![]() In the 28 years the United States has been bringing NBA players to international tournaments, they’ve never faced an opponent that made such an impact on both ends of the floor. “If he plays good defense,” France’s Nicolas Batum said afterward, “we know it’s going to be easy for us, because we knew we have the big tower behind us. Tonight, before the game, I was just thinking that.” ![]() When I was 20, 21, I used to watch games and I was thinking that there’s going to be a short window of time when we’re going to be able to do it. With him off the floor, France scored just five points on 10 possessions.ĭefensively, he was the anchor that kept the Americans from getting to the basket and allowed his teammates to pressure the ball. With Gobert on the floor, France scored 84 points on 64 possessions (1.31 per). When Gobert got the ball, he took advantage of smaller defenders, scoring inside and getting to the line, where he shot 9-for-10 (he’s just a 63% career foul shooter in the NBA). He set most of the screens that set Evan Fournier free for a team-high 22 points. Gobert took advantage of the opportunity. I was thinking we might not ever get the opportunity again.” Tonight, before the game, I was just thinking that. “When I was 20, 21, I used to watch games and I was thinking that there’s going to be a short window of time when we’re going to be able to do it. Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.“I’ve been dreaming about this for a while,” Gobert said of beating the United States. Gobert has four years and $170 million left on a five-year, $205 million deal he signed with the Jazz last summer. Minnesota struck the deal less than 24 hours of coming to an agreement on a $224 million, four-year extension with Towns, who is now under contract for the next six years. Minnesota, barring other moves, could have a starting lineup of D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, along with Gobert and Towns. He’ll start alongside elite big man Karl-Anthony Towns, forming what arguably will be the best 1-2 big-man punch in the league. Meanwhile, Gobert is part of a new duo now: Twin Towers in the Twin Cities. The Jazz, who brought back many key players from 2020-21, when they had the NBA’s best regular-season record, lost to the Dallas Mavericks in six games for their second first-round exit in three seasons. Like a few other teams on the top of that list - the Lakers and Brooklyn, primarily - they wound up as disappointments. Utah entered last season as one of the favorites to win the NBA title. There’s been a series of disappointing playoff exits for Gobert and Mitchell, which led to the annual question of whether the two could coexist on a title-contending team. What's next? Making sense of the reported Rudy Gobert trade. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowksi reports that Utah’s intention is now to retool its roster and build around Mitchell. This week the Jazz also hired Will Hardy - a longtime San Antonio assistant and an assistant for Boston on its run to the Eastern Conference title this past season - to take over on the bench.Īnd now, Gobert leaves, officially ending his pairing with guard Donovan Mitchell in Utah - an on-court relationship that seemed really good at times, and strained at other moments. Utah acquired a 2023 first-round pick from the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday in exchange for Royce O’Neale. He leaves a Jazz team that has loaded up on a slew of future assets since the start of free agency. He’s made the All-Star Game in three consecutive seasons with averages of 15 points and 13.9 rebounds per game. Gobert is a three-time Kia Defensive Player of the Year and has been a First Team All-Defensive selection for six straight seasons. ![]() Minnesota is receiving one of the best defenders in the NBA. Welcome to the squad, □ /8SgOos2CUrįor being a leader in the community and easy to root for on and off the court-Thank you, ❤️ /WGtp5PXO6d Rudy Gobert averaged 15.6 ppg and 14.7 rpg and will join fellow All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota.Īll-NBA center Rudy Gobert is on the move after being traded by the Utah Jazz to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the teams announced today.
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