The Minnesota Timberwolves are facing a challenging situation with Rudy Gobert sidelined from the lineup. The team’s star player, Karl-Anthony Towns, is currently dealing with a torn meniscus and is expected to undergo surgery, keeping him out of action for at least a month. Now, with Gobert also joining the list of injured Minnesota players due to a tight hamstring, the team is left with a significant void to fill.

Fortunately, Gobert’s injury is not considered serious, and the Timberwolves are taking precautionary measures to ensure his full recovery, especially with the NBA Playoffs looming on the horizon. As a result, the team’s lineup for the game against the LA Lakers will heavily rely on players like Anthony Edwards, Mike Conley, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jaden McDaniels, and Naz Reid to step up and deliver a strong performance in Gobert’s absence.

However, Gobert’s recent absence from the court is not solely due to injury. Following the Minnesota Timberwolves’ defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Gobert was fined $100,000 by the NBA for making inappropriate gestures towards an official during the game and publicly criticizing the officiating in a post-game press conference. This disciplinary action was taken in light of Gobert’s history of similar incidents, with the NBA citing his past behavior as a basis for the substantial fine.

Notably, this is not the first time Gobert has been involved in controversial incidents. In 2020, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gobert disregarded safety protocols by touching all the microphones during a press conference, only to later test positive for the virus, becoming the first NBA player diagnosed with COVID-19.

Despite these off-court controversies, Gobert continues to be a key contributor for the Minnesota Timberwolves, averaging 13.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game in his second season with the team. While no longer an All-Star, Gobert’s on-court performance remains crucial for the Timberwolves’ success.