Rudy Gobert Turned A Kyle Anderson Question Into...A Sneak Diss At Anthony Edwards?

Rudy Gobert usually lets his work on the court do all the talking. This week, though, a couple of comments from the French giant spoke volumes about his relationship with his teammates.

During a media availability on Tuesday, Gobert was asked to comment on the contributions of Kyle Anderson, the veteran forward who was recently signed to a second stint with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Rather than giving a generic answer to this question, the Stifle Tower offered a response that appeared to have multiple layers.

“I think just…passing the ball,” Gobert said as he chuckled. “I’ll be honest…yes, someone that’s looking to pass the ball to his teammates…simple, right?”

From the looks of it, Gobert is happy that the Wolves are reclaiming a player that purposefully looks to move the ball around. The question is: Did Gobert not have teammates who fit that description prior to Anderson’s acquisition?

This season, the Wolves aren’t exactly topnotch when it comes to passes that lead to made baskets. Averaging 26.5 assists per game, they’re 14th in the league in that category. Whether or not Gobert had a certain player (or players) in his mind, only he can tell. But a closer look at the Wolves’ roster could explain the subtle frustration in Gobert’s tone. 

For better or for worse, the team’s main man Anthony Edwards is better known for his me-first scoring approach than his selfless playmaking. The Wolves certainly have a prolific scorer and a crunchtime operator in Ant-Man, but if Gobert is looking for a facilitator with a penchant for passing, he’ll have to look elsewhere.

The problem is, the Wolves locker room has a shortage of pass-first court generals that can organize the offense and constantly set up scoring opportunities for other players. In particular, the Wolves have a significant need for a point guard who can share ball-handling duties with Edwards and focus on feeding the many mouths on the lineup.

If Gobert has to lean on a player like Anderson to inject more passing in the Wolves’ system, it just goes to show that the team might have to go point guard-shopping in the offseason. The solution, in Gobert’s words, might be as “simple” as that.