Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has one of the most impressive résumés in NBA history. He's a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, four-time All-NBA honoree, and seven-time All-Defense selectee who's likely to continue adding to his tally.
The first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, however, will go a long way toward deciding how Gobert is remembered after he one day retires.
Gobert and the Timberwolves will go up against the No. 3 seed Los Angeles Lakers. It's a series that's destined to produce memorable battles, as Minnesota is one of the hottest teams in the NBA and Los Angeles is among the most star-studded.
Minnesota is 17-4 since Mar. 1, ranking third in the NBA in winning percentage during that time, while Los Angeles has a star duo unlike any other with Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
Anthony Edwards will carry a massive burden as the franchise player and go-to scorer, but no one has a better chance to swing momentum in Minnesota's favor than Gobert. Gobert has an individual matchup that he should be able to exploit, especially as he aims to translate one of the best stretches of his career to the postseason.
If Gobert is unable to impose his will on this series and address the criticism that's followed his offensive shortcomings in the playoffs, however, his legacy could be devastated.
Rudy Gobert needs to erase postseason criticism against Lakers
Gobert's direct matchup will be career backup Jaxson Hayes. By all means and measures, Gobert has a drastic advantage over the competition. Talent and execution aren't always synonymous, however, and Gobert hasn't exactly earned a reputation as a player who can exploit an edge offensively.
He quieted some of the criticism when he helped Minnesota reach the 2024 Western Conference Finals, but one run only does so much to change a player's reputation.
With a matchup that he should be able to handily win, Gobert needs to find his scoring touch and put the pressure on the Lakers' undersized defense. Los Angeles is certainly capable of swarming the ball and making life difficult, but Gobert will be the biggest player on the court—and needs to play like it.
Thankfully, Gobert is in remarkable form, averaging 18.8 points, 14.9 rebounds, and 5.1 offensive boards over the final 10 games of the 2024-25 regular season.
If Gobert can translate that success to the postseason, the Timberwolves will have an extraordinary opportunity to win this series. Thankfully, Hayes' lack of ideal postseason experience, and the Lakers' preference for small-ball lineups should enable Minnesota's 7'1" anchor to make a profound impact.
Doing so, however, would mean silencing the skeptics who question if he deserved four Defensive Player of the Year awards due to overblown but occasional lackluster showings in the playoffs.
Gobert will be forced to play away from the basket by a Lakers team that wants to utilize every inch of the court on offense. The goal will inevitably be to stretch the floor in a way that clears the paint for downhill scorers such as Doncic, James, and Austin Reaves to finish with as little resistance as possible.
Gobert has a monumental challenge ahead of him as the defensive anchor who needs to step up on offense, and whether fair or foul, his legacy will be impacted by his performance.