The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed center Rudy Gobert to a contract extension. Per team policy, the terms of the agreement were not released.
Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers, Gobert began his 12th season in the NBA, third with the Timberwolves, with his 441st double-double of his career, finishing with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting and a team-high 14 rebounds. Since coming into the NBA in 2013-14, he has the fourth-most double-doubles in the league. Gobert added one block last night against the Lakers and has now tallied at least one block in 26 consecutive games, tying Kevin Garnett (Jan. 26-March 17, 1996) for the second-longest such streak in franchise history.
Last season, the Saint-Quentin, France native captured his NBA record-tying fourth Defensive Player of the Year honors, becoming the third player in NBA history to win the award four times, joining Dikembe Mutombo (2000-01, 1997-98, 1996-97 and 1994-95) and Ben Wallace (2005-06, 2004-05, 2002-03 and 2001-02). He was the first player in Timberwolves history to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Gobert was additionally unanimously selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, the seventh such honor of his career (2023-24, 2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19, 2017-18 and 2016-17). He played and started in 76 games last year, the fourth-most appearances in his career and the most games played since he appeared in 81 games in the 2018-19 season.
During the 2023-24 season, Gobert averaged 14.0 points on 66.1% shooting, a team-best 12.9 rebounds and a team-high 2.13 blocks per contest. His 2.13 blocks were his most blocks per game since 2020-21 (2.68 bpg). He ranked second in the NBA in rebounding (12.9 rpg), second in field goal percentage (.661), second in offensive rebounds (3.8 rpg), fourth in defensive rebounds (9.2 rpg), sixth in blocks (2.13 bpg) and fifth in double-doubles (54).
For the sixth straight qualifying season (3.7 FGM per team game), Gobert shot at least 60.0% from the field. That is tied for the longest such streak in NBA history with DeAndre Jordan (2012-13 to 2017-18) and Artis Gilmore (1980-81 to 1985-86).
For his career, the 7-1 center has appeared in 758 career regular season games (666 starts) with the Utah Jazz and Timberwolves, averaging 12.7 points on 65.5% shooting, 11.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Gobert has seen action in 69 career playoff games (all starts) and has averaged 13.2 points on 65.0% shooting, 11.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.
Gobert was originally drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the 27th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. He was acquired by the Timberwolves via trade with the Jazz on July 6, 2022.
(info courtesy of Timberwolves)
