This Western Conference Finals between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the OKC Thunder is just getting wilder! Game 4 is a full-blown dogfight right now in Minneapolis, and the Wolves are trying to even things up. When the games are this tight and the stakes are this high, you get some classic commentary on the broadcast, and tonight, Richard Jefferson on ESPN dropped an absolute gem!

He compared Timberwolves’ big man Rudy Gobert to none other than the legendary Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo. Yeah, you heard that right. It all went down mid-game, with the intensity cranked up.

Jefferson, who knows a thing or two about playoff basketball, started talking about Gobert’s impact, and he didn’t hold back with the high praise. “I had an opportunity to play with the late great Dikembe Mutombo,” RJ began, instantly grabbing everyone’s attention. “That’s who Rudy Gobert reminds me of. Wasn’t a great offensive threat, but Dikembe Mutombo would anchor your defense. He would block key shots. He would hit key free throws. Yes, Rudy might not be…he’s probably in the latter third of his prime, but he is so effective down there, especially when you play small.“

Now, that’s a heavy comparison. Mutombo is an icon, one of the greatest defenders to ever play the game (we all know about that famous finger wag after his monster blocks). And you can see where RJ is coming from, especially watching Gobert in these playoffs. After a couple of rough games to start this series against OKC, Gobert has been a force, especially in that massive Game 3 win for the Wolves.

Remember that incredible sequence in the first quarter of Game 3 where he blitzed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the backcourt and swatted the ball away for a steal that led to a fast break? That was pure defensive energy, the kind of play that changes momentum. He finished that game with 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block. Now, this is a stat line that, while not eye-popping offensively, hints at the defensive disruption he caused in the Wolves’ 42-point blowout.

Even in this tight Game 4, Gobert’s making his presence felt. He threw down an absolutely emphatic slam earlier in the third quarter that got the Target Center crowd roaring back to life. He’s been out there rim-protecting, altering shots—averaging over a block and nearly 9 rebounds per game these playoffs—just being that massive defensive anchor Jefferson was talking about. His ability to control the paint, much like Mutombo did, forces teams to rethink their entire offensive strategy when he’s lurking.

And if you really think about it, Rudy’s impact on the defense end is so undeniable that it doesn’t matter if he’s not dropping 20 a night. With both big men having a trophy case full of Defensive Player of the Year awards, Jefferson’s comparison really makes you think about Gobert’s unique value that is often game-changing.

Rudy’s redemption? Silencing critics on the biggest stage

Let’s be clear: Gobert has been a defensive monster for a long, long time. You don’t just stumble into winning Defensive Player of the Year multiple times (he’s got four of those trophies now, by the way!). This season alone, he anchored a Timberwolves defense that was ranked sixth in the NBA, and his individual defensive rating was among the league’s best. Opponents shot way worse at the rim when he was contesting – that’s a Gobert special. He’s a huge reason the Wolves even had back-to-back 49+ win seasons for the first time since the KG era. So, the dude’s credentials as an elite defender? They’re rock solid.

But here’s the thing with Rudy, the playoffs have sometimes been a different story, or at least, that’s been the narrative. For all his regular-season dominance, critics have often pointed out that his impact can shrink in the postseason. Teams try to spread him out, attack his lateral quickness with quick guards, and basically try to make his drop coverage a liability.

We even saw some of that early in this Thunder series. In the first two games, OKC’s offense somewhat seemed to neutralize him a bit. His opponents were shooting at a ridiculously high percentage at the rim when he was there. Moreover, his contested shots at the rim were way down from his regular-season numbers. It had some folks wondering if this was another one of those playoff series for Gobert.

That’s what makes RJ’s Mutombo comparison so interesting right now. Because, after that rough start to the series, Gobert came out in Game 3 and looked like the DPOY everyone knows. He was active, he was disruptive, and he was a key part of that blowout win.

Moreover, let’s also be a bit real for a minute: Rudy Gobert’s never going to be the guy who drops 30 points a night. That’s not his game, and it’s not what the Timberwolves need from him (they already have Ant-man and Julius Randle for it). His job is to be that defensive wall, that intimidating force in the paint that makes every opponent think twice before driving to the hoop. He’s there to clean the glass, set bone-jarring screens, and be the vocal leader of that defense.

So, is Gobert “evolving” in his “latter third of his prime,” as RJ put it? Maybe it’s less about a total reinvention and more about him stepping up and showcasing his undeniable defensive strengths when the pressure is absolutely maxed out.

He’s always had the defensive talent. But if he’s consistently bringing this level of game-changing defense in the Western Conference Finals, making those little winning plays, then yeah, that comparison to an all-time great defender like Mutombo doesn’t feel so out of place after all.