Gobert Calls Out Timberwolves for Lack of Effort

Rudy Gobert has made it clear to the Timberwolves coaching staff that he’s concerned about his teammates’ lack of effort.

After the Timberwolves blew an 18-point lead and lost at home to the Pelicans on Friday night—a team with one of the worst records in the Eastern Conference—Gobert expressed his frustration. “At some point, someone needs to hold the players accountable if they’re not doing it themselves,” he said after the game. “I’m just talking about effort here. Mistakes happen in basketball, but that kind of effort is unacceptable for a team aiming for a championship.”

He acknowledged the tough position coaches face when considering taking players out of the game, saying, “It’s not easy to bench talent, but without effort, no matter how skilled a team is, winning becomes nearly impossible.”

The Timberwolves, sitting at 32-21, are gearing up for a home game against the Clippers on Sunday, just ahead of the play-in cutoff. They recently made a move before Thursday’s trade deadline, adding guard Ayo Dosunmu from the Bulls. This brought them a roster that also includes Anthony Edwards and former Knicks forward Julius Randle, in exchange for guard Rob Dillingham, forward Leonard Miller, and four future second-round picks.

Tim Connelly, the President of Basketball Operations, shared his perspective, suggesting that “the real contenders have a chance to win a championship.”

While Gobert didn’t specify which teammates he was referring to, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch acknowledged Gobert’s concerns and noted that they were addressed internally the day after the game. “It’s unfortunate Rudy had to bring it up publicly,” Finch said. “But we’ve resolved it, and no team can truly change its trajectory without addressing these issues.”