It’s been said that Rudy Gobert is arguably the most disregarded basketball player currently playing. These days, the media and his admirers are also the sources of his peers’ hatred. NBA legend Eddie Johnson was prompted to comment on SiriusXM NBA Radio regarding this perception.
At first, the 65-year-old said Gobert was in the greatest position to respond to the criticism he received. Johnson did acknowledge that the way critics would often ignore the Frenchman’s skills in favor of concentrating only on his flaws confused him. He said,
“This is something that Rudy Gobert has to address, because, obviously, his demeanor on the court, maybe he is saying stuff to players that we are not privy to hearing, and maybe that’s part of it… But the vitriol against this man, it baffles me… When you got a guy that’s a defensive marvel of freaking nature… But he has people nitpick on the things that he can’t do at a high level.”
Why does Rudy Gobert get criticized at times by other players?@jumpshot8 would like an answer to that question pic.twitter.com/tMBMlgtzql
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) September 6, 2024
Johnson’s remarks were significant in light of Gobert’s professional accomplishments. Arguably, one of the best defensive players in the paint is the 32-year-old. That is evident from his career averages of 2.1 blocks and 11.8 rebounds. He has won four Defensive Player of the Year titles from the NBA, which further recognizes his value as a top defender.
The Timberwolves center has had a tremendous career, but he occasionally finds it difficult to stay up with the current level of play. The 7’1′′ All-Star is an anomaly who takes a while to shut down the opponents. Because of his mediocre footwork, perimeter shooters have enough of time to make their shots. Many teams have taken advantage of this flaw to reduce his impact on defense.
Read More : Shaquille O’Neal Discloses Why He Hates Rudy Gobert
Consequently, the criticism directed on him has only grown. It reached its zenith when Gobert agreed to a $205 million, five-year contract with the Timberwolves. The reaction was swift, with both current and former players openly challenging the reasoning for this agreement.
Shaquille O’Neal emphasized this even more in his most recent interview with COMPLEX. He referred to Gobert as the “worst player of all time,” or “W.O.A.T.” Shaq confirmed his ideas shortly after.
