There are few NBA players that face the kind of public criticism and scrutiny that Rudy Gobert does. Minnesota Timberwolves fans recognize his talent, but the same cannot always be said for viewers from other fanbases. Incredibly, there are widely differing viewpoints on Gobert and his ability.
Outlandish comments from public figures and talking heads have unfortunately empowered fans to discredit Rudy and his impact. Some believe that he is massively overrated and not a great defender. While no player is perfect, the discourse around Gobert has become positively silly in recent months and years.
Recently, Donte DiVincenzo appeared on The Young Man and the Three podcast (previously The Old Man and the Three) along with Miami Heat guard Duncan Robinson and was asked about what it has been like playing alongside Gobert. His answer should serve to detract from some of the hot take artists that want to discredit Rudy.
"You don't know Rudy until you play with him," said DiVincenzo. "Rudy is the anchor of our defense, and a lot of stuff revolves around Rudy. But to your point about the approach, Rudy's approach is unmatched. Daily, to his body, to getting ready for a game. So it's really cool to see that."
DiVincenzo: Gobert's approach is "unmatched"
Anyone who has been an athlete should be far from surprised to hear Donte say this. Gobert did not get to where he is by simple dumb luck, or being in the right place at the right time. Rudy worked his tail off day after day and year after year to maximize every last drop of the talent he was given. Gobert has likely worked harder at his craft than any of his detractors have at their professions.
DiVincenzo continued. "Being on the court with him, you don't realize how big he is," said Donte. "Like, I threw a couple lobs to him already early in the season, I'm like, 'there's no way he's gonna catch it,' and he goes and brings it down. So it's just little things about feeling him out. Just knowing little things that he likes, how to make the game easy for him. Because if you make it easy for him, he's going to make it easy for you on the defensive end."
This is a wonderful inside perspective on how guards like Donte play effectively with a big like Rudy. Gradually understanding the impact that Gobert makes has made it easier for DiVincenzo to thrive next to his star big man. Unsurprisingly, spending more time around a four-time Defensive Player of the Year has made Donte appreciate his new teammate more.
It is probably easy to have the wrong perception of Rudy from an outside perspective. False narratives are pushed so widely these days that it is commonplace for people to fall into thinking Gobert is overrated and ineffective without truly watching him play extensively. DiVincenzo's words should help non-Wolves fans to realize what kind of talent Minnesota is working with on the interior.