Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama, both from France, are facing off in the NBA playoffs for the first time as the Timberwolves play the Spurs. Their strong bond through international play highlights their defensive prowess.
Key points
Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama are both from France.
They have bonded through international play.
Gobert has four Defensive Player of the Year Awards.
They are facing each other in the NBA playoffs for the first time.
The Timberwolves are playing the Spurs in the West semifinals.
Rudy GobertVictor WembanyamaMinnesota TimberwolvesSan Antonio Spurs
Rudy Gobert has made a few enemies during his stellar NBA career -- even one on his own team -- but don't expect Victor Wembanyama to be one of them.
Gobert and Wembanyama both hail from France and have bonded through international play despite entering the NBA a decade apart. They're also both defensive wizards. Gobert is tied for the all-time record with four Defensive Player of the Year Awards, and it would arguably be an upset if Wembanyama didn't at least join him atop that list one day.
Gobert and Wembanyama are crossing paths for the first time in the NBA playoffs with the Minnesota Timberwolves facing the San Antonio Spurs in the West semifinals, so that bond might have to be put on pause.
Here's a closer look inside the connection between Gobert and Wembanyama.
NBA PLAYOFFS HQ: | |
Q&A
What is the significance of the Gobert-Wembanyama relationship in the playoffs?
The Gobert-Wembanyama relationship is significant as they both represent France and have bonded over international play, now facing each other in the NBA playoffs.
How many Defensive Player of the Year Awards does Rudy Gobert have?
Rudy Gobert has won four Defensive Player of the Year Awards, tying him for the all-time record.
What teams are competing in the NBA playoffs featuring Gobert and Wembanyama?
The Minnesota Timberwolves, featuring Rudy Gobert, are competing against the San Antonio Spurs, where Victor Wembanyama plays.
When did Gobert and Wembanyama start their NBA careers?
Rudy Gobert entered the NBA a decade before Victor Wembanyama, who is a rookie in the league.
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Gobert and Wembanyama are friends, and Gobert has also served as a mentor for the younger Spurs star.
Wembanyama was only nine years old when Gobert was drafted, so the two didn't grow up playing together by any means, but they have known each other for a long time. Gobert was introduced to Wembanyama at a children's basketball camp in 2017, when Wembanyama was only 13 but already stood at 5-11.
Gobert first kept tabs on Wembanyama from afar, but he reached out to work out with the young phenom three years later. By that point, Wembanyama had grown more than a foot and actually stood taller than Gobert.
"After that, we became friends, and I was paying very close attention to his development," Gobert told The Athletic.
Gobert continues to serve as a mentor for Wembanyama, even as Wembanyama's Spurs have quickly become one of the NBA's hunted teams.
While defense and skill are part of the conversations between the two, both Wembanyama and Gobert told The Athletic that their professional relationship focuses more on how the former No. 1 pick can be in the best physical shape possible.
"We have so many conversations about how to maximize your physical potential, but it’s much deeper than that," Gobert said. "It’s (about) how to maximize our spiritual and mental potential, and Victor is a very curious kid."
Gobert said Wembanyama asks extremely detailed questions, right down to what water filter to use. Wembanyama doesn't have the bulky frame that many other big men do, but he tries to make up for it by finding every avenue possible to become healthier and stronger -- something he says Gobert already does so well.
"He's a special soul, a special person, and I really care about (him),” Gobert told The Athletic of Wembanyama. "I really try to be there for him and, obviously, it’s way beyond basketball."
Off the court, Gobert and Wembanyama have a strong bond as well. The two play chess, which is known to be one of Wembanyama's favorite hobbies outside of basketball.
Gobert told ESPN in April that he and Wembanyama play chess "almost every time" the Timberwolves play the Spurs. Whether the two will have time for much chess in the playoffs is unclear.
Very few people can make Rudy Gobert look small, let alone a teenager, but that's what Wembanyama did a year before he was drafted:
Victor Wembanyama-Rudy Gobert international playing career
Wembanyama and Gobert played at the 2024 Olympics together, representing France, coming within one point of knocking off the United States but still winning a silver medal. While Gobert played more of a defensive role, Wembanyama averaged 15.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game for the French.
Gobert represented France in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, but Wembanyama passed on the opportunity to play in the tournament so he could better prepare for his rookie season with the Spurs.
