Minnesota Timberwolves star Rudy Gobert came frighteningly close to a catastrophic injury on Monday night when a piece of the Target Center’s jumbotron came crashing down-landing just a foot in front of him.
The near-disaster struck at the end of the first quarter, as Gobert casually walked toward his team’s bench. Out of nowhere, a black piece of equipment, believed to be part of the arena’s horn system, plummeted from above, bouncing violently off the court.
Gobert immediately recoiled in shock, stepping back and putting his hands on his head. His teammate Naz Reid looked equally stunned, staring up at the jumbotron in disbelief.
When asked if his life flashed before his eyes after the terrifying incident, Gobert’s response was short but telling: “Yes,” he said with a relieved smile.
Despite everything, Gobert delivered a double-double
Thankfully, the towering French center was unharmed and went on to finish the game strong, posting 18 points and 10 rebounds as the Timberwolves secured a 100-92 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
The near-miss raises questions about the safety of the Target Center’s $128.9 million renovation, which included the installation of the massive jumbotron back in 2016. Each of its four main displays measures approximately 18 feet high and 33 feet wide-making Monday night’s equipment failure a serious cause for concern.
Despite the shocking moment, the Timberwolves never lost focus, maintaining control throughout the game. Anthony Edwards led the team with 23 points, while Julius Randle contributed 20. Gobert’s resilience was on full display as he anchored the team defensively while putting up his double-double.
Minnesota is on a winning streak
With this victory, Minnesota extends their winning streak to three games and improves to 25-21 on the season. They now turn their attention to a crucial matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.
While the Timberwolves celebrated the win, Gobert and the team will no doubt be hoping for safer conditions the next time they take the court at the Target Center.