First-time nomination guarantees Hall of Fame induction! Finch defends Gobert: Unfair criticism from outside

On August 9, Beijing time, Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch believes that Rudy Gobert is a lock for the Basketball Hall of Fame once he meets the eligibility criteria. During a recent appearance on the "RoadTrippin'" podcast, Finch talked about the influence of the four-time Defensive Player of the Year on the Timberwolves over the past four seasons.

Finch said: "He's a great teammate who always conducts himself with the right professional mindset. He raises the level of play for the entire team. As long as he's on the court every night, the team maintains a certain standard and has a chance to win every game."

Finch continued: "He has a strong sense of pride, and that pride drives him forward. He's full of confidence, and he has every reason to believe he's a great player because he truly is. He's the kind of player who gets inducted into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot."

Last season, Gobert started all 76 games, averaging 10.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game, finishing fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

Finch said that last season, the team's locker room was well aware that many of the external criticisms directed at Gobert were, in his view, unfair.

"The success he achieves, the contributions he consistently makes behind the scenes at a high level, often go unnoticed. But when he makes a mistake, it's highly visible, and everyone focuses on those errors."

"The criticism of Rudy from the outside is really unfair and regrettable. Everyone in the locker room stands with Rudy; we all understand how important he is to this team."

Gobert is one of only three players in NBA history to win the Defensive Player of the Year award four times. The other two to achieve this are Mutombo and Ben Wallace, who were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015 and 2021, respectively.

Gobert's contract runs through the end of next season, with a player option for the 2027-28 season. In a recent feature interview, he said his goal is to win his first NBA championship, and he feels his career is "far from over."