The Minnesota Timberwolves have suspended center Rudy Gobert for Tuesday’s all-important play-in game against the Los Angeles Lakers after the Frenchman was seen swinging at teammate Kyle Anderson during a timeout on Sunday.
ESPN was the first to sign up the suspension, adding that Gobert is expected to return to the team after Tuesday’s game, when Minnesota will either play in the playoffs or play a second play-in game against the winner of the game between Oklahoma City and New Orleans of Wednesday.
The team did consider extenuating circumstances, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reports that Anderson repeatedly called Gobert a “bitch” on Sunday, despite the 7-foot-2 center playing with an injured back.
Team spokesmen did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for confirmation.
Gobert was sent home after the incident, which occurred in the second quarter of Sunday’s victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Anderson is accused of repeatedly calling Gobert a “bitch” during Sunday’s victory
Gobert (right) reportedly lashed out at Anderson (left), after being called a “bitch” on Sunday
According to teammate Mike Conley, Gobert did send an apology to the team by group text. On Sunday, coach Chris Finch declined to speculate on a possible penalty for Gobert, who played with back spasms after being labeled questionable.
Gobert also apologized in a post on Twitter.
“Emotions got the better of us today,” the former NBA Defensive Player of the Year wrote. “I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did, no matter what was said.”
Anderson, a fiery but respected leader who has given the Wolves a major boost with his versatility and experience in his first season with the team, got into a heated argument with Gobert over one of the many sequences that had gone wrong up to that point while the team was confused during a timeout late in the second quarter.
Gobert then ended the argument by raising his arm to hit Anderson in the upper chest with his hand, before the two were separated and Gobert was taken back to the locker room. Taurean Price also responded to Gobert’s swing by jumping out of his chair to give Gobert a shove.
“I think tempers flared,” Anderson said afterwards. ‘That’s all.’
Kyle Anderson is restrained by teammates after his on-field confrontation with Rudy Gobert
Anderson said he didn’t think the two would have any trouble moving forward.
“We want to win games. It is what it is. It’s not the first time someone has lashed out at me,” he said.
Basketball Operations President Tim Connelly issued a statement confirming that the Timberwolves had decided to send Gobert home after the second quarter flapper.
“His behavior on the bench was unacceptable, and we will handle the situation internally,” said Connelly, whose first big move last summer was to take on Utah’s Gobert in a box office hit.
In exchange for three-time Defensive Player of the Year Gobert, Minnesota gave Utah four first-round picks between 2023 and 2029, a first-round pick from the 2022 draft, which was used for Rookie of the Year candidate Walker Kessler. along with Malik Beasley.
The Wolves defeated the Pelicans 113-108 to finish in eighth place in the Western Conference. They were headed for a loss and the lower seed with a lifeless first half.
Jaden McDaniels lost his temper when he slammed into a wall through the tunnel during a match on Sunday
Wolves striker McDaniels will now be sidelined after reportedly breaking his hand
Unfortunately for Minnesota, defensive stopper Jaden McDaniels questioned his availability by slamming into a wall in frustration. McDaniels would have broken his wrist in the process.
The Wolves announced at halftime that Gobert and McDaniels would not play for the rest of the game. McDaniels, it turned out, had hit a wall in frustration in the first quarter in the tunnel leading to the locker room and did not return. ESPN and The Athletic reported that McDaniels broke his hand.
“Immaturity has certainly been one of our problems all season,” said Finch.
The Wolves have long been adept at making situations more difficult for themselves. The easier games have actually been the hardest part for the Wolves this season, with a total of 16 losses against the bottom 10 teams in the league. If you won just two more, they would have avoided the play-in tournament. Four more wins and they would have the number 4 seed and home field advantage in the first round.
But those days are over. We now need to focus on what we have and move forward,” Finch said.
The blow knocked him out of the Minnesota Timberwolves game against the New Orleans Pelicans