(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
Rudy Gobert isn’t the most popular player in the NBA, not by any means.
The fans, the players, and even some of his former teammates don’t seem to like him that much, both as a player and as a person.
His reputation precedes him all the way back to his days with the Utah Jazz.
He’s been laughed at, mocked, called soft, and overrated.
Nonetheless, the Minnesota Timberwolves big man is unfazed by the haters.
Recently, he stated via an ESPN.com piece that he impacts the game in a “very unique way,” adding that his greatness triggers other players because he’s just “an odd guy from France” finding success in the league (via NBACentral).
Rudy Gobert thinks his greatness ‘triggers’ people
“In their eyes, I’m more like the odd guy from France that’s winning a lot of awards, and it can bother people. I impact the games in a very unique way. It’s maybe not as cool or not as flashy as some other guys, so it’s… pic.twitter.com/bTCdHrsYSr
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 23, 2024
Notably, his nationality may not have anything to do with that, as the players always rave about Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, and Nikola Jokic, who’s not the average star-caliber player either.
It doesn’t have anything to do with whether his game is flashy or not because not a single person dared claim guys like Tim Duncan weren’t stars just because they weren’t making highlight-reels kind of plays.
The issue with Gobert is that despite being one of the best rim protectors in NBA history, he’s been exposed and taken off the court in the playoffs every single year he’s been in the league.
But more than that, with all the different personalities in the league, if he’s the only one rubbing some of his colleagues the wrong way, perhaps it has nothing to do with anything but his character.
The post Rudy Gobert Reveals Why He Thinks Players Criticize Him appeared first on The Cold Wire.