Mike Conley calls Rudy Gobert Top 5 most impactful player in the NBA / News - Basketnews.com

Conley said Gobert's influence both defensively and offensively makes his a Top 5 most impactful player in the league.

Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix Credit Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix

After being called for being one of the worst contracts in the NBA and the centerpiece of a trade that will go down in history, Rudy Gobert is proving his worth for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2023-24 season, helping the team lead the Western Conference.

Points this season

49%113,4Points made:113,4Accuracy:48,9%Place in standings:21Record max:127Record min:94Best scorer:Anthony EdwardsTeamNBAStatisticsSchedule

"He has more confidence. Defensively, he became himself again, found what made him an asset. This, in turn, translates into offensive aggressiveness," Mike Conley explained in an interview with Yann Ohnona from L'Equipe. "He manages to find his zones where he can make an impact with his size, and the guys focus on helping him in favorable matchups."

Gobert's influence on the court extends to more than just being a defensive anchor. Conley says his impact on the offensive side shouldn't be neglected. Asked where the French center ranks in the NBA in impact on the court, the veteran guard was certain it's among the top echelon of players.

"He's probably in the top 5 in the entire league," Conley said. "He changes the game defensively, of course, but also offensively. You don't need to score 30 points to do it. His deterrence, his screens, his rolls to the basket are a gravitational force that attracts [defenses] and impacts everything around him. Few players can create offensive play in his way. This ability is very underestimated in him."

Several years ago, Gobert got into an unfortunate incident when he touched all microphones in the press conference room amidst rumors that the league might be suspended due to COVID-19. Golden State's Draymond Green has publicly made fun of Gobert for his reaction after getting selected to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career.

Gobert's contract and the seemingly declining game were more of the reasons that caused ridicule online. Conley says it was just a way for such people to fight the insecurities the have.

"It's strange. People might just see a 7-foot-1 guy and want to attack him, intimidate him a bit like in the schoolyard. You're smaller, and you want to show that you're tough. They are testing it. And he keeps calm and doesn't act macho. He responds in the right way on the court," Conley said.

"The joke about COVID, of course, influenced people. The Internet picked up on this, and it went out of proportion. He was blamed even though he had no control over it. It's the fault of our society. It took a while, but his image is much better today. Team success helps put those things behind and makes people see how good he is and the fact that they've been too critical. He simply showed the world who he is," the veteran player concluded.

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