It wasn’t always easy.
When the Timberwolves traded for Rudy Gobert in the summer of 2022, the NBA world exploded with skepticism, memes, and hot takes. Even within Wolves Nation, there were questions. Did Minnesota give up too much? Could Rudy really fit next to a rising star like Anthony Edwards? Would the big-man era actually work in today’s league?
Now, with the Wolves having eliminated the Lakers and making a serious run for the title, one thing is obvious:
Rudy Gobert is doing exactly what Wolves fans hoped for and then some.
In a gutsy career-best playoff performance, Rudy Gobert provided 27 points, 24 rebounds, and two blocks, going 12/15 from the field. He was also dominating the paint like a true defensive anchor.
Forget the noise. Forget the jokes.
This version of Rudy Gobert is the best version of Rudy Gobert. When it comes to Shaquille O'neal and his Lakers... Rudy is the one who ended up with the last laugh.
He was not just blocking shots. He was deterring the entire offensive scheme. Lakers players were hesitating on drives. Luka Doncic was pulling up earlier than usual. And LeBron James, as great as he still is, had to pick his spots carefully when Rudy was patrolling the rim.
The Lakers' need for a center finally came back to bite them in the end as Gobert was Dominant tonight. And they had zero answer for him.
This is exactly what fans envisioned: a towering presence who shuts down the paint, cleans the glass, and gives the Wolves a defensive identity they haven’t had in decades.
He owned the boards and ended possessions
All night long, Gobert was cleaning the glass with a fury. Defensive rebounds? Secured. Offensive boards? Handled. Extended possessions and providing demoralizing putbacks.
It’s not just numbers, it’s timing. Rudy was winning crucial 50/50 balls, snagging rebounds in traffic, and instantly turning them into momentum. He was the difference between one-shot stops and backbreaking second chances.
He was the emotional backbone this team needed.
Rudy has found his voice, and Wolves fans are hearing it loud and clear.
From high-fives on the bench to barking out rotations on defense, Gobert’s communication and leadership have grown each passing month. He’s now fully invested, locked in with this team, and showing the same fire the fanbase bleeds.
The guy who was once questioned for his fit is now the guy teammates turned to for stability and edge.
He’s stepping up when it matters most
Down the stretch? Crunch time? On the road in L.A.? Rudy didn't flinch. He flourished.
In Game 4, it was a key contest under the rim. In Game 5, it’s altered shots, momentum-shifting rebounds, and defensive rotations that don’t always show up in the box score. But they did tonight, and it led to the Timberwolves advancing.
This is why the Wolves went all in. And now, when the lights are brightest, Rudy Gobert is proving he’s worth every asset.
More than they hoped for? Yeah. Because this version wins.
Wolves fans wanted a rim protector. They got a tone-setter. They wanted size. They got heart. They wanted defense. They got culture.
This is Rudy Gobert’s redemption tour, and it’s happening in a Timberwolves jersey. And as the Wolves inch closer to a deep playoff run, fans all over Minnesota are realizing something powerful. This is what they hoped for.
And Rudy’s giving them even more.