Rudy Gobert had a tough debut season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He wasn’t the defensive terror everyone came to recognize, but this season has been different. Gobert looks energized on the court and is one of the leaders for the DPOY trophy. This was a result of a brutal offseason, where Gobert went on a 64-hour darkness retreat in a cottage within a ‘Hobbit-like’ hole as a form of extreme meditation.
Gobert reflected on the experience and explained what motivated him to take this journey in an interview.
“It was a really powerful experience. In our society, we’re constantly distracted, whether it’s phones, music, or noise, and most of us don’t get to be alone or with ourselves. Even if we’re alone, we don’t get to face ourselves… When you’re in the dark and there’s no distraction, you get to be with yourself, and it can be uncomfortable, but I think for every human being on Earth, I think it’s a good thing to do because it really makes you grow… I came out of there like I was born again. I was really grateful for my journey, and I really felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be in my journey right now.”
Darkness retreats for athletes was recently popularized by NFL star Aaron Rodgers, who underwent the same before deciding to play the 2023 NFL season and request a trade from the Green Bay Packers. Gobert didn’t come into the season demanding a trade but seems to have found his rhythm with the Wolves after a transitional season.
Gobert is averaging 12.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks this season, looking more like the three-time Defensive Player of the Year center the Wolves traded for. He has had sensational defensive moments already this season.
Rudy Gobert is unreal pic.twitter.com/kHNvnjpG65
— Alex (@AlexHoops_) November 29, 2023
The Wolves are the best defensive team in the NBA, and Gobert’s phenomenal paint defense is one of the primary reasons behind that. Maybe 64 hours in utter darkness in Oregon is something many other NBA players could use before the start of the season.
The Timberwolves Are Looking Dangerous
The pecking order of the Western Conference was widely expected to see the Nuggets at the top and teams like the Suns, Lakers, and Warriors behind them. This season has given us a different picture, with the Wolves sitting atop the conference through the first month.
Karl-Anthony Towns is having the best defensive season of his career and making the Wolves impossible to score on while averaging 21.2 points and 9.0 rebounds. Jaden McDaniels is continuing to emerge as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, while Anthony Edwards continues to look like a superstar and the best player on this team.
Gobert looks really good to start the season, terrorizing teams with his incredible defensive prowess. With perimeter defenders such as Edwards and McDaniels, and an engaged KAT next to him, he’s anchoring an absolutely terrifying squad. With a familiar point guard like Mike Conley running the show, Gobert is looking lethal.
The Wolves haven’t looked this promising since Kevin Garnett dragged them to the Western Conference Finals in 2004. After two years of being a first-round exit, the Wolves will hope they can finally become a contender in the West.
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