Gobert offers up some wisdom for Washington's rising star after a big win on Sunday night.
The Minnesota Timberwolves wrapped up a strong 3-1 road trip on Sunday night with a 141-115 blowout win over the Washington Wizards, and after the game, Rudy Gobert took a moment to share some words of encouragement for the young center on the other side.
When asked what advice he would give to Alex Sarr, Gobert kept things simple and direct.
"He has all the talent and all the skills, I think it's just his body," Gobert said. "Keep working on your body, keep getting stronger. As a seven-footer, being someone who's very long, your game is very high-impact…"
Gobert Continues His Strong Play
Gobert backed up his words with another dominant showing on Sunday, finishing with 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting along with 14 rebounds and four blocks in just 29 minutes of action.
It was his 15th double-double of the season, and he helped Minnesota outscore Washington 76-48 in the paint as the Timberwolves pulled away early and never looked back.
The four-time Defensive Player of the Year has been rolling lately, posting double-digit rebounds in 10 of his last 11 games while averaging 11.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks during that stretch.
On the season, Gobert is putting up 11.3 points and 11.1 rebounds per game while shooting 71.4 percent from the field, helping the Timberwolves improve to 23-13 and hold down sixth place in the Western Conference.
The French Connection
There is a clear connection between the two big men that goes beyond just playing the same position.
Both Gobert and Sarr hail from France, and Gobert has walked the path that Sarr is now trying to follow as a long and athletic center learning how to dominate at the NBA level.
Sarr was selected with the second overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and has shown flashes of becoming a game-changing defender in his second season.
He is currently averaging 17.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and a league-leading 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, but his thin 205-pound frame remains a work in progress as he battles against stronger big men on a nightly basis.
Looking Ahead
The Wizards dropped to 9-25 after Sunday's loss and hold the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference, but the future looks bright with Sarr anchoring the middle.
If he can follow Gobert's advice and continue to add strength to his frame, Washington could have a franchise cornerstone on their hands for years to come.
Minnesota, meanwhile, will look to keep the momentum going as they return home for a matchup against the Miami Heat on Tuesday night.