Rudy Gobert facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rudy Gobert

Gobert at the 2022 NBA All-Star Game
No. 27 – Minnesota Timberwolves
Center
Personal information
Born	(1992-06-26) June 26, 1992 (age 33) Saint-Quentin, France
Listed height	7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
Listed weight	258 lb (117 kg)
Career information
NBA Draft	2013 / Round: 1 / Pick: 27th overall
Selected by the Denver Nuggets
Pro career	2011–present
League	NBA
Career history
2011–2013	Cholet
2013–2022	Utah Jazz
2013–2014	→Bakersfield Jam
2022–present	Minnesota Timberwolves
Career highlights and awards
3× NBA All-Star (2020–2022) All-NBA Second Team (2017) 3× All-NBA Third Team (2019–2021) 4× NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2018, 2019, 2021, 2024) 7× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2017–2022, 2024) NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2025) NBA rebounding leader (2022) NBA blocks leader (2017) French player of the year (2019)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  France Summer Olympics Silver 2020 Tokyo Team Silver 2024 Paris Team World Cup Bronze 2014 Spain Bronze 2019 China EuroBasket Silver 2022 Germany Bronze 2015 France

Rudy Gobert-Bourgarel (born June 26, 1992) is a French professional basketball player. He plays as a center for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Rudy is very tall, standing at 7 feet 1 inch, with a long arm span of 7 feet 9 inches. This earned him the nickname "the Stifle Tower". He is known as one of the best defensive players in basketball history.

Rudy Gobert has won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award four times. This ties him for the most wins ever with Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace. He has been named to the All-NBA Team four times and the All-Defensive First Team seven times. He has also been an NBA All-Star three times. Gobert led the NBA in blocks in the 2016–17 season and in rebounds in the 2021–22 season.

In March 2020, Rudy Gobert was the first NBA player to test positive for COVID-19. After other players, including his teammate Donovan Mitchell, also tested positive, the NBA stopped the 2019–20 season. The season later started again in July 2020.

Early Life and Junior Career

Rudy Gobert was born in Saint-Quentin, Aisne, France. His father, Rudy Bourgarel, played college basketball in the United States. He also played professional basketball in France. Rudy's parents separated when he was about three years old. He lived with his mother but often visited his father in Guadeloupe.

Rudy started playing basketball in 2003 for a local club. Later, he joined the Saint-Quentin BB club. In 2007, he moved to the training center for Cholet Basket. In 2010, he played for the French under-18 national team. He was the best scorer and rebounder for his team in that tournament.

Professional Basketball Journey

Starting with Cholet (2011–2013)

From 2009 to 2011, Gobert mostly played for the junior team of Cholet Basket. He played one game for the main team in 2011. In the 2011–12 season, he averaged 4.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. The next season, 2012–13, he improved to 8.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Joining the NBA: Utah Jazz (2013–2022)

Rookie Season (2013–14)

Rudy Gobert entered the 2013 NBA draft. He set new records at the NBA Draft Combine for his arm span (7 feet 8.5 inches) and standing reach (9 feet 7 inches). These amazing measurements helped him get his nickname, "The Stifle Tower."

On June 27, 2013, the Denver Nuggets picked Gobert as the 27th overall player. But he was quickly traded to the Utah Jazz on the same night. He played in 45 games for the Jazz in his first season. He also spent some time playing for the Bakersfield Jam in the NBA Development League.

Becoming a Key Player (2014–15)

In January 2015, Gobert blocked a career-high seven shots in a game. On March 3, he grabbed 24 rebounds in a win against the Memphis Grizzlies. This was close to the Jazz team record. He ended the season with 25 games where he scored double-digits in two stats (like points and rebounds). He was also third in voting for the NBA Most Improved Player Award.

Full-Time Starter (2015–16)

Gobert playing in 2015.

In December 2015, Gobert had to miss 18 games because of a knee injury. He returned in January 2016. On January 16, he had a great game with 18 points, 18 rebounds, and 5 blocks against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Leading the League in Blocks (2016–17)

On October 31, 2016, Gobert signed a big contract extension with the Jazz. This made him the highest-paid French athlete at the time. On January 20, 2017, he set new career highs with 27 points and 25 rebounds in a win. He had a streak of 30 games with at least 10 rebounds. He also set a career high with eight blocks in a game on March 20. Two days later, he scored a career-high 35 points.

In the playoffs, Gobert got injured in the first game but returned to help the Jazz win their first playoff series since 2010. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

First Defensive Player of the Year Award (2017–18)

Gobert started the 2017–18 season strong, leading the league in blocks per game. He missed some games due to knee injuries. In May 2018, he was again named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In June, he won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He was the first Jazz player to win this award since 1989.

Second Defensive Player of the Year Award (2018–19)

On December 25, 2018, Gobert had a season-high seven blocks. On January 14, 2019, he tied his career high with 25 rebounds. He also set a new NBA record for the most dunks in a single season, with 306 dunks. He led the NBA in dunks for four seasons in a row. At the end of the season, Gobert won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award for the second year in a row. He also won the Alain Gilles Trophy as the best French player of the year.

First All-Star Appearance (2019–20)

In January 2020, Gobert was chosen as an NBA All-Star for the first time. He was named a Western Conference reserve for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game.

In March 2020, Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. This led to the NBA season being stopped for a while. He later apologized for his actions before testing positive. He also donated $500,000 to help people affected by COVID-19.

Third Defensive Player of the Year Award (2020–21)

On December 20, 2020, Gobert signed a huge contract extension with the Jazz. It was one of the biggest contracts in NBA history. In February 2021, he was named an NBA All-Star again. On March 22, he had a career-high nine blocks in a game. On June 9, 2021, Gobert won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the third time. This made him one of only four players to win the award three or more times.

Leading the League in Rebounds (2021–22)

In February 2022, Gobert was named an NBA All-Star for the third time. He led the entire league in rebounds per game, averaging 14.7 rebounds. He also led the league in field goal percentage, making 71.3% of his shots. In May, he was named to his sixth straight NBA All-Defensive First Team.

Moving to Minnesota Timberwolves (2022–Present)

First Season in Minneapolis (2022–23)

On July 6, 2022, Gobert was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He made his debut on October 20, scoring 23 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. On October 28, he had 22 points and 21 rebounds against the Los Angeles Lakers. This was his eighth career game with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds.

Fourth Defensive Player of the Year Award (2023–24)

On November 14, 2023, Gobert was involved in an incident during a game. He was trying to break up a fight between players. On December 2, Gobert scored a season-high 26 points. He also had 12 rebounds and 3 blocks. Gobert was named Defensive Player of the Year for the fourth time. This ties him with Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace for the most wins ever.

On May 7, 2024, Gobert missed a playoff game because his child was born. Even without him, the Timberwolves won the game. The Timberwolves reached the Western Conference Finals but lost in 5 games.

Contract Extension (2024–25)

On October 23, 2024, Gobert signed a new three-year contract extension with the Timberwolves. On April 30, 2025, in a playoff game, Gobert had 27 points and 24 rebounds. These were both career highs for him in the playoffs. The Timberwolves won that game and advanced in the playoffs for the second year in a row. They reached the conference finals again but lost in five games.

Personal Life

On February 21, 2024, Rudy Gobert announced he was expecting a child with Julia Bonilla. Their son, Roméo, was born on May 7, 2024. His son's birth caused him to miss a playoff game, which the Timberwolves still won.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2013–14	Utah	45	0	9.6	.486	—	.492	3.4	.2	.2	.9	2.3
2014–15	Utah	82	37	26.3	.604	.000	.623	9.5	1.3	.8	2.3	8.4
2015–16	Utah	61	60	31.7	.559	—	.569	11.0	1.5	.7	2.2	9.1
2016–17	Utah	81	81	33.9	.661	.000	.653	12.8	1.2	.6	2.6*	14.0
2017–18	Utah	56	56	32.4	.615	—	.681	10.7	1.4	.8	2.3	13.5
2018–19	Utah	81	80	31.8	.669*	—	.636	12.9	2.0	.8	2.3	15.9
2019–20	Utah	68	68	34.3	.693	—	.630	13.5	1.5	.8	2.0	15.1
2020–21	Utah	71	71	30.8	.675*	.000	.623	13.5	1.3	.6	2.7	14.3
2021–22	Utah	66	66	32.1	.713*	.000	.690	14.7*	1.1	.7	2.1	15.6
2022–23	Minnesota	70	70	30.7	.659	.000	.644	11.6	1.2	.8	1.4	13.4
2023–24	Minnesota	76	76	34.1	.661	.000	.638	12.9	1.3	.7	2.1	14.0
2024–25	Minnesota	72	72	33.2	.669	—	.674	10.9	1.8	.8	1.4	12.0
Career		829	737	30.7	.656	.000	.641	11.7	1.4	.7	2.1	12.6
All-Star		3	0	14.9	.900	—	.333	8.0	1.0	.3	.3	12.3

Playoffs

Playing for France: National Team Career

Gobert playing for France in 2015.

Junior National Team Success

Gobert won a bronze medal at the 2011 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship. He then won a silver medal at the 2012 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship. In 2012, he was named to the All-Tournament team.

Senior National Team Achievements

Gobert has played for the senior French national team many times. He helped France win a bronze medal at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

In 2015, he helped France win another bronze medal at the EuroBasket 2015. He averaged 10.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks during that tournament.

At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Gobert played in five games. He helped France win a bronze medal at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

In the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Gobert led France to a silver medal. He started every game and averaged 12.2 points and 9.3 rebounds.

In 2022, he led France to another silver medal at the EuroBasket 2022. He was also chosen for the All-Tournament Team.

At the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Gobert won a silver medal with France.

See also

In Spanish: Rudy Gobert para niños

• List of NBA career rebounding leaders
• List of NBA career blocks leaders
• List of NBA career field goal percentage leaders
• List of NBA annual rebounding leaders
• List of NBA annual blocks leaders
• List of NBA single-season rebounding leaders
• NBA post-season records