Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has been suspended by the NBA for flagrant accumulation of fouls and will miss one game. The suspension comes after his sixth flagrant foul of the 2025-26 season. Once a player scores more than five points, the league automatically bans him.
Per league rules, Gobert’s suspension will take effect Tuesday night when Minnesota plays the Milwaukee Bucks.
match triggering suspension
The final act of bad faith occurred during Minnesota’s 104-103 win over the San Antonio Spurs. Gobert scored a Malicious 1 point on a three-pointer contest with Victor Wembanyama. Officials ruled that Gobert did not give Vunbanyama enough space to land.
The call added one point to Gobert’s season total. That gave him six points, crossing the ban threshold. Once the limit is reached, the NBA does not allow appeals.
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— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 12, 2026
How the NBA’s blatant system works
The league classifies flagrant fouls as Level 1 or Level 2. Level 1 adds one point. Level 2 adds two points and usually results in expulsion.
The NBA automatically suspends a player for one game once he scores six points. Additional fouls will result in more severe penalties. Another level one will result in another game suspension. Level 2 could trigger a multi-game suspension.
Gobert now has to be cautious for the remainder of the season. Any future violations will have more serious consequences.
The NBA announced that Rudy Gobert was suspended for one game due to a flagrant foul that reached 6 points.
The suspension will cost Gobert $201,149.
The Timberwolves will also receive $100,575 in tax relief credits.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) January 12, 2026
Gobert addresses current situation
After the Spurs game, Gobert talked about the call. “I tried to be aggressive in the shooting game. I don’t think there was any intention to hurt anyone at any point,” he said.
Gobert also said he understands the league’s concerns about player safety. He added that defenders still need protection when challenging shooters.
Impact on Timberwolves
Gobert’s absence took a game away from Minnesota’s defensive anchor. This season he averaged 11.0 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. He also leads the team in field goal percentage at 71.7%.
The Timberwolves sit atop the Western Conference. They rely heavily on Gobert’s rim protection and rebounding ability. Minnesota needs frontcourt depth to shore up Milwaukee.
Assuming there are no further disciplinary issues, Gobert is eligible to return after one game.
