By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Rudy Gobert remains one of the NBA’s most polarizing players despite his individual accolades and central role in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ recent success.
Chris Finch, however, has no doubts about the French center’s value. The Timberwolves coach praised Gobert as a teammate and explained why his impact is often overlooked.
“First of all, he’s a great teammate. He does things the right way,” Finch said on Road Trippin’ Show. “He’s a floor raiser. When he’s out there every night, you know your team is going to reach a certain level and have a chance to win.”
According to Finch, Gobert’s mistakes attract disproportionate attention, while much of his defensive work goes unnoticed.
“All the things Rudy does at a very high level in the background aren’t always recognized. His mistakes, on the other hand, are very visible, so it’s easy for people to point them out. I think it’s unfortunate how much criticism he receives.”
Finch added that Gobert has shown greater maturity in dealing with opponents scoring against him and credited Anthony Edwards for helping create a supportive environment within the team.
“All our guys have rallied around Rudy because they understand how important he is to us,” Finch explained. “That’s also the beauty of Ant. He’s an encouragement machine. He loves his teammates, gives everyone confidence and it’s genuine.”
Gobert’s teammates have helped him embrace the role Minnesota needs him to play, while his pride and confidence continue to drive him.
“He’s driven by pride,” Finch concluded. “He’s confident, and he has every reason to believe he’s a good player because he really is. He’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer.”
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