NBA Rudy Gobert, a 10-year veteran, was suspended by the Minnesota Timberwolves for their play-in game against the Los Angeles Lakers after the centre punched teammate Kyle Anderson after an altercation in the huddle during a timeout.
NBA Member Hits His Own Teammate
Gobert will serve his one-game suspension when the Timberwolves play the Lakers on Tuesday night, the Timberwolves announced on Monday. In the second quarter of Minnesota’s game against New Orleans on Sunday, when the frazzled Timberwolves were down by 12 points, Gobert took a swing at Anderson and struck him in the upper chest.
The practise is not one we support. I don’t want to be too harsh on him because veterans can get irritated too, too,” coach Chris Finch remarked following the game. But, it is clear that we won’t be able to endure it at this place.
Oh my Rudy Gobert just threw a punch at his own teammate Kyle Anderson pic.twitter.com/6GP5wwkCqW
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) April 9, 2023
According to point guard Mike Conley, Gobert texted his teammates an appeal for forgiveness and then released a formal apology on Twitter.
It’s an emotional game, according to Conley. “You’re talking about Kyle and Rudy, two of the most fierce rivals you’ll ever encounter. Things do happen, I’m sorry.
Gobert was labelled as doubtful for the game due to back spasms while he was playing.
Conley stated, “We have to be mature, NBA especially this late in the season. “We must not allow our emotions to rule us. He is aware of better options. Kyle puts everyone to the test. We are aware of the procedure. It must be possible for us to go on and accept it.
In spite of their very public argument, Anderson said he didn’t anticipate any problem getting along with Gobert, who has battled to find his footing in his first season with Minnesota.
Anderson stated, “We’ll talk about it and move on. “We are mature males. Whatever it is, it is.
After a comeback victory over the Pelicans, the Timberwolves moved up to eighth place in the Western Conference, 113-108. They now have two opportunities to win a play-in game and go to the playoffs.
They will receive the No. 7 seed and play Memphis in the opening round if they defeat the Lakers. If they drop, the No. 8 seed and a NBA first-round matchup with Denver will be decided at home on Friday night between them and the winner of the New Orleans-Oklahoma City matchup.
Jaden McDaniels, a forward for the Wolves, was also out indefinitely with a fractured right hand when he collided with a wall in the tunnel leading to the locker room on Sunday after getting penalised for his second foul in the first quarter. Another important player, backup centre Naz Reid, is out for the year after falling on the floor during the game on March 29 in Phoenix and breaking his left wrist.
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The third and fourth metacarpals in McDaniels’ hand were fractured, the Wolves said on Monday, and he was now wearing a cast. He didn’t give a specific timeframe for his comeback.
This is by no means the best approach to deal with the Lakers’ surge, who on March 31 defeated the Wolves in Minneapolis 123-111 NBA after passing them with a comeback. The fact that Gobert and McDaniels are the team’s top two defenders seriously hinders their ability to contain LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Anthony Edwards, a third-year All-Star, will become even more crucial on both ends of the floor as a result. Against the Pelicans, Edwards finished with 26 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks, and four steals. He is likely to keep getting the job of guarding the opposition’s top perimeter player.
I’m here to help with that, Edwards declared.
I am aware of how strong his defence is, Anderson said. We simply need to push him to continually improve his defence and stop picking his spots, in my opinion.