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Schism Building in MN Timberwolves Locker Room?
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- Schism Building in MN Timberwolves Locker Room?
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The Minnesota Timberwolves got back in the win column on Tuesday night, after suffering two-straight losses, going in. It came at the expense of a beaten and broken down Atlanta Hawks team that was without a few of its best players.
Nonetheless, a win is a win. Now, the Wolves will play one more game, Wednesday vs Portland , before the NBA All-Star Break allows them a much-needed breather.
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It couldn't come at a better time, either. Not only have the Timberwolves been struggling on the floor at times, in recent weeks, but they seem to be having issues behind the scenes too.
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We saw some of that internal frustration boil over earlier this week, when Rudy Gobert called out the coaching staff for their refusal to bench players who aren't giving full effort any given night out.
Asked Rudy Gobert what he meant by accountability and where that accountability needs to come from.
"It starts with ourselves, but it seems like we don't have that. So I think at some point, from the coaches, yeah, from the coaches. It's not an easy position for a coach to take… pic.twitter.com/2HxFe5Wm2y— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) February 7, 2026
We all assumed Gobert was speaking specifically about Julius Randle — whose effort far too often comes and goes like the wind, and who had a brutal night of defense vs the Clippers right before Rudy spoke with media.
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Yes, Rudy Gobert was calling out Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle
Of course, superstar Anthony Edwards falls into the same effort category as Julius, at times, so it was always possible Gobert was firing shots at Ant, as well, right?
Ding, ding, ding… if you thought that to be the case, Jon Krawczynski (The Athletic) confirmed your suspicions with Dan Barreiro on KFAN Radio Tuesday . Without a doubt, Rudy was calling out both Randle and Edwards the other night.
"I do think that some players definitely agreed with [Gobert] and received the message, and then there were some players who did not. And I would venture to say that the players who need to adhere to it most probably did not.
And I mean, we don't have to beat around the bush. I mean Rudy Gobert did not name names, but he clearly was pointing at Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards to give more consistent effort on the defensive end."
For the most part, the Minnesota Timberwolves are good at keeping their dirty laundry away from public consumption. That's why Rudy Gobert's locker room outburst after that Clippers loss made the situation worth monitoring.
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Then, when head coach Chris Finch responded to his star player dismissively , it perked the ears of those who cover the team and are now investigating possible fractures within the organization.
MN Timberwolves dealing with schism… or "disconnect"
And upon doing some homework, Krawczynski came out realizing that, indeed, there is some sort of "disconnect" going on within the Wolves' locker room — and told KFAN listeners that he wouldn't feel right reporting it any other way.
On the scale of locker room dysfunction, "disconnect" probably puts the situation at Mayo Clinic Square around Defcon 5, maybe Defcon 4. But while "disconnect" may not be quite as concerning of a term as locker room "tension" or (dare I say) a "schism", it's not that far off.
"Well, here's what I'll say on that, Dan. Generally speaking, I'm pragmatic. I know the season is very long, I know there are going to be ups and downs….I don't want to be alarmist and really just say, 'hey, everything is wrong here.'
That said, it is hard not to react when the big man, their defensive Player of the Year candidate center, is really frontally calling out the team after a game — when the head coach is really making it clear that he did not like that at all — offering, I think, not the best response to Rudy Gobert's real critiques of the way the coaching staff is operating, and the way the players are operating.
You just look around and you feel it in the locker room. There's a disconnect right now.
After listening to Jonny during this KFAN interview , it's difficult not to wonder what would have happened last night, had they lost yet again to an inferior opponent like the Hawks…
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Thankfully, we do not have to worry about that, because they won in a blowout and victories can cure even the most debilitating locker room diseases, even if only for a moment.
Related: Timberwolves Long-Term Plan Includes Ayo Dosunmu
And that is where you have to wonder what exactly the "disconnect" is inside the MN Timberwolves organization. Chris Finch has done a really good job, during his tenure, understanding when to push and when to pull back.
To Rudy Gobert's dismay, he has chosen to pull back and not put guys' minutes on the line, based on how they play one night from the next. He points to history and says that "no team has ever won a championship substituting their way there".
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How bad is this fracture inside Minnesota Timberwolves?
Jonny Athletic believes that whatever schism is creeping into the Wolves locker room can be fixed, and fixed fast, especially with the All-Star break nearly upon us. Let's hope he is right.
I think it absolutely can be fixed. I think that a little time away from each other over the All Star break might be exactly what the doctor ordered. But I can't say that nothing is wrong, because that would be just completely ignoring all of the signs that we are seeing right now with this team.
When the Minnesota Timberwolves return to play on February 20 after the All-Star break, they have just 27 games remaining until the playoffs start. Between now and then, we'll find out just how much Chris Finch really knows his locker room.
Anything short of another Western Conference Finals run, the calls for his job will reach deafening levels… but no pressure, Finchy.
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