NBA Insider Tim MacMahon revealed an interesting destination where Rudy Gobert wanted to move before he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Since his move to the Minnesota Timberwolves from the Utah Jazz, Rudy Gobert has had an interesting few years, which has had its own shares of ups and downs.
His first year as a T-Wolves player had a few hurdles, including falling out with his own teammate.
However, he bounced back well in his second year and showed the world what he could do as he anchored the defense and won his fourth DPOY trophy, also helping the team make it to the Conference Finals.
This year he has once again shown his ability, with Gobert enjoying a monstrous Game 5 against the LA Lakers to knock them out of the playoffs.
However, Tim MacMahon has revealed Gobert initially did not want the move to Minnesota and preferred had thoughts about playing alongside a star who is now his bitter rival.
Photo by David Berding/Getty ImagesRudy Gobert wanted to play with Luka Doncic
Anthony Edwards has time and again shown great support to Gobert.
However, ESPN Insider MacMahon stated the French big wanted to play alongside Doncic when he first thought of moving away from Jazz, eventually moving on in 2022.
He said: “You know who once was excited about the potential of playing with Luka, it’s pretty funny, Rudy Gobert.
“When it was pretty obvious that he wanted to spend his whole career in Utah, pretty obvious that was not the way that was going in his last year, Dallas was atop of his silent list of preferred destinations.
“There was a time when Mark Cuban and Nico Harrison were very interested in that idea, the Mavericks knocked the Jazz out the playoffs that year.”
And in light of that playoff series, MacMahon named the one key man who was not so keen on spending major assets to land the Frenchman.
“Jason Kidd was not so excited about having Rudy Gobert,” he explained.
Ironically, Doncic and Gobert have become rivals, meeting several times in the playoffs since.
Dallas Mavericks went another route
Doncic’s stint in Dallas was successful for the most parts, especially his final year where he led the team to the NBA Finals.
What helped him there was the presence of centers Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II.
Gafford and Lively were splendid on not only the defensive end, but also contributed massively on the offensive end.
Their ability to play on pick and rolls, impose their will in the paint and be a lob threat, helped Doncic be great.
And together they reached the NBA Finals – but it was not quite enough to beat the Boston Celtics last season, who ran out 4-1 series winners.
Could it have been different with Rudy Gobert? Perhaps. But everything would have been different, with the 2024 team built with assets they would have sent to the Jazz to acquire the four-time DPOY winner.