The Athletic was back with its anonymous player pool and, once again, Rudy Gobert ended up being the frontrunner. Even though Gobert might not be the most popular guy, as per the publication’s anonymous poll, he is most definitely the most overrated athlete. Many around the league feel that his defensive fame is greatly overstated. And at the same time, his offensive faults are pain points.

But watching the repetition of the same story seems to have finally gotten to the Frenchman’s pregnant girlfriend, Julia Bonilla. She can’t help but defend her partner in a rather passionate manner through social media. She hits back at the haters, saying that they are “dead wrong”.

“My partner is the most dedicated, focused, hard-working person I have ever met. He hasn’t stolen anything from anyone and deserves all the respect for his determination and commitment to his career,” the editor/co-host of the blog/podcast Journey said.

As it turns out of the total 81 votes received, 11 people claim that the 3X DPOY is a tad bit overrated. But despite what the anonymous NBA players say, Julia says she is proud of him and so is their son.

Unfortunately, several others think otherwise. While we can’t say anything definitive about the TWolves’ center’s personality, other than what can be gauged from interviews and on-court behavior, Gobert’s girlfriend has no doubts whatsoever on that account, either. According to Bonilla, the 31-year-old is “fair, a great teammate, with a good heart and a strong mind.”

A strong mind is a check because let’s face it, no one is surviving in the NBA without one! And especially considering that he doesn’t have the best standing among his peers. There is no doubt that at least a few of those who voted for him as ‘overrated’ wouldn’t hesitate to showcase their disapproval straight.

But for Minnesota, he is every bit as essential as Anthony Edwards.

 “… The reason we don’t lose”: Chris Finch heaps ultimate praise on Rudy Gobert

The 7-1, 258-pound father-to-be might fall low in his peers’ eyes, but his team certainly holds him in high regard. The Wolves coach, Chris Finch, surmises his impact on the team nicely. “There’s a difference between being the reason you win and being the reason you don’t lose. And Rudy is the reason we don’t lose.” 

He further added that Gobert’s presence on the floor alone makes the team better. There might be days when the 3x All-Star might not have had the best outing, but he always ensures he steps up to his role of a “floor raiser” every time his team needs him to.

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The value of a player is more often than not buried under statistics, numbers, and awards. While all of them are a testament to one’s greatness, it’s not the lone metric by which a player can be measured. Looking at Gobert, he does boast an elite NBA resume. Apart from the All-Star nod, he is a 3x DPOY (top candidate for the fourth), 6x All-Defensive First Teamer, part of the All-NBA Third Team 3 times, and All-NBA First Teamer.

If we were to look at numbers, Rudy Gobert leads the league in individual defensive rating. He was in the 99th percentile in paint FG% and 93rd in defending at the rim. We all know how opponents if it can be helped, pass the chance of driving to the rim when the ‘Stifle Tower’ is on the floor.

Well, opinions can be subjective. As far as Gobert’s NBA peers are concerned, he’s long been in the overrated category. And it seems like that’s where he will remain. But Rudy Gobert has far more important things to be concerned about  – a baby on the way and the NBA playoffs.