Bizarre attack on NBA star for why he missed playoff

Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas criticised Minnesota Timberwolves defensive stalwart Rudy Gobert for missing his side’s NBA playoff win against the Denver Nuggets due to the birth of his first child.

As his team was preparing for their game two match up in Denver, Gobert was back in Minneapolis, where his fiancee gave birth to the couple’s son.

Gobert played a crucial role in the Wolves’ 106-99 win in game one, roaming the paint and denying Denver’s line up at will.

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In the end his absence did not have a detrimental impact on the Timberwolves, as they grabbed a 61-35 halftime lead and led by 22 points entering the fourth quarter to leave the defending champions down 2-0 in the Western Conference semi-finals.

However, Arenas was unapologetic in calling out Gobert for missing the match over the special occasion.

“It’s a baby, bro. It’s gonna be there when you get back, we hope,” Arenas said on his Gil’s Arena show before Minnesota’s road win. “I’m just saying, the baby, whatever you think you about to do, he going to be asleep.”

Arenas, an 11-year veteran and father of four, said Gobert should have been there for his team.

“I get you want to be with your wife and smile and stuff, and your good NBA healthcare insurance, it’s because of you playing,” he said.

The team was looking at getting Gobert back in time to play the game in Denver but high winds in Colorado that disrupted air travel.

“There was definitely consideration … but the timing of his circumstances plus some weather made it really tough,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said. “And we didn’t feel like he was going to be able to get here and be prepared to play.”

Minnesota held Denver to an ugly 29-of-83 shooting night, and the most impressive thing about that was the absence of their best defender, the 215cm Gobert. Finch said the Frenchman’s fingerprints were all over his side’s performance.

“Rudy’s driven the defensive culture here. I think it’s a testament to his impact, his presence and what he’s infused into the team of how important defence is and how great it can be when we play it,” Finch said. “That aside, we expect to win no matter who’s with us and who’s not.”

Karl Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards both scored 27 points as the Wolves improved to 6-0 in the playoffs and gave themselves a chance to close out the fuming Nuggets with wins on Saturday AEST and Monday in Minneapolis.