 Gobert at the2022 NBA All-Star Game | |
| No. 27 – Minnesota Timberwolves | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1992-06-26)June 26, 1992 (age 33) Saint-Quentin, France |
| Listed height | 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) |
| Listed weight | 258 lb (117 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA draft | 2013: 1st round, 27th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Denver Nuggets |
| Playing career | 2011–present |
| Career history | |
| 2011–2013 | Cholet |
| 2013–2022 | Utah Jazz |
| 2013–2014 | →Bakersfield Jam |
| 2022–present | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Rudy Gobert-Bourgarel (/ɡoʊˈbɛər/goh-BAIR,[1]French:[ʁydigobɛʁ]; born June 26, 1992) is a French professionalbasketball player for theMinnesota Timberwolves of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He previously played for theUtah Jazz who acquired him during the2013 NBA draft. Gobert also represents theFrench national team in its international competitions. Standing at 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) tall with a wingspan of 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m) long, he plays thecenter position. Nicknamed "the Stifle Tower", he is regarded as one of the best defensive players of all time.[2]
Gobert has won theNBA Defensive Player of the Year award four times, tied for the most in NBA history withDikembe Mutombo andBen Wallace. He is a four-timeAll-NBA Team member, seven-timeAll-Defensive First Team member, and three-timeNBA All-Star. Gobert was also theNBA blocks leader in the2016–17 season and theNBA rebounding leader in the2021–22 season. Gobert was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2017, and the All-NBA Third Team in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
In March 2020, Gobert tested positive forCOVID-19, becoming the first NBA player with a confirmed case of the virus. After teammates of Gobert's on the Utah Jazz, includingDonovan Mitchell, also tested positive, the NBApostponed the2019–20 season untilits resumption on July 30 of the same year.
Gobert was born inSaint-Quentin, Aisne, in the north of France. His father,Rudy Bourgarel [fr], is from the French overseas department ofGuadeloupe and playedcollege basketball in the United States for theMarist Red Foxes from 1985 to 1988.[3] Bourgarel played professional basketball in Paris and Saint-Quentin, where he met Gobert's mother.[3] Gobert's parents split when he was around three years old; he stayed with his mother in Saint-Quentin and made regular trips to Guadeloupe for his father.[3] Gobert started playing basketball in 2003 for the JSC St-Quentin club, before later joining theSaint-Quentin BB club. In 2007, he joinedCholet Basket's cadet categories training center and in 2010, he participated in theFIBA Europe Under-18 Championship with theFrench under-18 national team, where he finished as the team's best scorer and rebounder.[4]
From 2009 to 2011, Gobert mostly played for theCholet Basket junior team, managing just one game for the senior team in2010–11, recording 6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block in 13 minutes on May 10, 2011, againstPau-Lacq-Orthez.[5] In2011–12, he averaged 4.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in 29 games for Cholet.[6] During the next season in2012–13, he averaged 8.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in 27 games.
Gobert declared for the2013 NBA draft and setNBA Draft Combine records for wingspan (7 feet8+1⁄2 inches) and standing reach (9 feet 7 inches) in the 2013 combine.[7] These dimensions earned him the nickname "The Stifle Tower".[8][9] The record for wingspan was broken a year later byWalter Tavares.
On June 27, 2013, Gobert was selected with the 27th overall pick by theDenver Nuggets. He was later traded on draft night to theUtah Jazz.[10] On July 6, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Jazz and joined them for the2013 NBA Summer League.[11] In just his 12th game for the Jazz on November 24, Gobert scored a season-high 10 points against theOklahoma City Thunder.[12] On December 14, he was assigned to theBakersfield Jam of theNBA Development League.[13] Gobert was a starter in all eight of his games in the Development League, scoring a double-double in six of those games.[14]
He was later recalled by the Jazz on December 21,[15] reassigned on January 4,[16] and recalled again on January 13.[17] He played sparingly for the Jazz in 2013–14, making an appearance in 45 of the team's 82 regular season games.
In July 2014, Gobert re-joined the Jazz for the2014 NBA Summer League.[18] On October 24, 2014, the Jazz exercised their third-year team option on Gobert's rookie scale contract, extending the contract through the 2015–16 season.[19] On January 9, 2015, he recorded a career-high seven blocked shots in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.[20][21] On March 3, he recorded 15 points and a career-high 24 rebounds in a 93–82 win over theMemphis Grizzlies. His 24 rebounds were three short of the Jazz franchise record of 27 set twice byTruck Robinson, both in the 1977–78 season.[22] In April 2015, he twice scored a career-high 20 points, and finished the 2014–15 season with 25 double-doubles.[23] He went on to finish third in theNBA Most Improved Player Award voting.[24]
On October 17, 2015, the Jazz exercised their fourth-year team option on Gobert's rookie scale contract, extending the contract through the 2016–17 season.[25] On December 2, 2015, he was ruled out indefinitely after sustaining a sprained left MCL.[26] He returned to action on January 7, 2016, against theHouston Rockets after missing 18 games with the injury. He was limited to just 15 minutes but chipped in six points and three rebounds.[27] On January 16, he had a season-best game with 18 points, 18 rebounds and 5 blocks in a 109–82 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.[28] On February 27, he recorded 12 points, a season-high 19 rebounds and six blocks in a 98–96 loss to theBrooklyn Nets.[29]
On October 31, 2016, Gobert signed a four-year, $102 million contract extension with the Jazz,[30][31] which at the time made him the best paid French athlete ever (in terms of salary per year).[32] On December 6, 2016, he scored a career-high 22 points in a 112–105 win over the Phoenix Suns.[33] Four days later, he had 17 points, 14 rebounds and a season-high six blocks in a 104–84 win over theSacramento Kings.[34] On January 10, 2017, in a win over theCleveland Cavaliers, Gobert posted his franchise-best 25th consecutive game with 10-plus rebounds (14).[35] On January 20, 2017, he recorded career highs of 27 points and 25 rebounds in a 112–107 overtime win over theDallas Mavericks.[36] The following day, he had his 31st double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds in a 109–100 win over theIndiana Pacers.[37] His 11 rebounds marked his 30th straight game with at least 10 rebounds—only four other NBA players have had a 30-game streak of 10-rebound games since 1997–98.[36] His streak ended at 30 after falling one rebound shy of his 31st consecutive 10-plus rebound game on January 23 against theOklahoma City Thunder.[38] With two blocks against New Orleans on February 8, Gobert reached 499 career blocked shots, passingRich Kelley (498) for ninth on the franchise's all-time block list.[39] On March 5, he had 16 points and 24 rebounds and tipped in a missed shot as time expired in overtime to lift the Jazz to a 110–109 win over theSacramento Kings.[40] On March 20, he had 16 points, 14 rebounds and a career-high eight blocks in a 107–100 loss to theIndiana Pacers.[41] Two days later, he scored a career-high 35 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a 108–101 win over theNew York Knicks. Eleven of his 13 rebounds were offensive.[42]
In Game 1 of the Jazz's first-round playoff series against theLos Angeles Clippers on April 15, Gobert suffered a hyperextension and bone bruise to his left knee; the injury occurred on the first possession of the game.[43] Utah took Game 1 without him, but he went on to miss Games 2 and 3, as the Jazz went down 2–1 in the series. Gobert returned to the line-up for Game 4 and contributed to a 105–98 win with 15 points and 13 rebounds.[44] The Jazz went on to eliminate the Clippers with a 104–91 victory in Game 7, closing out the first-round series 4–3 to earn the franchise's first postseason victory since 2010.[45] However, they were swept by theGolden State Warriors in the second round to bow out of the playoffs. At the season's end, Gobert was named in theAll-NBA Second Team for the first time in his career.[46] He also earnedNBA All-Defensive First Team honors.[47]
Gobert began the 2017–18 season with eight double-doubles while averaging a league-best 2.5 blocks per game.[48] On November 12, 2017, he was ruled out for four-to-six weeks with a bone bruise in his right knee.[49] He returned earlier than expected, re-joining the squad on December 4 after missing 11 games.[50] However, after suffering a sprained posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in his left knee and a bone bruise on December 15, he was ruled out for at least another two weeks.[51] He returned to action on January 19, recording 23 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks in a 117–115 loss to theNew York Knicks.[52] On March 2, 2018, he scored a season-high 26 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in a 116–108 win over theMinnesota Timberwolves.[53] In May 2018, he was named in theNBA All-Defensive First Team, becoming the third Jazz player ever to earn multiple All-Defensive First Team recognitions, alongsideKarl Malone (1997, 1998 and 1999) andMark Eaton (1985, 1986 and 1989).[54] In June, he was named theNBA Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Jazz player to win the award since two-time honoree Mark Eaton last won the award in 1989,[55] the 5th international to win the award, the second French man to win the award, the first French-born to win the award, and the 12th center to win the award.
On December 25, 2018, Gobert recorded a season-high seven blocks in a 117–96 win over thePortland Trail Blazers.[56] On December 29, he had a team-high 25 points on 10-of-12 shooting and grabbed 16 rebounds for his 31st double-double of the season in a 129–97 win over theNew York Knicks. He had 24 points and 12 rebounds at half time, marking the first time that a Jazz player totaled at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in any half sinceCarlos Boozer did it in February 2010.[57] On January 12, 2019, he had a career-high eight assists in a 110–102 win over theChicago Bulls.[58] On January 14, he tied a career high with 25 rebounds in a 100–94 win over theDetroit Pistons.[59] On January 16, he had 23 points and 22 rebounds in a 129–109 win over theLos Angeles Clippers.[60] On March 18, he was named Western Conference Player of the Week, marking his first career player of the week honor.[61] On March 25, he scored a season-high 27 points and set the single-season NBA dunk record in a 125–92 win over thePhoenix Suns. With his 270th dunk of the season, he bestedDwight Howard's 269 dunks in 2007–08.[62] He finished the regular season with a record 306 dunks and went on to lead the NBA in dunks for four consecutive seasons (2018-2019 through 2021-2022).[63][64] At theNBA's end-of-season awards night, Gobert was named theNBA's Defensive Player of the Year for the second season in a row.[65]
Gobert won theAlain Gilles Trophy as the French player of the year for 2019.[66][67] With this he became the 10th multi time winner of the award, and the 9th ever to win back-to-back.
Through his first 45 games in the2019–20 season, Gobert averaged 15.7 points and 14.6 rebounds per game[68] and had become an anchor for the Jazz on offense as well as defense.[69] On January 30, 2020, Gobert, alongside teammateDonovan Mitchell, was named a Western Conference reserve for the2020 NBA All-Star Game.[70]
On March 11, 2020, a game between the Utah Jazz and theOklahoma City Thunder was postponed right before tip-off after Gobert was placed on theinjury list due to illness. He was taken to a local hospital and tested positive forSARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for theCOVID-19 pandemic. The NBA thensuspended the season indefinitely. Just two days earlier, after a game against the Pistons in Detroit, Gobert had facetiously touched every microphone and recorder at a press conference concerning the Utah Jazz's response to the virus.[71] Gobert apologized, saying his actions were careless and exposed others to the disease and that he hopes his story serves as a warning to others to take the virus seriously.[72][73] On March 27, he was cleared of the coronavirus.[74] In April, it was reported that his relationship with Mitchell had soured following his careless behavior when infected with COVID-19 and Gobert admitted the two did not speak for some time after.[75] Gobert has donated $500,000 to help people affected by COVID-19 including part-time employees and COVID-related services.[76]
On December 20, 2020, Gobert signed a five-year, $205 million contract extension with the Jazz. Gobert's extension was the third largest contract in NBA history, and the largest ever for a center.[77][78][79]
On February 23, 2021, Gobert, alongside teammateDonovan Mitchell, was once again named a Western Conference reserve for the2021 NBA All-Star Game, marking the pair's second consecutive All-Star selection.[80][81] On March 22, Gobert logged 21 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high nine blocks in 120–95 victory over theChicago Bulls.[82][83] On June 9, 2021, Gobert was named theNBA Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in four years, making him the fourth player in NBA history to win the award three or more times.[84] Gobert's win marked the first time in NBA history where four consecutive defensive player of the year awards had been won by international players. On June 11, Gobert recorded a playoff career-high 20 rebounds in a Game 2 second-round victory over theLos Angeles Clippers.[85]
On February 3, 2022, Gobert was named a reserve for the2022 NBA All-Star Game.[86] He finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, behind winnerMarcus Smart andMikal Bridges.[87] Gobert led the league in rebounds per game with 14.7 rebound per game and was third in blocks per game with 2.1 blocks per game, Gobert as well lead the league in FG% with 71.3% FG and shot a career high from the free throw line.[88][89][90] On May 20, Gobert was named to his sixth straightNBA All-Defensive First Team.[91]
On July 6, 2022, Gobert was traded to theMinnesota Timberwolves forPatrick Beverley,Malik Beasley,Jarred Vanderbilt,Leandro Bolmaro, and the draft rights to centerWalker Kessler in addition to four first-round picks and a 2026 first-round pick swap.[92] On October 20, Gobert made his Timberwolves debut, putting up 23 points and 16 rebounds in a 115–108 win over theOklahoma City Thunder.[93] On October 28, Gobert recorded 22 points and 21 rebounds in an 111–102 win over theLos Angeles Lakers; that was his 8th career 20/20 game and first in Minnesota.[94] On January 6, 2023, Gobert logged 25 points and 21 rebounds on 11-of-15 shooting from the field in a 128–115 win over theLos Angeles Clippers.[95] On March 3, Gobert had 22 points and 14 rebounds in a 110–102 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.[96] On April 9, Gobert was involved in a physical altercation with teammateKyle Anderson during a game against theNew Orleans Pelicans. Gobert swung at Anderson after a verbal exchange on the sideline, after which Gobert was escorted away. The incident took place during the second quarter, and Gobert was subsequently sent home early from the game.[97][98] The next day, it was announced that Gobert would be suspended for one game as a result of the incident.[99][100]
On November 14, 2023, Gobert was involved in an altercation in a game against the Golden State Warriors in which during a team brawl, Gobert entered the brawl to separate Warriors guardKlay Thompson and teammateJaden McDaniels. Warriors forwardDraymond Green put Gobert into a chokehold and pulled him away from the fight while Gobert was trying to separate the two players. This resulted in Green, along with Thompson and McDaniels, being ejected from the game for their participation in the brawl. Gobert later called out Green's actions as "clown behavior".[101]
On December 2, Gobert scored a personal season-high 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting along with 12 rebounds and 3 blocks in 123–117 win over theCharlotte Hornets.[102] Gobert was named Defensive Player of the Year, after anchoring Minnesota's #1 ranked defense. This was the fourth time he won the award, which tiesDikembe Mutombo andBen Wallace for the most in NBA history.[103][104]
On May 7, 2024, Gobert missed a significant playoff game against the Denver Nuggets due to the birth of his child. Despite his absence, the Timberwolves, led by Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, each scoring 27 points, managed to secure a 2–0 series lead over the defending champions, holding the Nuggets to a 34.9% shooting from the field.[105] The Timberwolves reached the conference finals against the Dallas Mavericks, but lost in 5 games.Luka Dončić scored the game winning shot over Gobert in Game 2 after an Edwards turn-over.
On October 23, 2024, Gobert signed a three-year, $110 million contract extension with the Timberwolves.[106]
On April 30, 2025, in Game 5 of the first round against theLos Angeles Lakers, Gobert recorded a double-double of 27 points and 24 rebounds, both playoff career highs, in a 103–96 victory, helping the Timberwolves win playoff rounds in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history.[107] He joinedKevin Garnett as the only players in Timberwolves history to record a 20–20 game in the NBA playoffs.[108] TheMinnesota Timberwolves reached the conference finals for the second consecutive time, facing theOklahoma City Thunder, but lost the series in five games.
On February 21, 2024, he announced on anInstagram post that he was expecting a child with Julia Bonilla.[109] They announced the birth of their son, Roméo, the next day of his birth, on May 7, 2024. The birth caused him to miss Game 2 of the Conference Semifinals against the defending NBA championDenver Nuggets, a game that the Timberwolves still won. They would go on to win the series in Game 7. Gobert and Bonilla have reportedly broken up since then.[110]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| * | Led the league | ‡ | NBA record |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | Utah | 45 | 0 | 9.6 | .486 | — | .492 | 3.4 | .2 | .2 | .9 | 2.3 |
| 2014–15 | Utah | 82 | 37 | 26.3 | .604 | .000 | .623 | 9.5 | 1.3 | .8 | 2.3 | 8.4 |
| 2015–16 | Utah | 61 | 60 | 31.7 | .559 | — | .569 | 11.0 | 1.5 | .7 | 2.2 | 9.1 |
| 2016–17 | Utah | 81 | 81 | 33.9 | .661 | .000 | .653 | 12.8 | 1.2 | .6 | 2.6* | 14.0 |
| 2017–18 | Utah | 56 | 56 | 32.4 | .615 | — | .681 | 10.7 | 1.4 | .8 | 2.3 | 13.5 |
| 2018–19 | Utah | 81 | 80 | 31.8 | .669* | — | .636 | 12.9 | 2.0 | .8 | 2.3 | 15.9 |
| 2019–20 | Utah | 68 | 68 | 34.3 | .693 | — | .630 | 13.5 | 1.5 | .8 | 2.0 | 15.1 |
| 2020–21 | Utah | 71 | 71 | 30.8 | .675* | .000 | .623 | 13.5 | 1.3 | .6 | 2.7 | 14.3 |
| 2021–22 | Utah | 66 | 66 | 32.1 | .713* | .000 | .690 | 14.7* | 1.1 | .7 | 2.1 | 15.6 |
| 2022–23 | Minnesota | 70 | 70 | 30.7 | .659 | .000 | .644 | 11.6 | 1.2 | .8 | 1.4 | 13.4 |
| 2023–24 | Minnesota | 76 | 76 | 34.1 | .661 | .000 | .638 | 12.9 | 1.3 | .7 | 2.1 | 14.0 |
| 2024–25 | Minnesota | 72 | 72 | 33.2 | .669 | — | .674 | 10.9 | 1.8 | .8 | 1.4 | 12.0 |
| Career | 829 | 737 | 30.7 | .656 | .000 | .641 | 11.7 | 1.4 | .7 | 2.1 | 12.6 | |
| All-Star | 3 | 0 | 14.9 | .900‡ | — | .333 | 8.0 | 1.0 | .3 | .3 | 12.3 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Utah | 9 | 9 | 27.3 | .635 | — | .480 | 9.9 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 11.6 |
| 2018 | Utah | 11 | 11 | 34.8 | .655 | — | .603 | 10.7 | 1.0 | .9 | 2.3 | 13.2 |
| 2019 | Utah | 5 | 5 | 30.4 | .594 | — | .783 | 10.2 | 1.4 | .6 | 2.6 | 11.2 |
| 2020 | Utah | 7 | 7 | 38.6 | .649 | — | .524 | 11.4 | 1.1 | .6 | 1.4 | 16.9 |
| 2021 | Utah | 11 | 11 | 34.2 | .741 | .000 | .636 | 12.3 | .8 | .5 | 2.1 | 14.7 |
| 2022 | Utah | 6 | 6 | 32.8 | .646 | — | .682 | 13.2 | .5 | .2 | 1.0 | 12.0 |
| 2023 | Minnesota | 5 | 5 | 35.4 | .630 | — | .630 | 12.2 | 2.0 | .4 | 1.0 | 15.0 |
| 2024 | Minnesota | 15 | 15 | 34.2 | .615 | — | .671 | 9.8 | 1.6 | .9 | 1.0 | 12.1 |
| 2025 | Minnesota | 15 | 15 | 27.4 | .582 | — | .520 | 8.6 | .7 | .5 | 1.2 | 7.9 |
| Career | 84 | 84 | 32.4 | .641 | .000 | .608 | 10.6 | 1.1 | .7 | 1.5 | 12.3 | |
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Gobert won the bronze medal at the2011 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship and the silver medal at the2012 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship. In the 2012 edition, Gobert was named to the All-Tournament team alongside countryman,Léo Westermann.
Gobert was called by head coachVincent Collet to help the seniorFrench national team prepare for the2012 Summer Olympics tournament. He played twofriendly games, scoring 8 points. He was part of the team that won the bronze medal at the2014 FIBA World Cup, where he averaged 4.1 points per game.[111]
In 2015, he helped France to bronze at theEuroBasket 2015, averaging 10.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks during the tournament,[112] while receiving All-European Championships Second Team distinction's from the websiteEurobasket.com.[113]
At the2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Gobert played in five games for France, tallying 5.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game.[114] He also won the bronze medal with France at the2019 FIBA World Cup, where he averaged 10.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game.[115]
In the2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Gobert guided France to a silver medal, starting each game and averaging 12.2 points and 9.3 rebounds.[116]
In 2022, he led France to silver at theEuroBasket 2022, averaging 12.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks during the tournament, while being selected to theAll-Tournament Team.[117][118]
In the2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Gobert won a silver medal with France, averaging 3.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game.[119]
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