Some could have sunk in the face of such opprobrium.
He got up, sure of his talent and his destiny.
Almost a year ago to the day, Rudy Gobert contracted Covid-19.
The first contaminated NBA player, the Frenchman was quickly accused of recklessness and negligence when a video shot a few days earlier resurfaced - we see him having fun with the health rules put in place in front of the press.
At 28, the pivot of the Utah Jazz will finally sit down on March 7 in Atlanta at the table of the stars by participating in his second All-Star Game in a row.
Gobert is one of the 14 substitutes chosen by the coaches of the thirty franchises.
Third "Frenchie" in history to be called to "ASG", he is still far from Tony Parker and his six caps, but he joins Joakim Noah who has had this honor twice.
"Just a kid from Saint-Quentin"
Congratulated by his teammates Georges Niang and Mike Conley, who wished him "still a lot" of selections, Rudy Gobert also reacted by simply tweeting "#justakidfromSaintQuentin" ("just a kid from Saint-Quentin"), in reference to the star LeBron James, who often presents himself as the "kid from Akron", the Ohio town where he comes from.
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Rudy Gobert, the Frenchy who put the NBA to a halt
For "Gobzilla", designated best defender in the NBA in 2018 and 2019, this new selection testifies to the consideration he is now the subject of coaches.
A fortiori while the Jazz has the best record of the first part of the season (25-6).
His 13.9 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks on average help make his team one of the best defenses in the league.
Bad joke
The tears that had flowed, after learning that he had not been called for the 2019 edition, seem far away.
But the year that has just passed since his first “ASG” will not have been a long quiet river for all that.
After his contamination, NBA boss Adam Silver immediately suspended the season on the evening of March 11.
In addition to the fear felt for his physical health, Gobert had to take care of his image, between mea culpa, financial donations and awareness messages.
Reconcile also with his teammate Donovan Mitchell, who contracted Covid-19 in his wake and blamed him for his negligence.
So ... here is Rudy touching all the mics following Mondays shoot around that has some people concerned ... #TakeNote #utahjazz #CoronaVirus pic.twitter.com/dr4auECTr4
- Dave Fox (@ Davefox2) March 12, 2020
“The NBA was waiting for a case of Covid to stop the championship, it fell on me!
“, He told the Parisian last June.
The highest paid French sportsman
As a symbol, it was Rudy who won the ball at the kickoff of the first resumption game of the season, four and a half months later in the Orlando (Florida) bubble.
A return to the game that stopped in the first round of the play-offs for Jazz, nevertheless showing great promises.
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Certain that the future is theirs, with Mitchell and his teammates, Gobert this winter extended his contract with Utah, for $ 205 million over five years, becoming.
An additional pressure that hasn't paralyzed him in the least.
No more than the mockery of some, like Shaquille O'Neal, not understanding that we can invest so much for the 74th leading scorer in the league.
When it is used under the panels, Gobert is however effective (64.2%).
He also proved it in Chicago during his first All-Star Game, justifying his presence with 21 points and 11 successful rebounds within “Team Giannis” Antetokounmpo, narrowly defeated (157-155) by the “ Team LeBron »James.
NBA ALL-STAR 2020 #TeamLeBron 🆚 #TeamGiannis
🎥 The full summary!
#NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/9VWekmnOd5
- NBA France (@NBAFRANCE) February 17, 2020
It remains to be seen which captain will select him this time.
"King" James and Kevin Durant, the most popular stars by the vote of fans, players and journalists, will choose on March 4, in turn, without taking into account the conference from which the players come, the four holders who will make up their team's five major and substitutes.
