Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert managed to Eurostep past both the Phoenix Suns and the NBA rulebook on Friday night.
Gobert was able to get away with a comical travel during the first quarter of Game 3 against the Suns. Gobert deflected a pass from Kevin Durant and then began galloping the other way for a layup. While Gobert managed to convert the basket, he seemed to take an extra step (or five) as he did so.
Take a look at the funny video.
Here is another angle of the play.
Even by the most liberal interpretation of a gather step, Gobert had to have taken at least three steps after picking up his dribble there. Perhaps the referees were in awe of a 7-footer running a successful (albeit very awkward) fastbreak and just let him have his moment.
Gobert has been earning his keep in the series otherwise, though. The Defensive Player of the Year front-runner managed 16.0 points and 12.5 rebounds per night through the first two games against the Suns. Still, that bumbling fastbreak won’t do much to sway the many NBA peers who think that Gobert is overrated.
More must-reads: