"I try to always give the benefit of the doubt"- Rudy Gobert makes massive allegation that league is trying to help big market teams win
Minnesota Timberwolves star center Rudy Gobert isn’t happy with how his team has officiated lately. Gobert even went as far as to suggest that NBA officials are regularly trying to help opposing teams beat Minnesota. Gobert called out the officials following Minnesota’s 107-100 loss to Phoenix on Wednesday, where the Wolves shot just 12 free throws compared to the Suns’ 27. In that game, Suns star shooting guard Devin Booker also attempted more free throws (15) than Minnesota’s entire team.
“It’s bullsh*t. Bullsh*t,” Gobert said.
"It's not fair. It's really not fair. Every night. I’ve been in this league for 10 years and I try to always give the benefit of the doubt, but it’s hard for me to think (the referees) were not trying to help (the Suns) win tonight.”
Gobert also pointed to the Wolves’ recent games against Golden State and Sacramento as other examples of referees favoring opposing teams:
"It is hard for me to think that they didn't try to have the Warriors win the other night or the Sacramento Kings the other night,” Gobert said.
“It is just so obvious as a basketball player. I have been in this league for so long, and it is disrespectful."
Rudy Gobert accuses the NBA of trying to help the Suns, Warriors and Kings win
“It’s bullshit. It’s bullshit. It’s not fair. It’s really not fair. Every night. I’ve been in this league for 10 years and I try to always give the benefit of the doubt, but it’s hard for me to think… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/krXKFSkbY8
Rudy Gobert added that the biased officiating likely has something to do with the NBA favoring bigger market teams over smaller market teams like Minnesota:
“We understand that it’s also a business,” Gobert said.
“Unfortunately. It’s sad, but it’s good also. It’s really good. But it’s true. We understand that we’re not the biggest of the markets.
“I think you want to see (Durant) in the playoffs, Steph in the playoffs, you want to see LeBron in the playoffs. The Timberwolves are not there yet. We got to keep putting our head down, keep playing through that, and it’s frustrating for sure, especially for me.”
Are NBA officials actually favoring opposing teams over the Timberwolves?
As for the legitimacy of Rudy Gobert’s claims, a simple look at the stats tells a different story.
Minnesota is closer to the middle of the league in free throw attempts per game than the bottom. The Wolves rank 16th in 23.7 attempts per game. Meanwhile, two of the three teams Gobert mentioned as being favored by officials, Golden State and Phoenix, are at the bottom in free throws attempted.
The Warriors ranked dead last at 20.1 attempts, while the Suns are 28th with 21.6 attempts per game. The other team Gobert mentioned, Sacramento, ranks 4th in free throws attempted at 25.5 attempts per game. However, that is still less than two more attempts per game than Minnesota.
Plus, in the specific games Gobert referred to against Golden State and Sacramento, the Wolves won both games. In their 99-96 win over Golden State on Sunday, Minnesota shot 25 free throws compared to the Warriors’ 17. In their 119-115 win over Sacramento on Monday, the Wolves shot 34 free throws compared to the Kings’ 40, not a noteworthy disparity.
So all things considered, most would probably agree that there is very little basis for Rudy Gobert’s claim.
Also read: NBA Rumors: Minnesota Timberwolves' motives behind trading for a point guard were more 'maturity' and less 'flashy plays'