The Timberwolves have been turning heads on the court in this playoff run. But it’s not just their performance that’s drawing attention. Off-court matters are making headlines too, as not everything is going smoothly for one of their stars. And no, we’re not talking about Anthony Edwards this time – it’s Rudy Gobert.

Gobert has always come across as a family-oriented guy, especially for his seemingly perfect relationship with girlfriend Julia Bonilla. They had kept their relationship pretty private for a while, staying out of the spotlight until February of last year, when they decided to go public. But it wasn’t completely out of the blue. At the time, Julia was expecting their first child. Like a proud soon-to-be father, Gobert shared the happy news on Instagram with a heartwarming series of photos featuring his girlfriend. But that picture-perfect image no longer exists. Word is out about a bitter end to their relationship. And it’s not just rumors.

Julia herself confirmed it in an emotional Instagram story. “I’m going through one of the most painful times in my life, feeling isolated, far from my family and friends,” the story read. “I considered Rudy the love of my life. I left everything for him. I gave him a child and poured my heart into our relationship.”

She also spoke about how she stood by Gobert through thick and thin in the story. “When everyone criticized and insulted him, I stood by him, always putting him first and choosing him, always. Despite how I have been treated, I choose to protect his name for the sake of my children.” That certainly showed last year when the French big man took a lot of heat online for his DPOY title win and his performances. If you remember, Julia didn’t hesitate to defend him by calling out the trolls.

And now, here she is—completely taken aback by how things have taken such a turn for the worse. But as with most breakups, it’s not all black and white. Julia had actually shared an earlier story that she later deleted before posting this one. In the now-deleted post, she had stated, “I NEVER EVER been unfaithful to the father of my children.” So, according to Julia, cheating isn’t part of the story.

According to a report from TMZ, the split happened at the beginning of the playoffs, after Gobert found out Julia was pregnant with their second child. Rumors also state that he didn’t just ask Julia to leave, but their one-year-old son, Romeo, too. It’s hard to imagine how painful that must have been for her.

But before jumping to conclusions, don’t forget that there are two sides to every story. As things began to spiral, Rudy Gobert came out with his story. The 32-year-old finally spoke up through an Instagram story.

Rudy Gobert opens up about his viral break-up story

While Julia shared a lot in her emotional post, Gobert kept it more reserved. “A lot of inaccurate information out there…” he began in his Instagram story, addressing the rumors that had been swirling around. He acknowledged that they were going through a tough phase and asked for privacy during this sensitive time, which was only fair.

“Julia and I are currently in the painful process of redefining our co-parenting relationship,” Gobert added. “Being a father is one of the most profound and meaningful experience i will get to live. It is one of my most important life purposes and will be so forever.”

Despite the sudden shift, Rudy Gobert mentioned that he will do what’s best for his family and close ones. “I’m fully committed to keep supporting the well-being of all the people that I care about. I’m asking everyone to please refrain from speculating and to respect our privacy in these difficult times,” Gobert wrote.

Gobert, like any respectful person, simply asked for the space that he, Julia, and their family need right now. The last thing they would want is too much media attention, given how it can take a real toll on someone’s emotions. Right now isn’t the time to pick sides. Rather, it’s a time to step back and show some compassion. Maybe give them the space to heal and make the best decisions for themselves moving forward.