You don’t have to be an avid basketball fan to know the name Rudy Gobert. The Minnesota Timberwolves center, who also plays for the French national team, made headlines back on March 9, 2020; two days before WHO officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
As many people around the world became concerned and began taking precautions, Gobert was skeptical about the disease and what he did during his press conference raised eyebrows. At the time, the athlete played for the Utah Jazz and when he was done answering the reporters’ questions, he jokingly touched all the microphones with his hands. Following that incident, the NBA announced that Gobert had tested positive for the coronavirus and suspended the season.
These days, Gobert has made headlines for other incidents such as a few on-court altercations and why he missed Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Denver Nuggets. Here’s more on that and what we know about his girlfriend Julia Bonilla.
Gobert and Bonilla announced some more big news when they revealed their relationship
Gobert is a private person and only revealed his relationship with Bonilla in February 2024 when he shared the news that they were expecting their first child together. Gobert posted two photos on Instagram, one in which he is touching Bonilla’s belly and another where he is kissing her stomach. He captioned the post: “Legacy.”
Karl Anthony-Towns’ lady Jordyn Woods, along with fellow basketball players Joakim Noah, Austin Rivers, and Trey Lyles all sent congratulatory messages to Gobert and Bonilla.
Bonilla isn’t the only girlfriend of a Timberwolves player expecting a baby this season. Anthony Edwards announced he had a baby on the way with his partner Jeanine Robel, as did small forward Jaden McDaniels with his girlfriend Allison Aubrey.
On May 6, Gobert chose to miss a second-round playoff matchup against the Nuggets to be by Bonilla’s side for the birth of their son. That decision led to him being publicly mocked by some, including former NBA player Gilbert Arenas.
What Bonilla does for a living
Like Gobert, Bonilla is from France. She works as an artistic director and agent. She also hosts the podcast Journey and runs her blog Julia BNL.
Bonilla has stated that she wants to use her platform to highlight her own “musings on life.”
“I really wanted to speak without filters,” she said about her podcast and blog. “Talking about the struggles, the good times, the highs and lows to be able to touch the maximum number of people.”
Bonilla defended Gobert after anonymous poll and had the last laugh
In April 2024, The Athletic published its annual anonymous poll of the most overrated players in the league. Gobert landed atop the list, which is something Bonilla did not appreciate and she came to his defense.
“My partner is the most dedicated, focused, hard-working person I have ever met. He hasn’t stolen anything from anyone and deserves all the respect for his determination and commitment to his career,” she told TMZ. “It’s hard for me to stay quiet in front of so much stupidity, disrespect, and nonsense. I am so proud of the person he is — fair, a great teammate, with a good heart and a strong mind. I am proud of you, and our son is proud of you.”
Following the results of that poll, Bonilla and her man had the last laugh when Gobert won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. That marked his fourth time winning the honor, which is tied for the most in NBA history.
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