Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert usually ignores his haters and critics, but he had a special message for his arch-rival, Shaquille O’Neal this week. After the Diesel called Rudy the “worst NBA player ever” Gobert responded with a message of his own that went viral online.
“It is sad to see someone that has accomplished as much as you did Shaq, both in sport and business, still be triggered by another man’s finances and accomplishments. I get the entertainment part but unlike other folks, you don’t need that stuff to stay relevant,” Gobert wrote on X.
Rudy Gobert isn’t a popular name in NBA circles and many fans are unconvinced that his talent and impact matches his accolades. For years now, Gobert has been feuding with NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal and this latest back-and-forth is just the latest in a long list of encounters.
While his bias against Rudy is clear, Shaq’s resume speaks for itself and his criticism of Gobert has not gone unnoticed. As a 4x champion, former MVP, and 15x All-Star, O’Neal is one of the most dominant and successful big men to ever play the game. He’s a legend of the Lakers and even now, over a decade after retirement, he still has a big presence in the league on television and through various podcasts where he likes to speak his mind on countless topics.
One of O’Neal’s most popular targets is Rudy Gobert. Despite Gobert’s success in the NBA, Shaq has always been critical of his game and has come at him countless times for being “soft” and ineffective in the paint. According to O’Neal, the star big man is not worthy of his massive career earnings (which go beyond $205 million).
To Rudy’s credit, he’s more accomplished than most when it comes to NBA big men. Over 11 years in the league, he’s averaging 12.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game on 66% shooting. He’s a 4x Defensive Player of the Year, 4x All-NBA player, and 3x NBA All-Star.
He rose to stardom on the Utah Jazz, where he led them to an era of prosperity with his defense alongside Donovan Mitchell. In 2022, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves to team up with Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards.
After a rough debut with the Wolves, Rudy’s career was on the verge of taking a dark turn before his impressive performance during the 2023-24 campaign. Last season, his play helped the Wolves secure a top-three seed in the West and it was his presence around the rim that helped carry them through the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Going into next season, nobody is sure what to expect from Gobert and the Wolves. On one hand, they have to be considered a threat given how close they were to making the Finals a few months back. On the flip side, they may have already missed their best chance at a successful playoff run.
Between Edwards, Towns, and Gobert, the Wolves are certainly poised to be a major threat in the title race but with new challenges in the West and doubts on the rise, only time will tell how far they can get this time around. For better or worse, Rudy will be a major part of the show and this next season could make or break his reputation depending on how he plays.
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