After their showdown earlier in the week, Timberwolves big man Anthony Edwards took a shot at Jazz star Rudy Gobert.
After crediting Kristaps Porzingis as the best rim protector in the league, he went on to say how Gobert failed to instill any fear in his opponent.
“Anytime I go against Porzingis, I don’t get no layups. I don’t get why we couldn’t finish on Rudy Gobert. He don’t put no fear in my heart. I don’t know why.”
After the Jazz won against the Sixers on Thursday, Gobert was asked to respond to those comments, and he kept it pretty brief:
(via ESPN)
“I’m motivated every night. People like to take shots at me for no reason. It’s funny because I never take shots at anyone… When you’re the best in the world at something, people become insecure.”
📹| "I always stay focused on the game, stay focused on my team." -Rudy & Hassan with @sportsiren 🎙#walkoffinterview | @lhmauto pic.twitter.com/ecMj9NjDfP
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 10, 2021
While Gobert shrugged off the statement, Jazz coach Quinn Snyder came to his defense.
“Every team we play, their offensive game plan is how to attack Rudy, or how not to attack him. He’s our best isolation defender, the best rim protector in the league.”
Of course, Patrick Beverley also took a shot at Gobert after the Wolves/Jazz game, questioning his bravery on the defensive end.
“If I’m Defensive Player of the Year, I’m always guarding the best player no matter what. I’m not roaming. It’s no discredit to Royce O’Neale or any of the others on their team, but if I’m Defensive Player of the Year, I’m not guarding Royce O’Neale. I’m guarding Mike Conley, I’m guarding Donovan Mitchell, I’m guarding Bogdanovic. You got Rudy Gobert out there guarding Vanderbilt. And every time I hear he’s Defensive Player of the Year. So, uh, whatever.”
Gobert is a 2x All-Star, 4x All-NBA player, and 3x Defensive Player of the Year. In almost a decade with the Jazz, he has helped them become contenders in the Western Conference.
Despite his resume, and all that he has done in Utah, he continues to be the target of naysayers, who question his worth as a player. If he wants to shut them up for good, the Jazz are going to have to prove themselves in the postseason.
In the meantime, Gobert is going to keep his head down and keep doing what he does best.
