FILE – Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert reacts after a basket by the Sacramento Kings during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. Rudy Gobert wins a record fourth Defensive Player of the Year award, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 (AP Photo/Abbie Parr, File)
Rudy Gobert, who set an NBA record with his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award last season, is staying in Minnesota long-term.
The Timberwolves and the 32-year-old center reportedly agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $110 million on Tuesday before the team’s opening game against the host Los Angeles Lakers.
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According to ESPN’s report, Gobert waived a $46.6 million player option he held for the 2025-26 season.
READ: NBA fines Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert $75,000 for gesture toward referee
The extension reportedly includes another player option year for 2027-28 as well as a trade kicker (a bonus paid to the player in the event he is traded).
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When Gobert was named the NBA’s best defenseman last year, he was up against the two other four-time winners of the award, Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace.
Gobert averaged 14.0 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots per game last season. His career averages are 12.7 points, 11.8 boards and 2.1 blocks in 757 games (665 starts).
READ: Rudy Gobert wins NBA Defensive Player of the Year for fourth time
He spent his first nine NBA seasons (2013–14 to 2021–22) with the Utah Jazz before moving to Minnesota in July 2022.
Gobert led the NBA in field goal percentage three times. He also led the league with a career-best average of 14.7 rebounds in the 2021-22 season after leading the NBA with 2.6 per game in the 2016-17 season.
He could be asked to take on a larger inside role this season after the Timberwolves traded forward Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in the offseason, a trade that included Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round draft pick. Sent pick to Minnesota. –Field level media
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