With Karl-Anthony Towns sidelined for the start of the Timberwolves‘ training camp due to a non-COVID illness, center Rudy Gobert didn’t get a chance to work with his new frontcourt partner in his first formal practice with the team on Tuesday. But Gobert said he felt “great” energy on Tuesday and spoke specifically about developing chemistry with new pick-and-roll partner D’Angelo Russell.
“He can see it all,” Gobert said of Russell, according to Chris Hine of The Star Tribune. “There’s a few times when I didn’t know that he saw me, and he still saw me. It’s really impressive and it’s really exciting.”
As for his partnership with Towns, Gobert said the two big men have been in contact since he was traded to Minnesota in July and have talked about how they’ll be able to maximize each other’s talent.
“On both ends on the floor and even off the floor, just be a great friend, be a great support for him and then on the court, just let that relationship carry over,” Gobert said. “Help him be the best Karl he can be and I know, just by being himself, he’s going to help me be the best Rudy I can be.”
Here’s more on the Wolves:
- Gobert’s friend and fellow Frenchman Nicolas Batum said he was glad to see the longtime Jazz center dealt to Minnesota and thinks Gobert will be better off for it, as Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times tweets. “I don’t think I will say I like it because (the Wolves) beat us in the play-in last year,” Batum said. “… But just for my friend, I am happy to see him with a good team, new spot, new everything, new life for him. He needed that.”
- Anthony Edwards added 11 pounds of muscle this offseason without increasing his body fat, multiples sources tell Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. “I feel like I’m in better shape, more than anything,” Edwards said. “That’s going to take everything to the next level.”
- Within the same story, Krawczynski examines a few takeaways from the Wolves’ Media Day, including why veteran forward Kyle Anderson signed with Minnesota as a free agent and what he’ll bring to the team. “Those guys in Minnesota really competed, one through 11, 12, those guys all played really hard,” Anderson said. “You could see the cohesiveness, they played hard for one another. So when it came down to this summer and which team I wanted to sign with, I think this was an easy call.”
- After working hard to keep Jaden McDaniels out of the trade package for Gobert this summer, the Timberwolves are working just as hard to unlock the young forward’s full potential, Krawczynski writes in a separate article for The Athletic. Among the interesting details in Krawczynski’s story: Minnesota determined that McDaniels’ optimal shooting arc is 47 degrees and used an app during summer workouts to ensure that he was consistently releasing it at that angle.
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I think Rudy Gobert and Karl Anthony-Towns going to be a very good front court tandem. It’s going to look very nice. I’m excited to see them flourish together. I’ve been watching Rudy Gobert since he came in the league and always knew he was going to be a very solid Center. He’s having a great career and I’m extremely proud of him. He’s been the Utah Jazz best player the past 5 years. Yea I said it. He’s been the Utah Jazz best player the past 5 years. Great defensive players don’t always get their credit because offense is the side of the ball that gets all the recognition. He’s also been the best defensive player in the NBA for the past five years. We know what he brings on defense can change the game and you have to game plan against him. His offensive game and the way he sets picks and the way he picks and roll is at a elite level. The way he finishes is at a elite level. Rudy Gobert can focus solely on what he’s great at in Minnesota. Playing defense and setting the best picks in the NBA. Covering up for both D’Angelo Russell and Karl Anthony-Towns on the defensive end. Then also freeing both them up on offense as well. Rudy Gobert is definitely going to be the best version of himself and he’s going to allow them to be the best version of themselves because he covers their flaws. What Rudy Gobert brings is greatness and he’s going to elevate the Minnesota Timberwolves on a level they haven’t been on since Kevin Garnett did in 2004. So I say all that to say this Donovan Mitchell definitely wasn’t better than Rudy Gobert and I know that. Donovan Mitchell haven’t played no defense since he got to the NBA. He’s going to have to start playing some defense for J.B. Bickerstaff. In order for the Cleveland Cavaliers can be great. Anthony Edwards will turn into the best player on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Because he has all the two way potential of a great wing. Anthony Edwards is also going to turn into the best Shooting Guard in the NBA. Remember I said all this. He’s going to be better than James Harden, Klay Thompson, Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, Bradley Beal, Paul George, Dejounte Murray, Zach LaVine, Jaylen Brown, and Brandon Ingram. Anthony Edwards adding 11 pounds of muscle and already extremely athletic and going to give it to you on both ends. I told a friend how special Rudy Gobert was and now I’m telling y’all how special Anthony Edwards going to be. He has all the makings of a great player. He’s a blend of Dwyane Wade and Tracy McGrady in one. I’m telling you the young fella is about to be great. I honestly think he should’ve made the All Star team last season but he’s definitely going to be a first time All Star this season. He’s going to be in the Most Improved Player discussion as well. Jaden McDaniels is going to compliment him well at the Small Forward position. I’m glad they kept him out of the Rudy Gobert trade because he has a chance to be special. Kyle Anderson was a great pickup and going to flourish over here in the 6th man role. He’s bringing everything they need. This team is dangerous. I’m just not crazy about the Head Coach. I wish Quin Snyder or Frank Vogel was coaching this roster.
Bruh who is reading this long aHH paragraph lol
Why not Chris Finch? The team got 23 wins better in his first full season.
I’m sorry to say your grammar is as brutal as your assessment of the Timberwolves my illiterate friend.
Lmao Chris Finch did a terrible job coaching in the playoffs.
Lol it’s okay I’m not the one hiding behind a computer trying to talk negative about somebody you sound like a coward.
Defence wins championships.
Top 2 defensive teams were in the finals, number one defensive team won, number three defensive team in 2022 (Bucks) won it in 2021.
Gobert, if he can play with Towns, makes the Timberwolves legitimate contenders IMO.
11 lbs of muscle in a few months?…smells suspicious.
Ain’t nothing suspicious about that. I’ve gained 15 pounds of muscle in a few months and didn’t do nothing but cardio and lift weights.
I could see a MIN vs MIL finals in next few years
I’m a pistons fan and loved watching Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace play off each other’s strengths…. This KAT/Gobert combo will be exciting to see if it’s like the Wallace’s on a whole new level
This is a ridiculously good starting 5. KAT could win an MVP with the talent around him. Rudy makes KAT better on both ends of the floor. Could be a lot of hardware handed out to this roster. Maybe ANT takes a big step forward and this team goes all the way.