By Joël Pütz | Sports journalist
Minnesota is doing like a charm this season and if Rudy Gobert & co. can maintain this dynamic, they will be serious contenders for the NBA crown. At the same time, the latest decision of the franchise leaders should please the triple DPOY.
2022-23 had been quite a complicated year for the Timberwolves. The transplant of Rudy Gobert to the squad had difficulty taking hold and the adventure ended in the first round of the playoffs. Besides that, the pivot had been the Turkish head of the fans throughout the exercise, the latter believing that he was simply not up to the task.
Suffice to say that the situation has changed a lot in the space of a few months since now, Chris Finch’s men are quite simply at the top of the Western Conference with 39 victories for 16 defeats. Only the Celtics have a better record across the entire league and the Wolves are therefore real title contenders. Especially since they have the best NBA defense.
On his way to his fourth Defender of the Year title, Rudy is obviously no stranger to this reversal of the situation. From now on, the Frenchman is almost adored by his public and he has the complete confidence of his teammates, his coaches and his managers. The latter also indirectly gave him a big gift by extending Mike Conley Jr., as revealed by Adrian Wojnarowski.
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Ultra-precious, Mike Conley returns to the Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves G Mike Conley Jr. has agreed on a two-year $21 million extension, Steven Heumann and Jess Holtz of @CAA_Basketball tell ESPN. The Timberwolves keep Conley Jr. out of summer free agency and in backcourt thru 2025-2026. pic.twitter.com/M9MSc3zdsr
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2024
Mike Conley agreed to a two-year, $21 million extension with the Timberwolves. The Timberwolves thus remove him from upcoming free agency and keep him under contract until 2025-26.
Aged 36, the former Grizzlies still starts in Minnesota and is very efficient (10 points and 6 assists on average at 44% three-point success). Above all, he is one of Gobzilla’s privileged connections on the field with whom he had already played at Jazz in the past. Clearly, all the stars seem to be aligning for the Habs! In any case, fans were delighted with the announcement.
LETS GOOOO pic.twitter.com/LsPdxUcQDi
— Wolves Lead (@TWolvesLead) February 19, 2024
It’s gone
His leadership on that team is a damn gamechanger.
— Dan Besbris (@DanBesbris) February 19, 2024
His leadership on this team changes everything
Rudy Gobert can clearly have a smile: he is a hit on the floors, his Timberwolves team too and his sidekick Mike Conley Jr. has just been extended for a few more years. A good omen for the French pivot who finds himself with his eyes closed with the former Memphis player, on the floors.
2024-02-20 20:50:00
#middle #title #race #Timberwolves #move #delight #Rudy #Gobert
