Shaquille O’Neal is far from Rudy Gobert’s biggest fan. The two have beef with each other as recently as last season. And while Gobert may not be close to the dominant force Shaq was in his prime, he remains arguably the best defender in the NBA and a highly decorated star.
Not just that, Rudy is now in a different situation to the one he rose to prominence in. Gobert was traded for a massive haul by the Utah Jazz to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have gone all-in for the center as they continue their bid to become a contending team in the NBA.
And while a fair few people don’t believe that the move will put Minnesota among the favorites for a title, it is surprising that Shaq has spoken out in support of what the team can achieve. The Big Diesel’s comment on social media about the Wolves has been noticed, with many wondering if this now means that the big man believes in Gobert and the rest of the franchise’s stars.
https://twitter.com/wolvesplug/status/1546139682307719168
“I don’t care what none of y’all saying. Ain’t nobody beating this team in a seven game series.”
The team can now boast 4 players that can play at an All-Star level, and Anthony Edwards also looks to be next in line to take a step towards becoming a superstar. If he continues on this current trajectory, he and Karl-Anthony Towns could keep Minnesota relevant for a long time to come.
While none of these players have enjoyed much playoff success in their careers, Gobert’s addition makes the Timberwolves a scary prospect, especially in the regular season. If their players can all step up in 2022-23, then Wolves fans might have greater reasons to cheer than winning a play-in game by the time the playoffs roll around next season.
