably fair given his dip in points (14.0 to 12.0) and rebounds (12.9 to 10.9). After winning his fourth Defensive Player of the Year two seasons ago, he finished second last season.

Of course the most notable name on the list is Anthony Edwards and his top-ten positioning. At sixth, he’s ahead of Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Steph Curry. The only players ahead of him are Victor Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Nikola Jokic.

By almost every measure, Anthony Edwards got better last season. He led the league with 320 made 3-pointers at a career-high 39.5% clip. He raised his scoring average from 26 points per game to 28. And, most importantly, he led the team back to the Western Conference finals despite the offseason trade of All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns. But he would be the first person to tell you he came up short of his goals last season. After losing in five games to the Thunder, Edwards said “no one would work harder” than him to improve this offseason. Edwards saw firsthand how Oklahoma City was a better team, with more depth, skill and tactics that were able to take him out of games. To ascend to the heights predicted for him since his star turn with USA Basketball in 2023, Edwards will need to diversify his offensive game and elevate his teammates.

ESPN

Just how far Edwards can take his game this season remains to be seen. He’s already working on a new bag of tricks, and it will be the next step in his development that takes this team over the top.

Edwards just recently turned 24 years old and he has so much opportunity for growth still in front of him. He finished seventh in MVP voting each of the past two seasons. It would be a surprise if he doesn’t win one during his time in the league, and this season would be a great timeframe to make that happen.

The Minnesota Timberwolves kick off their regular season on Wednesday October 22nd on the road against the Portland Trailblazers. They will showcase their throwback court and uniforms for the home opener against Indiana on October 26th.

With that being said, it’s still not good enough. If the Wolves want to take that next step, and play for an NBA Championship, they need to be even better. The question remains, of course, what needs changed this offseason, in order to make that happen?

Rudy Gobert was largely ineffective in the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a postseason problem that has followed him around for much of his NBA career. Oftentimes, playoff opponents have found ways to make Rudy completely unplayable. Some of that is his fault, some is just the nature of playoff basketball.

But after the Minnesota Timberwolves explored dealing Gobert to the Phoenix Suns, in trade talks surrounding Kevin Durant, it now seems most likely that the 7-foot Frenchman remains with the Wolves for at least one more season.

So, what is Rudy Gobert doing over the next few months, in order to make sure he’s ready for another 82-game NBA season in Minneapolis, hopefully followed by yet another playoff run?

Rudy Gobert will not play on Team France in 2025 EuroBasket

Well, many Wolves fans might be happy to find out that one thing he will NOT be doing this summer is playing for Team France during 2025 EuroBasket international tournament, which tips off on August 27 and runs through September 14.

Rather than put his body through another summer beating against Europe’s best players, it sounds as though Rudy Gobert will soak up some additional rest time in the United States, flying between Minnesota and California.

This, according to local insider Darren Wolfson (KSTP), who broke the news to a giddy Judd Zulgad (SKOR North) on the latest episode of Flagrant Howls. Judd has been pulling his hair out for years calling for Gobert to skip international play.

“First off, how big of a smile do you have Judd [Zulgad] that Gobert is sitting out EuroBasket this summer? Not playing for team France. The first time in how many years. He finally took your advice. Resting this summer. No France basketball duties for Rudy Gobert. Rudy has been spending time here in town…My sense is they still have a very healthy opinion of Gobert internally.”

Darren Wolfson – Skor North

Related: ESPN Expert Crowns Wolves as 1st Round NBA Draft Winner

Playing internationally in the offseason has long been a talking point, regarding Gobert. It’s not easy to go through the rigors of a full NBA season, then continue to put your body on the line in the summers, too. This will be the first summer in three years that Rudy will not play internationally — 2023 (FIBA), 2024 (Olympics).

Minnesota Timberwolves happy to see Gobert take a summer off

With Rudy fresh off his 33rd birthday (Thursday), the 12-year NBA vet will prioritize rest and preparation for the upcoming NBA season. If the Timberwolves are going to run it back with largely the same roster, they’ll need Rudy Gobert at maximum strength.

Last season, Gobert played in 72 games regular season games for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was named All-Defensive 2nd Team and averaged 10.9 rebounds per game with 1.4 blocks per game. It was a solid season that also added another 14 games in the playoffs.

RUDY GOBERT DOMINATES INSIDE TO LIFT THE @Timberwolves INTO THE WEST SEMIS!

🐺 27 PTS
🐺 24 REB (9 OREB)
🐺 2 BLK
🐺 80.0 FG% (12-15 FGM)

Gobert is just the FOURTH player to record 25/20 on 80+ FG% in a playoff game… and the first since 1996 🤯 pic.twitter.com/UFAgmqZQE0

— NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2025

The Minnesota Timberwolves recently extended Rudy Gobert, who traded more security for up-front cash last offseason. While the Wolves can’t necessarily stop Rudy from playing overseas, now loaded with three more years on his deal, you have to wonder if a verbal part of that agreement was an end to international play.

Rudy Gobert Career Stats for Team France (since 2014): 30 games – 206 points, 204 rebounds, 44 blocks

This week, the Timberwolves drafted two players they hope will eventually replace Rudy Gobert, one of them being another Frenchman, Joan Beringer, who Minnesota selected with the No. 17 overall pick on Wednesday. After some jockeying around the draft board in round two, they picked Australian 7’4″ monster, Rocco Zikarsky.

And since the moment that their latest playoff run came to an abrupt halt, the Wolves have made their plan A offseason blueprint pretty clear. Connelly and his front office have their target set on trading for former MVP and 10x All-NBA selection Kevin Durant.

Minnesota has been interested in Durant going back months, and reportedly got very close to completing a deal right before the NBA Trade Deadline. The moment their season ended, they were back on the KD trail.

And since the Timberwolves + Kevin Durant steam heated back up this week, there are a lot of people in the basketball world who think the Wolves will be the team to bring the KD trade drama in Phoenix to an end.

Bobby Marks lays out Kevin Durant trade blueprint for Minnesota Timberwolves

One of those experts is former NBA GM – turned ESPN insider and cap guru, Bobby Marks, who concocted a beautiful trade scenario for Durant that aired on SportsCenter Friday morning.

The best part: It doesn’t include Jaden McDaniels — who has reportedly been off the table during these discussions — or rookies Rob Dillingham and Terrance Shannon Jr. Instead, Marks has the Minnesota Timberwolves giving up only Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo and Mike Conley, three of their worst playoff performers in 2025.

If the Timberwolves swap out their worst three playoff players for Kevin Durant, we're hanging a Tim Connelly banner at Target Center @BobbyMarks42 pic.twitter.com/iIeQfLkXI0

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) June 13, 2025

“I look at it as when you have ‘win now’ players and players like Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley, and certainly Donte DiVincenzo. Then you have that draft pick that we talked about, the 17th pick in the draft. That’s the only pick they’re allowed to trade. That accomplishes a lot of what Phoenix is looking to do. Remember their owner said, Mat Ishbia, that they don’t want to rebuild. So you get three quality players. You get a first round pick for Kevin Durant. The two names not mentioned is Julius Randle and Naz Reid. Both players have a player option. They are not allowed to be traded as part of this deal.”

Bobby Marks – ESPN

The Minnesota Timberwolves don’t need to trade for Kevin Durant because he’s Anthony Edwards’ favorite player. Though that doesn’t hurt, they should trade for him because his addition could be the key piece that puts them over the top.

If Connelly is able to land Durant for the three players Marks mentions, it’d be a huge win. We all know what Gobert offers defensively, but his impact is forever limited in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Conley is 37 years old and his play fell off a cliff this season.

While DiVincenzo brought a toughness and leadership quality to the Wolves that showed late in the regular season, he completely tanked when they needed him the most, in the playoffs.

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves *Almost* All In on Kevin Durant…

Including the 17th overall pick may be a tough pill for the MN Timberwolves to swallow, but for a return like Durant, it’s one they should stomach — especially when they get to keep both of last year’s first rounders. Let’s be honest, there is nothing certain about the NBA Draft, when picking in the teens.

Is Kevin Durant worth chasing?

We don’t know that the Wolves will rise to the top of Kevin Durant suitors, when this dust finally settles. But one thing is for sure. The KD smoke isn’t clearing out of Target Center any time soon. Not unless a deal gets done.

Kevin Durant isn’t a spring chicken anymore. But at 36 years old, he is still playing at an incredibly high level, averaging 26.6 points per game on 52.7% shooting in 62 games last season. His 43% from deep was his best in a season since 2020-21.

1 minute of Kevin Durant being clutch this season so far. pic.twitter.com/ZCcKPHabgM

— depressed goatman (@nocontextKD35) November 7, 2024

Durant has dealt with a few injuries in recent years. In fact, he’s played 55 games or less in three of the past five seasons. That said, he remained relatively healthy the last couple years, playing 75 games in 2023-24 and 62 games in 2024-25.

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Among Teams to Deny New York Knicks

Entering the final year of a four-year contract, KD has played for four different teams during his 17-year NBA career, including the Thunder (9), Nets (3), Warriors (3) and Suns (3). Hopefully, the Minnesota Timberwolves are his fifth.

If you’ll remember, not only did Rudy Gobert make All-Defense 1st Team last season, but for the fourth time in his career, he was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Twelve months later, however, the 7-foot Frenchman seems to have fallen (nearly) out of favor amongst All-NBA voters.

Yes, Rudy did make his 8th career NBA All-Defensive team… but barely. Instead of landing back on the 1st team, for the seventh time in his Hall of Fame career, Gobert was relegated to the 2nd Team for the first time ever.

Rudy Gobert makes NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team

Not only that, but out of the ten defensive standouts to make out the 1st and 2nd teams, Rudy Gobert landed by far the least amount of “points”, at just 65 — (3) 1st place votes + (59) 2nd place votes.

Jaden McDaniels, who was named All-Defense 2nd Team in 2024-25, received votes again this year, but not nearly enough (10 points) to make either 1st or 2nd Team. Anthony Edwards also got a few 2nd place votes (3 points).

The 2024-25 Kia NBA All-Defensive Second Team!

Toumani Camara
Rudy Gobert
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jalen Williams
Ivica Zubac#NBAAwards | @Kia https://t.co/N9detG3Otz

— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2025

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Star Anthony Edwards Fined Again

Of course, crybaby Draymond Green climbed back into the All-Defensive 1st Team, after campaigning for himself all year long. Unfortunately for the 2016-17 DPOY, it does not appear as if he will have the backing to win 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year, as that seems destined to land with Cleveland’s Evan Mobley.

Throughout the first two rounds, big man Rudy Gobert has played a huge role in Minnesota’s first two series wins, especially in both of their closing game fives. The 7-foot Frenchman put up 27 points and 24 rebounds in game five against the Lakers and went for 17 points and 8 rebounds (+21 +/-) in the final game against the Warriors.

TMZ Reports: Rudy Gobert kicks pregnant girlfriend out of house

Unfortunately, for what seemed to be a blossoming Rudy Gobert family, it sounds like he and his newly pregnant girlfriend are on much more than a break. According to a report out of TMZ Sports late Friday afternoon, Gobert broke up with and kicked his pregnant girlfriend, Julia Bonilla, and their 1-year-old son, Romeo.

The break up happened, per TMZ Sports, just before the start of the Minnesota Timberwolves playoff run. We don’t know what led to the split, but apparently everything “started to change” back when Bonilla first revealed that she was pregnant.

TMZ even named their sources as “close to wives and girlfriends of Timberwolves players”, (which is an underrated note in this article), who described the news as “a bit of a shocker” to the group of ladies.

Rudy Gobert broke up with his pregnant girlfriend, told her to move out of his home and take their one-year-old son with her right at the start of the NBA playoffs, TMZ Sports has learned.

Sources close to the wives and girlfriends of Timberwolves players tell us the split was a bit of a shocker … considering Julia Bonilla and baby Romeo were spotted at Minnesota’s final regular season game on April 13.

In fact, 32-year-old Gobert went up to them after the game for a warm embrace … so all appeared to be completely normal with the family. But, we’re told things changed some time after Bonilla revealed she was pregnant with their second child … and Gobert is now a single man.

TMZ Sports

Related: Draymond Green Glazes Timberwolves, Including a Little Love for Rudy Gobert…?

MN Timberwolves big man did what…?

Let’s be honest, kicking your pregnant wife and your 1-year-old son out of the house is not a good look. But there is always two sides to every story, and there was more to come from these two as the night went on.

TMZ goes on to write that Bonilla wants to go back to France, but that Gobert and his lawyers will not allow her to leave the country with their son, Romeo, until the two get a custody agreement on paper.

Our sources say Bonilla hoped to move back to her home country of France following the split … but [Gobert] wants her and Romeo to stay in the States so they can figure out child custody after the Wolves’ season comes to an end. We’re told Gobert has lawyered up and his reps have applied pressure to ensure she stays in Minnesota.

TMZ Sports

When TMZ called Gobert’s agent for statement on their piece, he told them that his agency “has zero interest in ever speaking with TMZ Sports about any of its clients”. So… there’s that.

Related: Stephen A. Ready to Crown the Timberwolves

In an instagram story posted shortly after the report broke, Bonilla wrote on her instagram story (among other things) — “I have NEVER EVER been unfaithful to the father of my children” — and that she “poured my heart into our relationship”. But then, a little over an hour later, she deleted her original post and reposted a nearly similar story… except without the part about “NEVER EVER being unfaithful”.

Then, she set her Instagram account to private, after which, Rudy Gobert released his own statement on the matter (also via Instagram story), claiming that “there is a lot of inaccurate information out there”. Both asked that those on the outside-looking-in respect their privacy.

Holy moly… the plot thickens.

(H/T: @StealthyM00S3) pic.twitter.com/kuPgGbtneZ

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) May 17, 2025

But game five wasn’t about Ant, who mostly took a playmaker role, facilitating 12 assists while his teammates daggered the Warriors’ season over and over again. As a team, the Wolves shot 62.8% from the field and 41.9% from deep in game 5 against Golden State.

Meanwhile, Julius Randle led the Minnesota Timberwolves with 29 points. Mike Conley had his best game of the postseason, scoring 16 points, dealing 8 assists and grabbing 6 rebounds. Then, there’s Rudy Gobert, who seems to have a thing lately for closeout games in the playoffs.

Rudy Gobert shows up big for MN Timberwolves in yet another closeout game

Wednesday night, the 7-foot Frenchman was a +21 (highest +/- of game 5), shooting 8-of-9 from the field for 17 points. It was his second-best performance in the playoffs, behind only game 5 of their last playoff series, when he went off for a team high 27 points and 24 rebounds to close out the Lakers in Tinseltown.

During Wolves vs Warriors second round series — one in which the two went head-to-head throughout much of the five games played — Rudy Gobert mostly dominated Draymond Green. Both guys averaged ~10 points per game, but scoring isn’t Rudy’s game. Still, the offense he did provide was efficient and dependable.

Gobert shot 64% from the field and led both teams in scoring efficiency (1.714), getting many of his looks off the 2.6 offensive rebounds he averaged in the series. He also averaged 2 blocks per game.

Anthony Edwards draws the double team in the PnR with Rudy Gobert

Donte DiVincenzo reads + manipulates the low-man

Rudy Gobert pump-fake + dunk pic.twitter.com/AmNO3SXOv1

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) May 15, 2025

Rudy Gobert lob dunk, assisted by Anthony Edwards pic.twitter.com/P1M4TBo3oa

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) May 15, 2025

Compare Rudy’s round two production to Draymond’s 10.6 points, 0.2 blocks and 5.4 rebounds per game, along with his lousy 1.019 scoring efficiency rating… and it becomes even more obvious which “post player” was better in round two.

Draymond Green — the ultimate Rudy Gobert bully

When Rudy Gobert first landed in Minnesota, he was known mostly as a great defender, who had struggled to find his fit during the playoffs. While in Utah, Rudy struggled to stay on the floor at the end of games and proved to be a shell of the player he had been in the regular season.

It wasn’t just his inability to make foul shots, which created a hack-a-Rudy strategy from opponents that made him damn near unplayable at the end of games, but early and often teams were spreading out the Jazz and forcing Gobert into defensive responsibilities that no big would be comfortable with, no matter his acumen on that side of the floor.

But that’s not the way much of the NBA saw things. They saw Gobert as an over-inflated defender who could be taken advantage of in the postseason. Then, there’s Draymond Green, who didn’t just have his doubts about Rudy, as a basketball player… he straight up did not respect him, or his four Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Draymond Green implies that ‘a lot’ of people thinks Rudy Gobert is a ‘b**ch’

“I personally think Rudy Gobert is on the softer side”

(Via @TheVolumeSports )
pic.twitter.com/QuDY69gFe7

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 11, 2023

"The big Frenchman is sitting on that podium speaking his native language. We, we, we need to do this. You, you, you need to get a stop… It's you, my man, that is getting cooked [by Nikola Jokic]."

Draymond Green sounded OFF on Rudy Gobert 👀
pic.twitter.com/S96Zd862NA

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 15, 2024

Draymond was more than happy to discuss his thoughts on Rudy Gobert through whatever public forum he could find, including this time last year, when he took his spot on the TNT Inside NBA crew during the later rounds of the Western Conference Playoffs, where he called out Gobert, disrespected him and drug his basketball name night after night.

Draymond turned into a wing playmaker vs Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves defense

Then, in round two of this playoff series, Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and the Minnesota Timberwolves defense reduced Draymond Green to a point-forward who was forced to facilitate and make shots from deep… and he tried to take what the Wolves were giving him. It just didn’t work. And banging down low against Rudy, who he claimed to see as a defensive joke, was now out of the question.

That’s right, the 13-year veteran — who averages 2.6 three point attempts per game in his career — averaged over double that against the Timberwolves during the 2025 NBA Playoffs, hoisting a rather insane 5.8 three pointers per night. Draymond finished 27.6% from deep, in the series.

Related: Video Surfaces Proving NBA Refs Will Allow Just About Any Crime Against Rudy Gobert

So… how does the bully feel after being bullied by his own victim for most of five games? Well, during his final postgame press conference of the 2024-25 season, Draymond Green appeared humbled. He tried to avoid excuses, even though the Steph Curry injury gave him an easy one, had he decided to take it.

Draymond Green opens up (not really) on Rudy Gobert

Green did (somewhat begrudgingly) bring up Rudy Gobert twice… very briefly. Early on, he said that “Rudy played really well”. Then about eight and a half minutes in, Green mentioned Gobert and his “four-time defensive player of the year” status, as one of the weapons Minnesota has in its championship caliber arsenal. And, well… that was it.

Draymond Green talks about Rudy Gobert during his postgame press conference, following the Timberwolves eliminated the Warriors during game 5 (🧵…)

1/ (01:30) – "Give them a lot of credit. They were incredible. [Julius] played great the entire series, Ant Man's patience was… pic.twitter.com/qPY3taQfrp

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) May 15, 2025

2/ (08:05) – "I think they've got a real shot at it. When you have two dynamic [players], and then they got all the pieces, right?

They got Naz coming off the bench, Jaden McDaniels is a hell of a player. Rudy, four time defensive player of the year, Mike Conley and his… pic.twitter.com/TVrfIJjP1x

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) May 15, 2025

While his praise of the Minnesota Timberwolves was a bit light on nice words for his arch-DPOY-nemesis, I think it’s safe to say after watching his presser, that Draymond Green won’t be talking much about Rudy Gobert. Recently, Draymond Green berated reporters over things his mom and dad taught him as a kid.

More than likely, I imagine he will suddenly remember another thing thing his parents taught him back in the day. ‘If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.’ After this series, even Draymond knows nobody is going to take him seriously for negative Rudy Gobert opinions.

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).

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.

pic.twitter.com/pf6WtmOAj2

— 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

Right after the loss on Tuesday, Finchy took aim at his superstar, Anthony Edwards, who scored just one single point in the first half of game one, before exploding for 22 points in a second half Wolves comeback that never really got close.

Going forward, even with Steph Curry out, the Wolves will need Ant to be locked in. We don’t know what Golden State will look like without their superstar, but we know for sure that Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and the boys are going to be ready for war. Minnesota, led by their 23-year-old phenom, must match that intensity.

Chris Finch mad at the refs for treatment of Rudy Gobert

Chris Finch’s disgust, following game one, goes beyond Ant or his team’s inability to shoot during most of the last two games. NBA referees are not on his good side right now, either.

On Wednesday, the third-year Minnesota Timberwolves head coach was asked how Golden State fared so well in the rebounding category on Tuesday (GSW 51, MIN 41) despite the Warriors significant size disadvantage.

That’s when Finch took aim at the referees, specifically at how they allow Rudy Gobert to be ‘fouled, shoved, held, pushed and tackled’ down low. The Wolves sent multiple clips into the league office, per Finch. Man, the head coach is trying to keep everyone on their toes for game two. These quotes are something.

Chris Finch on the Warriors in Game 1: “They do a lot of fouling, holding, shoving, pushing and tackling Rudy [Gobert].” Finch said the Wolves have submitted clips to the league office to review the officiating and what was missed. pic.twitter.com/lMSltie2oq

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 7, 2025

“At which end of the floor? They do a lot of fouling, shoving, holding, pushing and tackling Rudy. That’s clear. We sent a bunch of those clips into the league. In fact, I’m not sure I know another player in the league with Rudy’s pedigree that is allowed to be physically beaten on the way he is. And so we’ve got to address that one way or another.”

“We’ll certainly try to take justice into our own hands whenever we can. I think that’s the nature of a physical sport, but by the same token, my God, you should see some of these clips. They look like pulling guards and linemen out there, just taking shots at Rudy.”

Chris Finch (quotes via Star Tribune)

Minnesota Timberwolves head coach has strategic anger

I’m sure Rudy Gobert — who scored 9 points and grabbed 11 rebounds (plus 3 blocks) in game one — was under attack on Tuesday. Just look at who the Timberwolves are playing, and who he is matched up against much of the time, in Draymond Green. But, Finchy’s tongue lashing of the refs between games one and two is strategic.

Warriors have Jimmy Butler on Rudy and Draymond on Julius Randle and you can see the battle. Randle/Gobert P&R is a switch. Wolves look to have Conley screen for Edwards to get Curry in action. Turns the corner but you see the help. Kick to McDaniels, have to make them pay. pic.twitter.com/iR8ZT8xjLT

— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) May 7, 2025

Rudy Gobert PnR layup over Draymond Green, assisted by Anthony Edwards pic.twitter.com/0gjW4RVxrt

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) May 7, 2025

Related: Chris Finch Puts Anthony Edwards on Blast After Timberwolves Loss

Even if it costs him a fine, he wants to make sure the zebras have their eyes wide open on Thursday night. We’ll find out early whether or not they are listening. Game two is scheduled to tip at 7:30 p.m. CDT. Target Center is sure to be rocking. Hopefully the Minnesota Timberwolves are much more ready to play than they were in game one.

You could tell leading up to this matchup, from the moment he met with media after Minnesota took a 3-1 series lead after game four, to his practice presser earlier this week, and especially in his pregame meet up with media prior to game 5… that JJ Redick was feeling the pressure.

JJ Redick abruptly left the press conference after being asked whether he plans to rely on his Lakers assistant coaches for fourth-quarter substitutions. pic.twitter.com/M9n8HGXH9Q

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 1, 2025

Reporter: “As you watch the film, what do you recall about your thought process, in the moment, sticking with the five in the fourth quarter the other day? And is there an assistant or someone that you can maybe lean on tonight to try and get other players involved tonight…”

Redick: “Are you saying that because I am inexperienced and that was an inexperienced decision that I made? Do you think I don’t talk to my assistants about substitutions every single timeout?”

Reporter: “No, I just think a lot of coaches lean on their assistants in those situations…”

Redick: “As do I, every single time… [pause]… that’s a weird assumption.”

JJ Redick pregame press conference prior to game 5

Anyway… so that set the scene for Wednesday night’s all important game 5. Redick and the boys are frustrated. the Minnesota Timberwolves have a much deeper and more flexible roster than anything the Los Angeles Lakers can put on the court, something we’ll get into more later in this recap.

What We Learned – Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers (Gm 5)

Much like what we saw through the first four games of this series, the Timberwolves towered over the Lakers, dominating the glass on both sides, which allowed them all sorts of second chances on the offensive end. Had they been able to shoot at all in the first half, this series would have been over by halftime.

And that is where we will start. Here is what we learned about the MN Timberwolves in their game 5 series-sealing 103-96 win over the Lakers in front of all the LA stars gathered at Crypto.com Arena Wednesday night.

If only the Minnesota Timberwolves could have hit the broad side of a barn in the first half…

It took less than one minute into this game for the Minnesota Timberwolves to grab a six point lead Wednesday vs the Lakers. Shortly after that, the Wolves stretched their lead all the way out to 21-9. But then, their offense hit a brick wall… a sturdy one that they built with every outside brick they shot (and there were a bunch).

How bad was it? Well, the Wolves finished the first quarter 3-of-18 from three point land (12-of-28 FG). By the time the first half ended, it wasn’t much better: 6-of-30 3PT | 22-50 FG. Nonetheless, Minnesota held a 31-22 lead going into the second quarter and a 59-49 lead going into halftime.

Gobert 💪

He's got 11 PTS so far

(via @Timberwolves)pic.twitter.com/LA8H2DQpO2

— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) May 1, 2025

How did they do it? Because Rudy Gobert could not be stopped. That’s right, with his size advantage, Gobert was swallowing up rebounds on both offense and defense, and so much more, finishing the first half leading all scorers with 15 points, to go along with his 8 rebounds — four of which came on the offensive glass.

Related: First Take Driving Wolves Bandwagon: Declares Anthony Edwards > Luka and LeBron

In fact, Gobert was so good that, at halftime, one of his biggest haters — Shaquille O’Neal — was forced to admit that Rudy was the reason Minnesota was dominating the Lakers in the first half, despite their inability to shoot the basketball.

Shaq forced to eat his own words on Rudy Gobert at halftime tonight… and he did not handle it well. pic.twitter.com/CYRnkk0KIu

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) May 1, 2025

The domination in the paint continued all game, which eventually resulted in the best playoff game of Rudy Gobert’s career. The 7-foot Frenchman finished 12-of-15 with 27 points, 24 rebounds (9 offensive) and 2 blocks.

He was the best player in game five and pretty much single-handedly won the game for the Minnesota Timberwolves. With just a few minutes left, the Wolves were shooting 6-of-44 from deep and 39.3% from the field, most of which were made by Gobert.

In those final three minutes, the law of averages won out, the Timberwolves made a few shots, and the game was over. Ho-hum… that’s what happens in the NBA. The better team almost always wins a seven-game playoff series.

The MN Timberwolves were just the better team in this series

Of course, wins rarely come THAT easy for the any Minnesota team, let alone the Timberwolves in an elimination game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Wolves came out flat in the second half, and even while Luka Doncic was nursing an injury that forced him to leave the game at the end of the first half, they allowed the Lakers to claw back into the game.

The surge was led behind the shooting of secondary players like Rui Hachimura. But in the end, that was LA’s biggest problem in this entire series. In order to come back or take a lead… god forbid extend one, they needed everything to go right for them and everything to go wrong for the Wolves.

Related: Rapper Drake Betting BIG on the MN Timberwolves

Not only was Anthony Edwards the best player on the floor for most of this series, even though Luka and LeBron were on the court too, but once you get passed those three, the Timberwolves employed six of the next seven most talented.

That’s why JJ Redick felt like he had to play Los Angeles’ starting five for the entire second half in game four and why the Lakers never really stood a chance in this series. So yeah, they came back in that third quarter, but all it was going to take was the Timberwolves to not panic, wait for some shots to fall, and take home a series victory.

MIKE CONLEY WITH THE HUGE CORNER THREE 🎯pic.twitter.com/9iVMQzTibW

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 1, 2025

Once again, the Minnesota Timberwolves proved in this first round series vs the Los Angeles Lakers that they have the most dynamic roster 1-10 in the Western Conference, probably in the NBA. The Lakers, on the other hand, had probably the least dynamic. And we saw the results of a matchup like that play out right in front of our eyes over the past two weeks.

Now, the Wolves will await the winner of Golden State and Houston. The Warriors currently hold the lead in that series 3-2. If they can pull out one more victory, we will have one of the most intriguing playoff matchups in Minnesota history.

Not only will Anthony Edwards look to knock off yet another NBA legend, in Steph Curry, but notable Rudy Gobert hater Draymond Green and former Timberwolves imploder, Jimmy Butler would also be coming to town. Now, that would be fun.

On Sunday night, in the first of back-to-back games vs the Oklahoma City Thunder, they were without Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert and Donte DiVincenzo. Then, redshirt rookie guard Jaylen Clark went up for a layup can came down in a way that launched the back of his head into the wood floor at Target Center.

Jaylen Clark avoids disaster for Minnesota Timberwolves

It’s a replay that gives you a headache just to watch. Thankfully, though, the Minnesota Timberwolves injury report listed him as questionable, and not with a concussion, but a sore neck instead. A tweet shortly after from Darren “Doogie” Wolfson (KSTP) revealed that concussion tests came back negative.

Why the hell didn't the officials stop the game after the bucket??? pic.twitter.com/ruNwpL5d2t

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) February 24, 2025

Minnesota @Timberwolves Status Report in advance of today’s game at Oklahoma City:

QUESTIONABLE
Clark – Neck Soreness

OUT
DiVincenzo – Left Great Toe Sprain
Gobert – Low Back Spasms
Randle – Right Groin Strain

— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) February 24, 2025

Related: Anthony Edwards Flirting with Suspension

It took awhile for Clark to get real run with Minnesota this season, but he has now played in 16 games with two starts. He is averaging just 5.1 points per game, but has been a bright spot of late. His 14 points against Oklahoma City helped the Timberwolves stay in contention.

MN Timberwolves rotation could get help soon

Although Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and Rudy Gobert all remain out for the immediate future, their return is expected soon. There is some concern surrounding Gobert’s back injury, but for the other two, it’s more about conditioning, at this point in their rehab.

Nice to hear concussion testing came back negative w/ Clark. Looked incredibly scary. On Rudy, told he felt pretty good on his tropical All-Star getaway, but went hard at practice thereafter & thus this setback. Randle/ Donte seemingly now mostly about conditioning. #Twolves https://t.co/zek0y1XNms

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) February 24, 2025

Gobert has missed all three games since the All-Star Break. With his fourth inactive game coming on Monday, he will have been out for all three recent meetings between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Randle, who is in his first season with the Wolves, has been out since January 30th. He is averaging 18.9 points per game, which is the lowest mark of his career dating back to 2017-18 with the Los Angeles Lakers. Not the greatest fit for Minnesota, Randle is a trade candidate if he can get his groin healthy.

The most productive part of Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns trade to the Knicks has been Donte DiVincenzo. His toe injury has kept him off the court since January 15th, and it has been that absence where players like Clark and Rob Dillingham have filled in.

Related: Report: Kevin Garnett to Join Timberwolves Immediately Upon Ownership Change

Through 40 games DiVincenzo is averaging 11 points per game. He has made eight starts but has yet to find his three-point stroke. After shooting 40.1% for New York last season, he has converted on just 36.9% of his attempts this year.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are entering the stretch run with 24 games remaining. If Chris Finch can get a healthy rotation back, then the Wolves can improve of their current playoff positioning and hope to avoid the Play-In Tournament.