Rudy Gobert

As they walked into Game Four, attempting to accomplish what no team in NBA history had done in 155 tries, the Minnesota Timberwolves knew that the climb from a 0-3 series hole would be a mountainous task. In one productive statement early into the first quarter, Rudy Gobert showed that the mountain wasn’t too high for his vision to oversee. Having just shown his innovativeness with a nifty Eurostep finish on the prior possession, the All-Star big man keeps the creative juices flowing, receiving the ball on a screen-and-roll before pivoting through the paint with a spin move. With just enough perception to catch a cutting teammate in his peripheral, Gobert — in mid-flight — contorts his frame to scoop a perfectly-timed pass through traffic, setting the path for a Minnesota score. Working his usual assortment of winning plays, both on the box score and off, the Timberwolves big man spurred a season-saving Game Five win on May 26, 2024. Even in a battle against foul trouble, Gobert provided 13 points on near-perfect shooting, along with 10 rebounds, one assist, and one block.