Rudy Gobert Faces Historic Slump and Criticism to Start NBA Season

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert is facing an unprecedented offensive slump at the start of the 2026/27 NBA season, raising concerns over his performance on both ends of the floor.

Known historically as one of the most efficient shooters in league history with a career field goal percentage of 65.7%, Gobert is currently shooting just 42.5% through his first seven games. This represents a drastic drop from last season, when he led the NBA with a 68.2% shooting clip.

The low point came last week during a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where the French center finished 0-for-9 from the field—the worst shooting performance of his career. He followed that up by missing all four of his shots against the Golden State Warriors, totaling 13 consecutive missed field goals across two games.

Gobert's struggles extend to the free-throw line, where he is converting at a 43.9% clip this season. In a 112-100 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, he recorded 10 points and 10 rebounds but managed to sink only 4 of his 12 free-throw attempts.

Criticism and Coach Assessment

Writing in The Athletic, analysts highlighted Gobert's offensive numbers as highly anomalous. Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch did not hold back in his assessment of the big man's finishing around the rim. "I don't see a lot of reaching toward the rim. I see a lot of short hands, a lot of soft attempts around the basket," Finch said. "I think he just needs to extend his hands more and try to dunk more, honestly. He's dealing with contact the wrong way."

Gobert himself acknowledged the difficulties. "These have been a tough few days. There are many plays I should have finished and didn't," he said. "I need to keep working and finish strong, especially near the rim. That's very important for our team." He added, "Sometimes I even ask myself, 'Why didn't I dunk that?'. I need to be more decisive, stronger, more balanced, and calmer."

Defensive Lapses and Social Media Backlash

Gobert's troubles have not been limited to offense. During the win against Milwaukee, he was involved in a bizarre defensive sequence that went viral on social media. Instead of securing a rebound, the center batted the ball away and appeared disconnected from the play, allowing Bucks rookie Braeden Smith to glide to the basket uncontested.

Fans expressed disbelief across social platforms, with some criticizing his effort and focus. The incident followed another recent stir when LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga were spotted frustratedly talking to Gobert on the bench during the loss to Golden State. Addressing the exchange, Gobert noted that it stemmed from mutual competitive frustration rather than disrespect.