Gobert is getting generational PR from this series (Deserved)

It was 4 picks. They called it 5 because they included Kessler, who had just been picked in the first round a few days before.

The thing about the Rudy trade is that it’s already been worth it even if we never even get to the finals with him. It raised the team’s floor and instilled a defensive identity that won’t just leave when he does. Ant has been to the playoffs every year besides his rookie season and that’s in huge part to Rudy. It set expectations for excellence for our young superstar and that alone is worth what we gave up.

I’m just happy he’s loved.

compared to other players that teams have given up insane pick packages for? Yeah fuck it, give Utah another pick.

he’s treating jokic like ben wallace treated shaq in the 00s

Don’t forget that part of the criticism at the time of this trade was that the Wolves didn’t want to give up McDaniels in the package, and therefore had to attach more draft capital.

Greatest trade in our history maybe all of minnesota sports teams.

Edit- definitely 

Damn, remember when TC was being clowned for bringing Gobrrrr to the wolves? If I remember correctly, the headlines were something to the effect of, “The worst trade of all time.”

I’d give up my 5 kids for him

The fact that Rudy has not fouled out AND is guarding Jokic like this with NO help is legitimately insane. I’ve never seen a defender do this to Jokic, especially with no helpside defense. No one is coming to double, he’s doing it all on his own in single coverage.

He’s the best defender in the world, idc what people say, no one else is guarding Jokic like this in single coverage.

If he gets cooked the rest of the series by Jokic the hate will be right back

Rudy is a DPOY. There’s a good reason to give multiple picks for such a player. Role players are never worth more than 2. There isn’t an award for most games played or worst attitude on the court. Those 2 are never winning an award.

I’m seeing more value in the Aaron Gordon trade tbf - they are clearly desperately missing him

Former DPOY players have had dominant games this play in and playoffs

Draymond locked up Kawhi

Gobert been locking up Jokic

Smart played excellent d on KD

Trade worked but it was def an overpay given the market for Gobert at the time.

I always felt that when Gobert was with Utah their philosophy concerning other players on the floor was defense didn’t matter much because they had him back there to clean up everything, and that was such a disservice to him. In his last year in Utah, the starters outside of Rudy were 6’1”, 6’3”, 6’6”, and 6’7”.

The guy is a great player, just old heads driving a stupid narrative

This has a chance to age really poorly the next round of the advance. That being said I always said in Utah Donovan Mitchell would constantly just let his man blow right by him so Rudy would be forced to help off his man then the dude he helped off of would roll for an easy bucket every time and everyone just blamed Rudy even though Mitchell was giving no effort (Mitchell is a sneakily awful defender at times). That happened way more than him getting hunted o. The perimeter even though that’s what people tend to remember. He def doesn’t deserve to a 4 time dpoy though and I’ll stand by that

let’s come back to it after he’ll have an embarassing performance game

Bout fuckin time r/nba recognizes my guy

What’s also crazy is people were also trashing the trade due to Gobert being 30 at the time and having 4 years to go. He’s been pretty healthy generally after his first season there. 

He’s basically been an instant top ten defense for the majority of his career at this point. I’ve been saying it for years.

If Gobert is ‘that type of player’, why did Minnesota have the 8th-best defense in the league this year, with Gobert and fellow all-league defender Jaden McDaniels?

That’s in a league with 1/3rd of the franchises tanking, which means that almost half of the teams who were even trying to win, were better than Minnesota defensively this past season.

making life hell for HOF centers in the playoffs

Plural? Who is the other center?

Jonas Valančiūnas is the next-best center Gobert has faced in the playoffs, and he didn’t have much trouble against Gobert, putting up 15/10/3 on 57% shooting ( albeit in a 5-game loss with the #8 seed Grizzlies ).

If they drop a game in a couple days and Goebert has a sub par performance this sub will be right back to hating on him, lol.

Has anyone complained about him?

Defense wins championships. Gobert is amazing.

The problem was that he was the 2nd best player before, he’s an elite 3rd option for a championship run kinda like bam in miami who shouldn’t be on a max.

the Bane trade will never not be crazy to me. he’s fine, he’s good, I’d love to have him on my teams…but if I’m trading 5 firsts I want to be getting a major superstar in that trade. Bane isn’t even a first option

people have been saying for a while now that draft picks, especially for a non-lottery team, are basically crap or gambling fodder so if you have the chance to trade them for something tangible that is meaningful to your team on the timeline they’re on, you should go for it. I understand the methodology but it just looks bad when you’re emptying the chest for a middling star

Absolutely not. If you can’t draft or GM well, yes.

Despite the criticism that has surrounded him for years, Gobert shows on this series why he had such a successful NBA career.

I’m happy Gobert is getting his flowers. Tired of all the hate he was getting. It’s silly af when people called him an overrated defender because Luka cooked him a few years ago in the playoffs.

Gobert praise in 2026 is the best surprise I could’ve asked for

People need to chill out. 

First it was “Curry is the GOAT”, 24 hours later “Curry looked washed af and should retire”

Then it’s  “KD is a bum, and Houston are fucked”

Then it’s “Gobert should be mvp”

You’re not wrong about the problem in Utah. With the Jazz - our perimeter defenders were out there playing ole defense because they knew the had Rudy behind them. Clearly the best set up for him is to be surrounded by players who are all willing to defend and scramble to help. 

People really need to stop counting pick swaps as giving up a first round pick.

Remember when people clowned the Wolves for the Gobert trade, and acted like the Jazz completely fleeced them? Yeah…

Wow the narrative has shifted a ton

Also as a magic fan that has to cope, at least one of those picks was to salary dump we gave up much less than nothing in terms of players and I think 3 late FRP for bane is pretty good. If it doesn’t workout it will be because of Paolo and Franz but if ANT didn’t develop this Gobert move wouldn’t look so good either it’s just how the league works

You lost me at guys like Mikal Bridges are valuable players. 

Couple of years ago, he’s being killed for being a liability against the mavs.

Nah. Gobert isn’t the player you give 5 first round picks for.

I’m probably the biggest Jokic stan out there but man Rudy Gobert is playing like a hall of famer and has been for years, I’m so glad hes getting the recognition he deserves. Shoutout to the Stifle Tower!

Compare it to the other guy who they gave up 5 picks for

I don’t think anyone would ever argue Gobert was the problem in Utah. But he was definitely one of the problems. They didn’t have enough offensive firepower to make up for him being practically a non-factor on the offensive side of the ball.

Glad to see him finally getting some respect. I swear all of Reddit thought he was garbage because the Slovenian Fatboy hit one step back three.

Just wait

I never thought I would ever see HOF center and Rudy gobert in the same sentence 😭

Lol it’s one game

I don’t know if you typed that in a French accent or not but I am guessing you did.

I hope he enjoys his flowers tonight. Last time I saw him so at ease he licked a microphone to kick off the pandemic.

Overpaid bum