The very best basketball of Rudy Gobert’s career is probably now in the rearview mirror. And yet, Minnesota Timberwolves fans know he continues to be a positive influence on this team, both on and off the court. One of the best things Gobert does for this group is instilling good defensive values and fundamentals in the younger players early in their careers.
There are many things younger hoopers learn as they progress in their NBA careers. But what separates a good player from a great player month after month and year after year is often the presence of fighting spirit, tenacity and defensive know-how. Gobert has had the opportunity to show these young guys in Minnesota’s locker room that their defensive identity is important and emphasize to them the importance of taking pride in playing hard on that side of the ball.
The Timberwolves aren’t ignoring the fact that Rudy isn’t quite the rim-dominating presence he once was. Many have noticed him grabbing fewer offensive rebounds, a decrease in contested rebounds, and an increase in opponents’ rim attacks when he defends. Yet that doesn’t tell the whole story.
Rudy Gobert teaches good defensive habits
Since the first two weeks of the season, Minnesota’s defensive identity has remained legitimate even in losses, largely because Gobert has established a standard of positional discipline and responsibility that younger players are taking on. He will help build the kind of culture the Wolves want long-term, even after Rudy is gone.
Culture will always matter, and that’s especially true for a franchise that has recently changed hands. Laying a lasting foundation provides the structural backbone Minnesota needs to continue rising even after Gobert retires or changes teams.
That’s especially valuable in a season where Minnesota is hovering in the upper middle of the West. Their 15-9 record shows that even with some turbulence, they avoided collapse. If Gobert continues to mentor younger players while providing credible rim protection and defensive IQ, the Wolves will gain even more of a foundation upon which their window of contention can continue to grow in the future.
Simply put, Rudy Gobert’s best years as an all-world rim protector and elite rebounder may be behind him. What isn’t reflected in the statistics, however, is his continued value as a teacher of discipline and defensive fundamentals. For this organization, that is as big a statement as any personal award. The impact of number 27 will be felt long after he is gone.
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