Rudy Gobert Hits 10,000 Rebounds-and He’s Not Done Yet
Sunday night in Minneapolis wasn’t just another game on the calendar-it was a milestone moment for Rudy Gobert and a statement win for the Timberwolves. In a hard-fought 103-100 comeback victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, Gobert quietly etched his name into the NBA history books, becoming just the 45th player ever to reach 10,000 career rebounds.
And in true Gobert fashion, he did it without the spotlight, but with plenty of substance.
The numbers? Classic Gobert.
He finished with 11 points and 18 rebounds-six of them on the offensive glass-powering a Timberwolves rally that erased a 16-point third-quarter deficit. While the crowd at Target Center roared for the win, Gobert’s achievement was more of a quiet nod to longevity, consistency, and work ethic than a victory lap.
After the game, Gobert kept the focus on growth, not accolades.
“I think just being the best version of myself. I still think there’s so much untapped potential, and I want to tap into that...
I always tell myself, my biggest competition is myself,” Gobert said. “I’m just so very fortunate, very grateful to be able to do what I love to do and come in from where I come from.”
That mindset is part of what’s made Gobert such a force for over a decade. Of his 10,016 career rebounds, a staggering 7,119 came during his nine seasons with the Utah Jazz.
But since arriving in Minnesota, he’s kept the same motor-and the same impact. Through 858 career games, Gobert’s rebounding has remained a constant, no matter the roster, system, or role.
And for those who were ready to write him off earlier this season? That talk isn’t aging well.
In fact, Gobert looks like he’s finding another gear. Just days before the Bucks game, in a loss to Memphis, he was the Wolves’ most impactful player-dropping 16 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks in 35 minutes.
Seven of those boards came on the offensive end. And when he sat?
The Wolves struggled, plain and simple.
That Memphis performance marked his fifth game with at least 15 points in a seven-game stretch-a notable uptick for a player who reached that mark only three times in his first 20 outings this season. It’s not just about volume, though.
It’s the timing. The effort.
The presence. Gobert isn’t just grabbing rebounds-he’s shifting momentum.
Defensively, he remains the anchor of one of the league’s top units. Minnesota’s defensive rating improves by roughly 12 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor. That’s not just a stat-it’s a reflection of how much ground he covers, how many shots he alters, and how much space he takes away from opposing offenses.
That kind of impact doesn’t go unnoticed. Gobert is already in elite company, standing alongside Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace as one of only three players to win Defensive Player of the Year four times. And with the way he’s playing right now, it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s in the conversation for a fifth.
But for Gobert, the numbers and hardware are just checkpoints. The real goal is staying locked in, evolving, and pushing himself to new heights-even after 10,000 rebounds.
He’s not just chasing stats. He’s chasing greatness. And the Timberwolves, sitting near the top of the West, are reaping the benefits.