The Minnesota Timberwolves got a timely three days off this week after their five-game win streak came to an end against the Phoenix Suns on Monday. That 108-105 loss came despite 40 points from Anthony Edwards, in large part because stalwart center Rudy Gobert was ejected in the third quarter after elbowing Phoenix’s Isaiah Jackson in the midsection on a layup. 

Gobert spoke on his ejection after Wednesday’s practice, expressing his surprise at receiving a flagrant two designation on what seemed like a relatively run-of-the-mill hard foul. Gobert conceded that he did intend to foul Jackson to disrupt his momentum going toward the rim, but he insisted that he wasn’t trying to put Jackson in harm's way and felt he didn’t.

“Very surprised,” Gobert said. “I don't think there was any intent of getting anybody hurt, you know. There was an intent to foul, but I don't feel like I meant to really hit him in the ribs and hurt him. It was more to take away his momentum and contest the shot. They deemed that it was winding up, I think. I didn't feel like it. I just felt like it was a very physical foul.”

Gobert wished his opponent well, but he also continued to make his case that a shot to the midsection area should have only been worth a flagrant one foul at most, especially when so many shots to the head go uncalled throughout the game.

“I hope he's doing okay, it eems like he was doing okay after that,” Gobert said. “It was just, to me, a physical basketball play. Flagrant one, maybe. Flagrant two was a little severe, and it definitely impacted the rest of the game. 

Gobert argued the latter is far more dangerous but rarely results in an ejection that swings a game like his own did on Wednesday.

“If they're gonna call the game that way,” Gobert said. “I think they should also protect other people when they get hit in the head every game. I think it might be more dangerous to get hit in the head than to get hit in the ribs.”

Regardless, Gobert was also adamant in his defense that he would never intentionally cause an injury to an opponent. 

“I've never played that way, not once in my life,” Gobert said. “I tend to get anybody injured with the way I play, so I'm gonna keep being who I am, do what I'm supposed to do for my team, and do it with integrity, which is what I've always done throughout my whole career.”