“He’s not doing that sh** against Joker!” Shaquille O’Neal calls Rudy Gobert’s defensive skills ‘overrated’

On Friday, Rudy Gobert also received the biggest fine in NBA.

“He’s not doing that sh** against Joker!” Shaquille O’Neal calls Rudy Gobert’s defensive skills ‘overrated’

Shaquille O'Neal and Rudy Gobert

The NBA season 2023–24 is nearing its conclusion, with just one month remaining. The discussion surrounding this year’s Defensive Player of the Year award is heated. Numerous analysts believe that Rudy Gobert is the one who deserves to receive the honor. Shaquille O’Neal, however, has a different perspective. He stated that Gobert was overvalued, dismissing him as his number-one pick.

Mario Chalmers, a legendary point guard for the Miami Heat, was a guest on Shaq’s most recent episode of The Big Podcast. When Chalmers said he would award the DPOY to Bam Adebayo, Shaq immediately included Rudy Gobert in the discussion and declared that he didn’t want Gobert to take home the prize.

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Shaquille O’Neal said via The Big Podcast:

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See, I never thought that he was a great defensive player. Like he is not doing that sh*t against Joker. He’s 7’6", of course. If you lay it up, he’s going to block it. Do you want to impress me? Hold Joker under 15 points.
Shaquille O’Neal said

The Hall of Famer said all that blocking shots won’t work against him, Nikola Jokic, and Joel Embiid. According to Statmuse, with a 104.2 rating, Rudy Gobert has the highest defensive rating thus far this season. Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs pride, is currently very close to the Wolves star at 107.3.

Rudy Gobert was fined $100,000 for making an “inappropriate” gesture toward referees

Not only did the Timberwolves lose to the Cleveland Cavaliers 113-104 on Friday night, but the night also resulted in a penalty for the team’s most significant defender at the moment. Rudy Gobert received the biggest fine ever from the NBA—$100,000—for allegedly implying that sports betting swayed league referees.

Joe Dumars, vice president of the league, issued the fine in a press statement and assessed it. Gobert’s move of raising both hands and making the money sign in the direction of the officials after being called for his sixth foul late in the fourth quarter served as the basis for the statement. The three-time NBA Defensive Player suggested gambling interests might have an impact on NBA games in his defense.

Despite not being suspended, he did miss the Lakers game because of a hamstring injury, but he was able to play in the following game against the Clippers, which was when they were able to reclaim their winning consistency. They will play Jazz in their upcoming match.

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