5 NBA players primed for a bounce-back season in 2023

NBA players primed for a bounce-back season: 1. Rudy Gobert

After what will go down as arguably the most lopsided trade in NBA history, Rudy Gobert failed to live up to expectations in his first year with the Timberwolves. The Timberwolves sent five first-round picks and five players (one of which ended up Rookie of the Year finalist Walker Kessler) for Gobert and all they had to show for it in his first season with the team was a first-round playoff elimination.

Gobert recorded his lowest points per game, rebounds per game, and field goal percentage since the 2017-18 season as the on-court fit alongside Karl-Anthony Towns was very awkward. Not to mention, Gobert has also been an awkward fit in the locker room and he punched teammate Kyle Anderson in a high-magnitude regular season finale versus the Pelicans.

However, Gobert is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner and four-time All-NBA selection — the talent is there and he now gets a full offseason to work with Towns as well as Anthony Edwards to try and make the pieces fit.

After giving up the haul they did to acquire Gobert, the Timberwolves need this experiment to work. So, they traded for one of Gobert’s former teammates, Mike Conley, at last year’s trade deadline in hopes of making The Stifle Tower more comfortable with the team’s system.

In 2022-23, Gobert recorded 1.4 blocks per game. This is the first season in which he didn’t average at least two blocks per game and the lowest number he’s posted since his rookie season when he was averaging less than 10 minutes per game.

Representing France in the FIBA World Cup this Summer should help Gobert stay in shape and enter the upcoming season with momentum. He is poised to bounce back in 2023.