Alongside Minnesota Timberwolves franchise star Anthony Edwards, several players have played important roles in the team’s recent success.
Wolves head coach Chris Finch certainly believes Rudy Gobert belongs among them, and he did not hesitate to give his veteran center some major praise.
Rudy Gobert Gets Major Vote of Confidence From Timberwolves Coach
The Timberwolves paid a massive price to acquire Gobert from the Utah Jazz, sending multiple first-round draft picks and multiple players to complete the blockbuster deal.
Though the steep cost initially drew plenty of criticism, Gobert responded by becoming the defensive anchor of one of the most successful stretches in recent Timberwolves history.
The 34-year-old averaged 10.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks across 76 regular-season games. His defensive impact earned him another NBA All-Defensive First Team selection.
Gobert’s consistency, defensive dominance, and physical presence have clearly made a strong impression on Chris Finch.
On The Road Trippin’ Show this week, Finch described Gobert as a franchise-level “floor raiser” whose presence gives Minnesota a dependable baseline every time he steps onto the court.
“First of all, he’s a great teammate. He does things the right way,” Finch said. “He’s a floor raiser. When he’s out there every single night, you know your team is going to reach a certain level and have a chance to win.”
Gobert’s defensive excellence has already earned him a record-tying fourth Defensive Player of the Year award.
He has also built a strong profile that includes eight All-Defensive First Team selections and three All-Star appearances.
However, Gobert has faced persistent criticism throughout his NBA career because of his limited offensive production.
Despite those concerns, Finch believes the center’s overall impact is often overlooked.
“All the things Rudy does at a very high level in the background aren’t always recognized,” Finch continued.
“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… 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.”
Meanwhile, Minnesota reshaped its roster during the offseason, acquiring point guard LaMelo Ball while moving on from Julius Randle and Naz Reid.
Despite the significant changes, Gobert remains an important piece of the Timberwolves’ plans, and his teammates appear to value his leadership as much as Finch does.
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That connection was reportedly on display when Anthony Edwards and Ball organized a team training session in France to strengthen the group’s chemistry ahead of training camp.
While many around the league continue to question Gobert’s overall impact, the Timberwolves have shown that they remain firmly committed to him.
