Wolves' Rudy Gobert Complains About Small Market Bias; Spurs Affected?
The small vs. big market argument is rearing its head once again.
All-Star center Rudy Gobert had some strong criticism of the officials following his Minnesota Timberwolves' 107-100 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, where the three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner claimed small-market bias in the league.
"We understand that we're not the biggest of the markets," Gobert said. "And we're a team that ... I think you want to see [Kevin Durant] in the playoffs, Steph [Curry] in the playoffs, you want to see LeBron in the playoffs. The Timberwolves are not there yet. We got to keep putting our head down, keep playing through that, and it's frustrating for sure, especially for me."
While there is an argument that small-market teams don't receive some advantages of teams such as the New York Knicks or Los Angeles Lakers, the San Antonio Spurs stand as the beacon of light.
Despite hailing from one of the country's largest cities, the Spurs have proven that small markets can shine on the biggest stages, winning five championships in 15 years and sustaining one of the most successful franchises during that time.
The Spurs aren't alone as the only small-market success story. The Milwaukee Bucks won an NBA championship two years ago and could be on their way to winning a second one this season. The Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings all sit atop the Western Conference standings, and there's a great chance one of those teams could make its first appearance in the NBA Finals.
The small-market bias Gobert is alluding to is there, but the advantages come from larger revenues, television deals and more things off the court. But the beauty of basketball is that what matters is the five players on the one team against the five players on the other. And the team that plays the best wins.
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Spurs? Click Here. Follow Inside the Spurs on Twitter.
Follow Inside the Spurs on Facebook.
Want even more San Antonio Spurs news? Check out the SI.com team page here.
