UPDATED 4/10, 7:50 p.m. ET: Minnesota Timberwolves announced Monday that Rudy Gobert has been suspended for one game following his physical altercation with teammate Kyle Anderson during Sunday’s faceoff against the New Orleans Pelicans.
NEWS: The Minnesota @Timberwolves today announced the team has suspended center Rudy Gobert for one game following yesterday’s incident. Full release:
Gobert will serve his suspension on Tuesday, when the Timberwolves take on the Los Angeles Lakers in the play-in tournament.
If the Timberwolves defeat the Lakers, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year would be eligible to return for Game 1 of their first-round match-up against the Memphis Grizzlies. If Minnesota loses tomorrow, Gobert would be back with the team when they look to secure the eighth seed against the winner of the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. New Orleans Pelicans game.
See original story below.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was sent home during Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans after punching teammate Kyle Anderson as the team huddled during a timeout.
The incident took place with 4:23 left in the first half, as the Timberwolves trailed the Pelicans 48-36. It’s unclear what led to the heated exchange, which featured Gobert throw a punch at Anderson, before their teammate Taurean Prince stood up and shoved Rudy back.
Rudy Gobert throws a shot at teammate Kyle Anderson during a timeout.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Timberwolves “sent Rudy Gobert home” after the altercation, ruling the French big man out for the remainder of the game.
Timberwolves have sent Rudy Gobert home after Gobert threw punch at teammate Kyle Anderson during a timeout huddle, per sources. He is out for remainder of game.
Per Adrian Wojnarowski, Anderson told Gobert to “shut the f*ck up, b*tch.”
ESPN Sources: Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert escalated a verbal argument to a physical encounter after Kyle Anderson told him to “Shut the f--- up, bitch.” The disagreement started with Anderson telling Gobert to block some shots, Gobert telling him to grab a rebound – and ended with a…
Gobert reportedly sent a text to teammates apologizing for the incident as well.
Gobert later sent an apologetic text to teammates in a group chat, per Mike Conley. “We'll speak about it and move on,” he said. “We're grown men.”
Gobert later apologized for the incident via a tweet.
Emotions got the best of me today. I should not have reacted the way i did regardless of what was said. I wanna apologize to the fans, the organisation and particularly to Kyle, who is someone that i truly love and respect as a teammate.
“Emotions got the best of me today. I should not have reacted the way i did regardless of what was said.,” he said. “I wanna apologize to the fans, the organisation and particularly to Kyle, who is someone that i truly love and respect as a teammate.”
Of course, the timing of Gobert’s punch couldn’t have come at a less opportune time for the Timberwolves, as Minnesota is currently jostling for a higher seed in next week’s play-in tournament. The T-Wolves are currently holding the 9th seed, with the winner of Sunday’s Minnesota-New Orleans game earning the 8th seed for the play-in.
Watch Gobert and Anderson’s heated confrontation up top.
