Rudy Gobert, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ center, is weary of the ‘overrated’ label bestowed upon him. In a recent poll conducted by The Athletic, 81 anonymous NBA players voted Gobert as the league’s most overrated player, placing him above other ‘overrated’ candidates like Jordan Poole and Trae Young. Speaking to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Gobert attempted to understand why many of his peers do not accord him the respect befitting a soon-to-be four-time Defensive Player of the Year. ‘In their eyes, I’m more like the odd guy from France that’s winning a lot of awards, and it can bother people,’ Gobert explained. ‘I impact the games in a very unique way. It’s maybe not as cool or not as flashy as some other guys, so it’s sometimes harder for them to respect that.’ Gobert believes he is misunderstood and triggers a negative reaction in many of his fellow players.
Former NBA stars like Shaquille O’Neal and DeMarcus Cousins have also criticized Gobert’s defensive prowess. Earlier this year, O’Neal asserted that he could earn ‘Rudy Gobert money’ if he were still playing at age 42. However, Gobert remains unperturbed by the criticism, viewing it as a ‘form of respect.’ He believes that many people dislike him simply because it is the popular thing to do. ‘Most people are followers. They just follow what’s the common trend. What’s the common thing to laugh about? Now, unfortunately in this generation, it’s more about how much attention it is going to bring more than about the truth behind it. … So, yeah, I’m OK with living with that now.’
On Tuesday night, Gobert’s performance in Minnesota’s 105-93 playoff victory over Phoenix belied the ‘overrated’ label. His stifling defense was instrumental in giving the Timberwolves a 2-0 series lead. This impressive display has led many to reconsider the ‘overrated’ narrative surrounding Gobert.
