Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has tendered an apology to teammate Kyle Anderson following an altercation that occurred during their 113-108 win against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.
The two players had an argument during a team timeout in the second quarter, but the French basketball star seemed undone by something his teammate said, and he progressed to punch him in the chest before they were separated by other team members and staff. After the incident, the former Utah Jazz center was escorted to the locker room and was later sent home.
Rudy Gobert throws a shot at teammate Kyle Anderson during a timeout. pic.twitter.com/dRzi3ALkoJ
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) April 9, 2023
Gobert, however, took to social media hours later to tender an apology to the fans, the Timberwolves organization, and to Anderson himself.
The statement read: “Emotions got the best of me today. I should not have reacted the way i did regardless of what was said. I wanna apologize to the fans, the organisation and particularly to Kyle, who is someone that i truly love and respect as a teammate.”
Emotions got the best of me today. I should not have reacted the way i did regardless of what was said. I wanna apologize to the fans, the organisation and particularly to Kyle, who is someone that i truly love and respect as a teammate.
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) April 10, 2023
Timberwolves president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, issued a statement after the game, confirming that the franchise decided to send Gobert home after the second-quarter scuffle.
“We made the decision to send Rudy Gobert home after the incident in the second quarter,” Connelly said in a statement. “His behavior on the bench was unacceptable and we will handle the situation internally.”
Nonetheless, Anderson, who seemed unfazed by the incident, finished the game with eight points, nine rebounds, and four assists in 37 minutes. He further downplayed the significance of the scuffle and reaffirmed that the two of them would get along just fine going forward.
“I think tempers just flared,” Anderson said afterward. “That’s all.”
“We want to win games. It is what it is. It ain’t the first time someone has swung on me,” he added.
Minnesota’s crucial win helped them finish in eighth place in the Western Conference and clinch a play-in tournament showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers, who beat the Jazz 128-117, by moving ahead of the defeated Pelicans in the standings.
The two teams will face off at the Lakers’ Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday for a chance to become the 7th seed in the Western Conference, and it is left to see if Gobert will be available for the all-important game after the Timberwolves already lost starting forward Jaden McDaniels to injury after he hit his hand on the wall during the break due to frustration.
