Rudy Gobert has been punished by the NBA for earning his sixth flagrant foul of the season which according to the rule book will earn the player a one-game suspension. The Minnesota Timberwolves big man will not play in their game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Fiserv Forum.
The flagrant foul call in question involves his defense on Victor Wembanyama during the Wolves’ Sunday win over the San Antonio Spurs. Wemby managed to shake off the four-time Defensive Player of the Year but Gobert did not give up and tried to contest his three-point shot.
This led to the Wolves center sticking his foot where Wemby is supposed to land. The officials has qualified this act as flagrant as they believe it can endanger the shooter.
Gobert knows Wembanyama even before he entered the NBA and he insisted that he has no bad intentions against the young player.
“It’s tough, because I try to be contesting shots in the heat of the moment,” Gobert said.
“I don’t think there’s at any time an intention of getting anybody hurt or putting people in dangerous situations. It’s tough. But got to play through it.”
Rudy Gobert doesn’t think he receives fair call
The French center understands why it has to be called a flagrant despite lack of attention. However, what he does not get is that he is not getting the same treatment from game officials.
He said he is also in the wrong end of over aggressive physical defense but it is left unseen.
“We also got to protect the players. It’s understandable,” Gobert said. “As long as they keep calling flagrants when I get hit in the back of the head, which happens every night, I’m cool with it.
“Protecting the players is important, but let’s protect all the players.”
Gobert now has to be extra careful on the court as he will get suspended for every flagrant foul calls he’ll receive. It is one game for Flagrant 1 and two for Flagrant 2.
For the latest Basketball Content
Make sure you are always updated on your favorite basketball players and teams. Follow us @HardwoodHeroics for the latest and trending news about NBA, college basketball, and more. Stay updated by reading more of our NBA articles by clicking here and college basketball by clicking here!
