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Rudy Gobert, former jazzman announced last month on Instagram that he and his girlfriend, Julia Bonilla, are expecting a baby. When the Minnesota Timberwolves were in Utah recently, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year told the Deseret News that preparing for the birth of his first child had been an exciting process.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “It’s a blessing. It’s something I’ve always wanted in my life. I’m happy I found the right person to build with and I’m excited.
But Minnesota fans should prepare for a bit of a hiccup – the deadline is during the playoffs.
Although Gobert didn’t give an exact date, he said it’s possible he might have to miss a game between the conference semifinals or the NBA Finals, if the Timberwolves make it that far.
The good news is that his teammates and the entire organization support him, the bad news is that these things are not easy to predict.
“I would do anything I could to be there,” Gobert said. “I don’t think there’s any debate to be had. Coach Finch and all the guys in this locker room, that’s what I love about them, we have a level of human connection and empathy with each other that I think is really good. And I think all the guys will literally tell me, “Don’t play, go ahead.” »
It’s a situation that Gobert has often faced in fact. He was one of the people who supported Mike Conley’s decision to leaving the NBA bubble in 2020 for the birth of his third childand he supported me when he is now teammate Anthony Edwards left a home game at halftime earlier this month to be there for the birth of her first child.
Gobert just hopes for one lucky thing: that the Timberwolves will be home when Julia goes into labor.
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Quote of the week
“I’ve always looked to the future, ever since the day I was traded. I still have that love and appreciation for Utah. This organization and this community will always be a part of me. But when the trade happened, it felt like we now have to do something in Minnesota. This doesn’t erase all the good and bad times we’ve been through here. I put my backpack on and I’m trying to be the best Rudy I can be for this new organization. — Rudy Gobert
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- Will Hardy frustrated: “Statistics don’t mean (expletive).” I don’t care how many points you score. (Desert News)
- Lauri Markkanen says Utah can ‘finish this year strong’ upon return (KSL.com)
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