Center for the Timberwolves Rudy Gobert spoke candidly about the way referees treated him following Joel Embiid’s huge performance.
Rudy Gobert was more than happy to give Joel Embiid the credit he deserved after the Minnesota Timberwolves fell to the Philadelphia 76ers 127-113. There’s just so much you can do when you’re trying to stop a player who is having an incredible two-week, eight-game run, averaging 41 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. In a stunning 51-point, 12-rebound, 17-for-25 shooting display against the three-time Defensive Player of the Year and the NBA’s top team, Joel Embiid delivered his most dominant performance of the season. Gobert was moved to remark that Embiid “had an amazing night.” There’s a reason he’s MVP. He is an extremely difficult opponent.
Nevertheless, Rudy Gobert was prepared to blame the referees after delivering Joel Embiid his flowers.
“I immediately receive two fast fouls. I constantly attempt to extend an open mind to them. It doesn’t seem fair that after all this time, I’m still in this league. It seems strange that after all I’ve accomplished in my career, I’m entering the game and getting called for two quick fouls, and everything they do to me on the other end, it doesn’t seem normal. “Coming back with two fouls and trying to be me, but it’s hard to be you when you got three guys waiting to take you out of the game as soon as they can,” Gobert continued after that. Gobert was referring to the three referees who were officiating the game.
It’s inevitable that Rudy Gobert’s Christmas shopping budget will suffer because of his willingness to dismiss those three officials as though they were the unfortunate victims of the trolley problem. Gobert, though, ought to be resilient given that he signed a $205 million contract in 2021 while still playing for the Utah Jazz.
