Rudy Gobert Gets Tempers Flaring In Return To Utah

Rudy Gobert made his ballyhooed return to his former haunt Friday night, and didn't exactly give his old Utah Jazz fans the warm and fuzzies. His unnecessary basket at the final buzzer with his Minnesota Timberwolves already up by eight points didn't leave a good taste in the mouth of Jazz fans—or players.

Malik Beasley having words with Rudy Gobert for scoring late when the game was out of reach 😬pic.twitter.com/AU7I1Q6kSs
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) December 10, 2022

Malik Beasley, in particular, took offense, and confronted Gobert.

Malik Beasley on confronting Rudy Gobert after the game after he scored to turn an 8-point lead to 10: "Just disrespectful. It's one of the unwritten rules of basketball. I told him that."
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) December 10, 2022

"Just disrespectful. It's one of the unwritten rules of basketball. I told him that," said Beasley.

But T-Wolves coach Chris Finch responded with his own retort.

Wolves coach Chris Finch on Rudy Gobert’s late dunk, which caused bad feelings with a few Jazz players: “Don’t press us. If you’re gonna press us late, we’re gonna lay it in. I don’t make anything of it.” pic.twitter.com/eRS6dMQwhq
— Eric Walden (@tribjazz) December 10, 2022

“Don’t press us. If you’re gonna press us late, we’re gonna lay it in," said Finch, matter-of-factly.

As for Gobert, he also dismissed the incident, and was disappointed he didn't get to shake hands with all his former teammates because of Beasley's actions.

Rudy Gobert, on the late dunk and subsequent scrum: “I’ve been taught to play basketball to the last second. For me, there was never any intent to disrespect anybody. These guys who stepped in front of me, they weren’t going to do anything anyway. … It kind of ruined my moment.” pic.twitter.com/WlOzLFjdcr
— Eric Walden (@tribjazz) December 10, 2022

“I’ve been taught to play basketball to the last second. For me, there was never any intent to disrespect anybody. These guys who stepped in front of me, they weren’t going to do anything anyway. … It kind of ruined my moment.”

Gobert finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds against his old team.