Rudy͏ G͏obert ͏has become the center of ridicule following his ineffective offensive ͏performance in the Western͏ Conference Finals against the Oklahoma͏ City Thunder. The͏ Minnesota Timberwolves center’s struggles have prompted online comparisons to WNBA star Angel Reese, who has also ͏faced public scrutiny for ͏her own offensive inefficiency.
Rudy Gobert Mocked After Offensive Collapse in WCF
The numbers paint a grim picture. In the Western Conference Finals, Gobert posted just two points on 33% shooting in Game 1 and five points on 40% shooting in Game 2, with a concerning -2 and -9 plus-minus, respectively.
Rudy Gobert in the WCF:
5 PTS | 40% FG | -9
2 PTS | 33% FG | -2(Via @realapp_ ) pic.twitter.com/dgQL6vm9nD
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
His output has sparked a wave of mockery online. One X user labeled Gobert as “The most overrated player in the NBA,” while another tweeted, “Basically the Angel Reese of the NBA.”
Another account stated bluntly: “Most overrated center in basketball history.”
Most overrated center in basketball history
— ChargersBoltUp (@exoticchiefer97)
The criticism intensified after Game 1 of the WCF, where Gobert not only finished with two points but also grabbed only three rebounds. He played just 21 minutes, a drop from his playoff average of 27.4 minutes. Despite Naz Reid’s own poor performance (1-for-11 from the field with four points), he still played more minutes, highlighting the coaching staff’s dwindling trust in Gobert’s impact.
Gobert’s offensive limitations were exposed as he missed a clumsy turnaround shot, failed on a running reverse layup, and committed a turnover off a careless pass. His diminishing confidence around the basket and lack of range allowed the Thunder to clog the paint and suffocate Minnesota’s other scoring threats.
The Timberwolves’ offense stalled in the second half, with Anthony Edwards limited to five points and Julius Randle adding just eight. The bench also shot a dismal 9-for-44.
Statistically, Gobert’s playoff performance has regressed. Gobert’s scoring and efficiency have dipped notably in the postseason, dropping from 12.0 points per game on 66.9% shooting in the regular season to 8.0 points per game on 57.8% shooting during the playoffs. He has scored 10 points or more in just two games so far. The Thunder, being Minnesota’s toughest opponent yet, has exacerbated these issues.
Meanwhile, comparisons with Reese come amid a separate storm. Reese was targeted with hateful comments during the Sky’s season opener against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. “Obviously, there’s no place in this league for that,” Reese said of the abuse, emphasizing the WNBA’s No Space for Hate initiative.
While Reese’s comments addressed racism and discrimination, the social media discourse shifted to performance-based parallels. Now, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch must weigh Gobert’s defensive value against his offensive void.
