Rudy Gobert's Flagrant Foul Sparks Controversy

Gobert's Flagrant Foul Sparks Controversy

Ruddy Gobert's 'unnecessary flail' earns flagrant foul, potential suspension looming.

“Seemingly every time Rudy gets clocked in the head and the face...”

Rudy Gobert, the Minnesota Timberwolves' center, has been suspended for one game without pay after accumulating his seventh flagrant foul point of the season. This suspension means he'll miss Sunday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. The flagrant foul was called in the second quarter of Friday's game against the Dallas Mavericks, where Gobert hit Marvin Bagley III in the face with his forearm while battling for a rebound.

Gobert's suspension is a result of the NBA's flagrant foul point system, where players receive automatic suspensions after reaching certain thresholds. With seven flagrant points, Gobert will now face a two-game suspension for any future flagrant fouls. This is his second suspension of the season, having previously missed a game in January after reaching six flagrant points.

Gobert's foul on Nurkic was initially deemed a common foul, but officials overturned it to a flagrant after reviewing the play. The reason? An “unnecessary flail” of his arm, which didn't sit well with the refs.

The move will cost Gobert dearly - he picks up a flagrant foul point, and with his track record, that's trouble. He already served a one-game suspension earlier this season after racking up his sixth flagrant foul point back in January.

According to league rules, a player who has accrued more than five flagrant foul points and serves a suspension will face additional suspensions for any subsequent flagrant fouls. Given Gobert's history, this latest call could mean more time on the sidelines for the center.

Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has been suspended one game for accruing his seventh Flagrant Foul of the season. pic.twitter.com/ynoYqhW8jT

— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) February 21, 2026

Gobert was vocal after the game, expressing his hope that the NBA would overturn the flagrant call, labeling it an “accident.” He wasn't pleased with how things went down.

Both Gobert and Timberwolves coach Chris Finch shared the sentiment that Gobert's getting treated differently by officials. Finch backed his player's claim, suggesting the officiating was inconsistent.

“Seemingly every time Rudy gets clocked in the head and the face, which is quite a bit, it's always just, 'Ah that's just two guys, play on. It's nothing,'” Finch said. “But yet the other way around, we seem to be penalized for it."

Rudy Gobert de nouveau suspendu

Nouvelle faute flagrante de niveau 1 pour Rudy Gobert cette nuit, sanctionné pour ce coup de coude sur Marvin Bagley.

A chaque faute flagrante, l'intérieur français sera suspendu.pic.twitter.com/e2Qvte9RE6

— Basket-Infos (@Basket_Infos) February 21, 2026