Rudy Gobert Talks Dominant Close-Out Playoff Game vs. Lakers, 'It Was Fun for Me'

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert reflected on his stellar performance in the final game of the team's first-round series victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2025 playoffs.

"It meant a lot, being able to deliver that way for my team at a crucial moment in the series," Gobert said during an appearance on The Young Man and the Three (10:50 mark). "It was fun for me."

"It was a great feeling," he added.

Gobert finished with a playoff career-high 27 points and 24 rebounds to go along with two blocks during Minnesota's 103-96 win over Los Angeles in Game 5 of the series, shooting 12-of-15 from the field.

He became the first player in NBA history to record at least 25 points and 20 rebounds on 80 percent shooting in a series-clinching win (h/t ESPN's Kris Rhim).

It was an exceptional finish to close out the first-round matchup from Gobert, especially considering he only averaged 3.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while shooting 30.8 percent from the field in the first four games of the series.

The four-time Defensive Player of the Year continued to protect the paint throughout the remainder of the Timberwolves' 2025 playoff run, as they made it to the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive year before falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games.