Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has always been a lightning rod of criticism because of his defensive style. He is the most dominant defender of his generation, but that does not give him the respect of other players.
One of his newest critics is DeMarcus Cousins, a former NBA All-Star with a 4-6 record against Gobert during their matchups. The two-time All-NBA Second Team player is not a big fan of what Gobert has done and is doing against the Los Angeles Lakers.
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Gobert has always been a target for people because he was the most prominent defender of the Timberwolves and the Utah Jazz for years before that.
He is often the target of criticism not only from Cousins but also from other people like Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley. It is unhealthy criticism at times, but Gobert has learned to put that past him.
Cousins Feels Gobert Is Not An Elite Center
In an anonymous poll done by The Athletic, Gobert came second behind Tyrese Haliburton for being the most overrated player in the league. That has been a popular opinion for years, but Haliburton has usurped Rudy from the top spot.
That has been echoed by Cousins, who did not mince words when talking about Gobert on Run It Back in a conversation with former NBA players Chandler Parsons and Lou Williams.
“I disagree with Haliburton being the most overrated. The guy who we just had a segment on his defense. You can’t be a four-time Defensive Player of the Year and get played off the floor,” Cousins said on Run It Back.
It has become a popular opinion to dunk on Rudy, but some people will also point out that Gobert has the numbers to prove he is an effective player. In fact, Game 2 against the Lakers was a good Gobert performance that involved great defensive plays.
Gobert Deserves More Plaudits For His Performances
While Gobert has gotten a lot of punchy criticisms over the years, he also deserves some plaudits for his efforts. The Frenchman is arguably the best defender of the past decade, as evidenced by his four DPOY awards.
The Timberwolves are perfectly happy with him as the center because he has an irreplaceable impact. Every time he is on the floor, it is challenging to score in the paint because he swallows everyone up with his presence and shot-blocking.
At the same time, that is why teams want to put him on an island by forcing him to switch on defense. The Lakers have tried their best to do so, but he is holding up well in the matchups against LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
People like Cousins and O’Neal have legitimate criticisms about Gobert, but Rudy has become a feared player in the paint through the years for a reason.
