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Rudy Gobert Defends Anthony Edwards Amid Backlash

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gautam Varier | Last updated May 28, 2025 2:35 PM ET

The Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves down 3-1 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals after a 128-126 loss in Game 4. The Timberwolves lost despite getting 64 points from their bench, and one of the reasons for that was Anthony Edwards' ineffectiveness as a scorer.

Edwards had just 16 points, four rebounds, and six assists in the loss. To go with that lack of production, the three-time All-Star also had five turnovers. The Thunder keyed in on Edwards in the game and made life difficult for him.

It wasn't a great performance, but Edwards thought he played well, and his teammate Rudy Gobert agrees.

After the loss, Edwards dismissed suggestions that he struggled. The 23-year-old praised the Thunder's game plan for defense and added that he made the right plays all night.

Stephen A. Smith ripped Edwards for those comments, and he wasn't the only one. The Timberwolves star was widely criticized, but Gobert has now backed up his teammate's claim that he played well.

"I thought he was great," Gobert said, via Dave McMenamin. "... I was really proud of the way he played in the second half. The way he got into the paint and found his teammates and made the right play. A lot of people think basketball is just about scoring 30 every night, it's not true."

Rudy Gobert on Anthony Edwards’ Game 4 performance: “I thought he was great … A lot of people think basketball is just about scoring 30 every night, it’s not true.” pic.twitter.com/y86scoh6HN
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 28, 2025