T-Wolves HC Calls Out Warriors for Fouls on Rudy Gobert, Says They're Like NFL Linemen
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch says he sent the NBA clips of Golden State Warriors players fouling Rudy Gobert on the boards during Tuesday's Game 1 of the 2025 Eastern Conference semifinals.
"On defensive rebounding, they do a lot of fouling, holding, shoving, pushing, tackling Rudy. That's clear," Finch told reporters on Wednesday.
"I'm not sure I know another player in the league with Rudy's pedigree that is allowed to be physically beaten on in the way he is, and so we've gotta address that one way or another."
"There was a play last night where Podziemski clearly grabbed him, and then he sheds Podziemski, and then he gets the foul," Finch continued. "So, yeah, we'll certainly try to take justice into our hands whenever we can. I think that's the nature of physical sport.
"But by the same token, my God, you should see some of these clips. They look like pulling guards and linemen out there just taking shots at Rudy."
Gobert recorded 11 rebounds, including seven offensive rebounds, while facing strong defense from players like Kevin Looney at the glass. He added nine points as the Wolves conceded a 99-88 loss despite the Warriors losing Stephen Curry to injury in the first half.
Shooting was an issue all night for the Timberwolves, who went 5-for-29 from behind the arc in one of the worst three-point shooting performances of the season.
The Wolves were meanwhile assessed 21 fouls to the Warriors' 18. Gobert fouled out with 4:19 remaining and Minnesota down by 14 points.
This isn't the first time Finch has expressed his dismay with the physicality of the 2025 NBA playoffs.
"If you look around the playoffs right now, it's super physical. To me, they've gone way too far," Finch told reporters during the Timberwolves' first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers. "I'm not complaining about the way our series in particular has been reffed. I'm just saying, in general, I would think that it's gone too far.
"It feels like physicality without purpose. It's disrupted the flow."
It sounds like Finch is attempting to change that, starting by getting the league to take a look at what he believes are missed calls in the ongoing series against the Warriors.
The Warriors and Timberwolves tip off Game 2 on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. ET.
