Fed-up Rudy Gobert wants coach to bench Timberwolves players over lack of effort

Rudy Gobert has implored the Timberwolves’ coaching staff to do something about his teammates’ lack of effort.

The three-time All-Star center was not happy after Minnesota flushed an 18-point lead in the third quarter and lost at home Friday night to the Pelicans, the team with the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference.

“At some point, if the players don’t have accountability, someone has to have accountability for the players,” Gobert said after the game. “I’m on straight effort. I’m just talking straight effort. I’m not even getting to the basketball side of things, like … mistakes are a part of the game, but the effort to me for a team that wants to play for a championship, it’s unacceptable.

“It’s not an easy position for a coach to take guys out of the game. It’s not something that you want to do, but I think if the players don’t show any effort, at some point, no matter how talented we are as a team, if you don’t have that, you just can’t be a winning team.”

Rudy Gobert (27) and head coach Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves react during the first half at the Smoothie King Center on December 11, 2023, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Getty Images

The Timberwolves (32-21) enter Sunday’s home game against the Clippers in sixth place in the West, one game ahead of the Suns for the 7-10 play-in cutoff.

Ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, the T-Wolves added guard Ayo Dosunmu from the Bulls — in exchange for guard Rob Dillingham, forward Leonard Miller, and four future second-round picks — to a roster also featuring Anthony Edwards and former Knicks forward Julius Randle.

“I think we have a real puncher’s chance to win a championship,” president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said.

Julian Phillips (4) and Ayo Dosunmu (13) are introduced as newly acquired Minnesota Timberwolves during media availability on February 6, 2026, at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NBAE via Getty Images

Gobert didn’t single out any teammates, but Minnesota coach Chris Finch said he was aware of the 33-year-old center’s concerns and that the team’s effort was addressed on Saturday.

“I handle all my conversations with ourselves in-house,” Finch told reporters. “Disappointing [Gobert] felt the need to go outside. Nonetheless, that’s been addressed already today. There’s never been a team that’s won anything meaningful that substituted their way there.”