Some of the details of what led Rudy Gobert to throw a punch at Minnesota Timberwolves teammate Kyle Anderson on Sunday have come to light.
There is no doubt that the Minnesota Timberwolves 2022-2023 campaign has not been what the team was hoping for. After making a blockbuster trade for three-time All-Star Rudy Gobert last year, there was a thought inside the organization that the team could compete for a spot in the NBA Finals this season. As of now, they seem far from a unified unit that can compete for a championship in the next several weeks.
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The chemistry between the Timberwolves’ top three players has not been great this season, and Karl Anthony-Towns missing half of their campaign hasn’t helped. The frustration all seemed to hit a head this weekend when a sideline argument during the team’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans actually led center Rudy Gobert to throw a punch at teammate Kyle Anderson.
Minnesota Timberwolves record (’22-’23): 42-40, eighth in Western Conference
Following the win that set the Minnesota Timberwolves on a path to play the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Play-In Tournament this week, some details on why the verbal dustup occurred have been revealed.
On Sunday night, ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported on the latest in the situation and sources claim it all started with “Anderson telling Gobert to block some shots and Gobert telling Anderson to grab a ‘bleeping’ rebound.”
While arguments between NBA teammates, even during games, aren’t a shocking occurrence at such an emotional point of the season, Wojnarowski claims what led Gobert to do the unthinkable and throw a strike is when Anderson allegedly told the Frenchman to “Shut the f*** up, b****.”
The former Utah Jazz star reportedly injured his back in the team’s win over the San Antonio Spurs days before, wasn’t sure he would be able to play against the Pelicans, and he allegedly mentioned it during the heated conversation between the two players. “He said he was sore and that he believed he was fighting through the discomfort and referred to the limitations on his back when arguing with Anderson,” sources told fellow ESPN NBA insider Zach Lowe after the game.
As of this time, the coaching staff and organization are reportedly unsure if Gobert will be a part of the Minnesota Timberwolves Play-In game against the Los Angeles Lakers this week, after being sent home immediately after the clash with Anderson.