The Minnesota Timberwolves battled through the 2024 NBA Playoffs not just against stacked opponents but also criticisms from prominent media members, particularly from TNT’s Inside the NBA crew during the conference finals. Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns were the most targeted players by the likes of Charles Barkley and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, who guested on the show.
Minnesota Timberwolves show support for their big men
It came to a point that the Timberwolves collectively decided not to make an appearance on the show’s postgame segment.
Via The Athletic:
Edwards was surrounded by a tight-knit team, one with such strong chemistry that it decided as a group that no player would appear on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” postgame show after their victory in Game 4 in Dallas, team sources told The Athletic. The decision was a sign of support for Gobert and Towns, who were the subject of derisive and seemingly personal criticism from panelist and Golden State forward Draymond Green.
The frontcourt duo of Gobert and Towns had extra pressure on its shoulders to deliver in the playoffs because of the criticisms it’s been getting from Barkley and company. While Gobert and Towns got their flowers from time to time from the TNT crew, especially after the Timberwolves’ Game 4 win over the Mavericks, it’s when they’re being ridiculed and belittled most perhaps would remember how those players got talked about during the playoffs.
All that being said, it can’t be denied that the Timberwolves turned many heads during their deep postseason run that also saw them take down the then-defending NBA champions Denver Nuggets in the second round.
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