Resurgent Rudy Gobert playing with 'renewed sense of energy and purpose'

Timberwolves center is playing 'elite' defense.

Call it a resurgence, or call it a return to form.

No matter what label you decide to put on it, Rudy Gobert has looked every part of the player the Timberwolves traded five players and five picks, including four firsts, for, and he’s been a driving force for a Wolves defense that’s ranked No. 1 in the NBA.

And as months flip by on the calendar, he keeps getting better.

On the surface, Gobert’s numbers don’t look all that different from a year ago. In 2022-23, Gobert averaged 13.4 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game compared to 13.3 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks this season. 

But Gobert’s rebounding and block averages last season were some of the lowest marks of his 11-year NBA career.

Gobert’s 1.4 blocks were his fewest per game since his rookie season. The 11.6 rebounds per game were the fourth fewest of his career; three of those seasons came in the first three years of his career. Then comes the eye test; there’s no doubt Gobert looks more like the player that won three Defensive Player of the Year Awards in Utah.

What’s been the big difference for Gobert this season?

“First and foremost, I think (Gobert) came into the season with a renewed sense of energy and purpose and was very comfortable with being here, with what we were doing,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “A lot of his increase in performance is down to him, the great season he’s had and the great offseason he had. I think he feels healthy, I think last year he felt a little banged up. I think what’s working for him is we’re better defensively everywhere, which makes his job a little bit easier. He doesn’t have to try to plug every single hole.”

No doubt the Timberwolves have a better defensive lineup. If you want to take a trip down memory lane, this time last year Minnesota was 27-26 and hovering around .500 all year, D’Angelo Russell was the starting point guard and Karl-Anthony Towns was in the midst of a 51-game absence to a calf injury.

The Wolves flipped Russell for Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker — two players who have certainly contributed to the defensive turnaround — at last year’s trade deadline, and Towns has been healthy all season.

What a difference a year can make. 

No doubt those changes have impacted the team’s performance defensively, but there’s also no denying that Gobert is the engine that powers the Wolves’ defense.

He’s an anchor in the paint, he closes out on shooters and he crashes the glass as well as anyone. He does all the little things and makes the unglamorous plays. Just about every night has been an example of Gobert's defensive impact. 

Take the Timberwolves’ best win this month — a 109-105 home victory on Jan. 14 over the Los Angeles Clippers. Gobert had 15 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks. Gobert had six blocks in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies four days later. 

Most recently on Monday, Gobert helped the Timberwolves close out a key win at the Oklahoma City Thunder, and without Conley, whose absence has often spelled disaster for the Wolves in late-game situations. Not Monday. 

Led by Gobert, who paired with Jaden McDaniels to shut down leading Rookie of the Year candidate and Minnehaha Academy grad Chet Holmgren, who had just four points and seven rebounds in 32 minutes. Gobert, meanwhile, finished his night with 12 points, 18 rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal. 

Gobert's impact on the Wolves' defense can't be understated. And now, over a year in, it's clear the two-big experiment is working. Much of that starts with Gobert, and his ability to anchor the defense, no matter what else is going on in the game. 

“(Gobert) has the incredible sense, just like a scorer likes to take over a game, he has an incredible sense of being able to like up his presence in the paint, even become a little more active, a little more early, being able to cover a lot of ground, getting up, then getting back, then getting back out to challenge,” Finch told reporters after Monday’s win over the Thunder. “It’s pretty special to watch, you know, when you really think about it. He’s kinda switched in, he’s communicating, he’s getting himself out of the matchups that we don’t want early. And he’s been doing that for us all year and that’s a big part of why we’ve been able to close games is his defense down the stretch has been elite.” 

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) moves around Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) on a drive during the second half at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Jan. 29, 2024 :: Alonzo Adams / USA TODAY Sports