And three! Unsurprisingly, which does not make this recognition trivial, Rudy Gobert was selected, as in 2020 and 2021, to play in the All-Star Game on February 13 in Cleveland, bringing together the best NBA players. The 29-year-old French pivot is rewarded for his excellent season (16 pts, 15.1 rebounds, 2.3 average blocks in 42 matches) with the Jazz, for the moment the best of his career in the North American League. He is thus one of the 14 replacements chosen by the coaches of the thirty franchises.
The other players called up to be substitutes, playing like him in the Western Conference, are Luka Doncic (Dallas), Chris Paul (Phoenix), Devin Booker (Phoenix), Draymond Green (Golden State), Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota) and Donovan Mitchell (Utah).
On the East were called James Harden (Brooklyn), Zach LaVine (Chicago), Darius Garland (Cleveland), Jimmy Butler (Miami), Khris Middleton (Milwaukee), Jayson Tatum (Boston) and Fred VanVleet (Toronto).
Almost titular
A week ago, ten incumbents were chosen by the votes of fans, players and journalists: in the West LeBron James (Lakers), Stephen Curry (Warriors), Nikola Jokic (Denver), Ja Morant (Memphis) and Andrew Wiggins Warriors); in the East Kevin Durant (Brooklyn), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee), Joel Embiid (Sixers), DeMar DeRozan (Chicago) and Trae Young (Atlanta).
James and Durant having been the most popular, they have been named captains and will choose their teammates next Thursday regardless of the conference from which they come.
Gobert’s 3rd selection places him 2nd among the “Frenchies”, ahead of Joakim Noah (2013, 2014) and still far behind the pioneer Tony Parker (2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014). Above all, “Gobzilla” really did not go far from being designated among the titular players, which would have made him the first Frenchman in history to know such an honor.
This was due to the vote of the fans, weighing 50% of the votes, which placed the native of Saint-Quentin in 9th place in the interiors. Journalists (25%) and players (25%) may have better recognized his qualities at their fair value, putting him in 3rd and 4th positions, this was insufficient to make him a holder.
More attacking impact
Not content with being the most deterrent player, he also dominates the ranking of the best rebounders this season, a title he has never won yet. Also, a fourth trophy seems on track, which would place him in the Pantheon of this category along with Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace.
If we still had to realize the impact that Gobert has within the Jazz, his absence due to the Covid – which he contracted for the second time three weeks ago, after the painful episode of March 2020 which had caused the season to be interrupted – has been extremely detrimental.
Utah has indeed lost four games in a row, conceding 118.6 points on average. And has just lost four more in a row in ten days, when he injured his calf.
The pivot of the France team, silver medalist in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics where he had shown signs of a more muscular offensive game, has also taken on a new dimension in attack, since his average of 16 points ( at 70.7% success) is his best to date. His partners thus solicit him much more in the phases in the opponent’s racket where his height (2.16 m) makes the difference. It now remains to be seen whether the two captains will be sensitive to it, for a friendly match where the spectacle offered takes precedence. Last year, LeBron James chose him last among the 14 replacements.
Source: 20minutes
