The reason NBA players dislike Rudy Gobert can feel like a riddle. Is it the $205 million contract that seemed to reward a specific, non-flashy skill set? Is it the four Defensive Player of the Year trophies he keeps winning?
Is it a lingering frustration from the 2020 COVID-19 shutdown for which he was famously the league’s “Patient Zero”? Or is it, as former WNBA star Swin Cash reported after talking to an NBA player, something far more primal and simple: “He has a punchable face” ?
According to an anonymous 2024 poll by The Athletic, the Minnesota Timberwolves center is officially the league’s “most-hated player” among his peers, a title that speaks to a persistent and complex animosity .
The “punchable face” comment from Cash may be the most blunt explanation, but it is just the tip of an iceberg built from years of on-court friction, cultural misunderstanding, viral moments, and a style of play that defies traditional NBA stardom.
A Legacy of Controversy and Critique
The COVID-19 Catalyst: In March 2020, Gobert’s actions before a positive COVID-19 test became an international scandal. At a press conference, he jokingly touched every microphone and recorder, a gesture seen as a flippant disregard for the burgeoning pandemic .
When he tested positive just days later the first NBA player to do so the league season was suspended almost immediately . Teammate Donovan Mitchell also tested positive, and reports suggested Gobert had been “careless” in the locker room .
Overnight, he was labeled “Patient Zero,” a designation that, as one academic report noted, “appears to be attached to him for the foreseeable future,” unfairly shouldering him with the symbolic blame for the league’s shutdown . This incident created a bedrock of resentment that many fans and players never moved past.
The Costly Trade: In 2022, the Utah Jazz traded Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a blockbuster deal. The return for Utah five players and four first-round draft picks was widely panned as an historic overpay . The massive haul, typically reserved for superstar scorers, placed an immense and immediate burden of expectation on a player whose value is not easily quantified by box scores.
The Teammate Altercation: In April 2023, during a tense timeout, Gobert threw a punch at teammate Kyle Anderson after an on-court argument . He was suspended for the crucial next game and issued a public apology, stating, “Emotions got the best of me today” .
The Anatomy of Annoyance: Why Players Are Bothered
The “Odd Guy from France”: Gobert himself has theorized that his peers see him as “the odd guy from France that’s winning a lot of awards” . As a tall, French player who entered the league as a relatively unknown 27th pick (a number he wears as a motivator), he has always been an outsider .
His interests such as seeking advice from Aaron Rodgers and embarking on a 64-hour darkness retreat for mental clarity are seen as unconventional or “eclectic” . This cultural and personality difference creates a barrier to the casual camaraderie many players share.
A Non-Flashy, Dominant Style: Gobert’s greatness is subtle and systemic. He is perhaps the greatest rim protector of his generation, a player who wins games by deterring shots rather than making highlight blocks .
As his former teammate Mike Conley noted, his dominance is in a form that’s “not as cool or as flashy as some other guys,” making it “harder for them to respect that” . In a league that celebrates iso scoring and deep threes, Gobert’s elite skill defense is both harder to appreciate and easier to mock when it fails.
The Draymond Green Factor: No player has been a more vocal or consistent critic of Gobert than Golden State’s Draymond Green. Their feud is long-running and deeply personal. Green has publicly called Gobert “soft,” mocked his emotional 2019 All-Star snub (tweeting sarcastically about Gobert crying)
The Real Rudy: Misunderstood or Merely Maligned?
His defenders point to his profound impact. Analysts argue his control of the rim is a foundational, winning strategy, forcing offenses into inefficient shots . On a personal level, those close to him describe a thoughtful, loyal teammate. Kyle Anderson, the very player he punched, later said, “He’s a great dude, great teammate. He cares about everyone” .
Gobert has also shown self-awareness and a desire to grow from his controversies. His apology for the COVID-19 incident was immediate and took full responsibility . His decision to undergo a darkness retreat showed a commitment to mental fortitude in the face of relentless criticism .
Ultimately, the “punchable face” comment is less about his physical features and more a metaphor for a persona that seems to invite scorn. He is a polarizing figure in a sport that often prefers its heroes and villains clearly defined. His success the awards.
As he continues his push for a record-breaking fifth Defensive Player of the Year award, one thing is certain: the more he wins, the more his critics will want to, as Swin Cash’s source put it, punch his face . In the NBA, sometimes the highest form of respect is the most begrudging.