There will therefore be no French at the 2024 All Star Game. A week after that of the starters, the list of replacements was revealed during the night from Thursday to Friday.
A total of 24 players will participate in the 73rd All-Star Game on February 18 in Indianapolis.
Among the 14 French expatriates across the Atlantic, two were in the conversation, including Victor Wembanyama.
The 20-year-old phenomenon has just completed an XXL January, which earned him the title of Rookie of the Month.
Given the competition in the West and the results of San Antonio, his non-selection is in no way scandalous.
Especially since boys like Domantas Sabonis aren't there either... For Rudy Gobert, it's something else.
He deserved his place, he who is the keystone of the best defense in the NBA.
Leaders in the West, the T-Wolves will send two players to Indiana, Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony Towns.
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Before experiencing three consecutive selections, from 2020 to 2022, the former Choletais had burst into tears, overwhelmed by emotion after being snubbed, while he shone under the colors of the Utah Jazz.
Not this time.
The three-time best defender in the League (2018, 2019, 2021) was in an offensive mood on Friday, the day after the announcement of the
“ASG”
replacements and before facing Orlando last night, a defeat on the line 106- 108 despite the 22 points, 16 rebounds and 2 blocks from the French number 27.
Read alsoNBA: Gobert and Wembanyama miss the cut, no French at the All Star Game
The best defender in the world will have the opportunity to enjoy a few days at the beach.
Rudy Gobert
After congratulating his little comrades Edwards and
“
KAT
”
, the pivot of the Blues noted that
“this is not the first time that we have lacked respect.
I've been in the NBA for a long time, I know how it works.
And in the end I'm happy, it will give me an extra vacation (smile).
The best defender in the world, who plays on the best team in the West, the best defense in the league, will have the opportunity to enjoy a few days at the beach during All Star weekend.
In a way, it's a blessing
,” he joked to the journalists, he who will not even use this disappointment as additional motivation.
“When I was younger, that was the case.
But today, I know what I bring, I know my value
,” he insists, already seeing himself… in the Hall of Fame.
“During my introductory speech to the Hall of Fame, I will have the opportunity to talk about these days off to which I was entitled during these years when I was snubbed for the All Star Game”
, cowardly he smiles but is ultimately very serious.
Remember that only three French players have had the honors of the All Star Game, Tony Parker (6 selections), Joakim Noah (2 selections) and Rudy Gobert.
Only one is part of the prestigious Hall of Fame, the pantheon of American basketball glory, it is Tony Parker, introduced as recently as last summer.
With his three titles as best defender, perhaps soon four, the former Cholet player will have serious arguments to join “TP” when the time comes.
Read alsoNBA: LeBron, Antetokounmpo, Durant… The starters for the All Star Game are known
“
KAT
”
rather than Gobert
Still, the value that the Picardy giant speaks about is not only measured by his averages, more than 13 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks and 60% shooting.
Nothing to do with his teammate Karl Anthony Towns for example, who averages nearly 23 points and 9 rebounds.
Gobert's impact, however, is gigantic.
Without him, Minnesota's defense wouldn't be what it is.
However, it is thanks to defense that the Timberwolves, 19th in attack, are leading the West and second in the entire Association.
This is the kind of thing that the coaches – who vote for the replacements – could/should have rewarded.
Probably refusing to send more than two Minnesota players to the party, they undoubtedly favored the statistics and style of
“
KAT
”
, more flashy, spectacular and
“
All Star Game compatible
”
.
Besides the excellent guard Anthony Edwards, who has more than 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5
assists
and
whose absence no one would have understood, a second Wolf was needed
.
It remained to know which one and to decide between the two.
Besides the style and the stats, not to mention the insane competition in the West again this season, the image of Rudy Gobert may not have helped.
Between his tears on television, his lapses at the start of the Covid-19 crisis, his bloodshed during a falling out with one of his teammates at the end of last season, not to mention the criticisms of some NBA figures , active like Draymond Green, or retired, like Shaquille O'Neal, the Olympic vice-champion is one of the players most hated by the US public, it's a fact.
That shouldn't be a factor for the coaches, obviously.
But that probably doesn't help them rush to his candidacy either when players like Laker Anthony Davis are in the running.
And again, the 31-year-old French international (100 caps) is not convinced by the theory according to which it was him or Karl-Anthony Towns, he who never stopped singing the praises of
“
KAT
”
,
“
Ant
”
or the Minnesota team in general during his speech in front of the journalists, smiling, relaxed and joking:
“I don’t think it was between us.
That may be the case in people's minds, but we are two great players who are different.
Like I said, there is only one player who can do what I do.
And there is only one player in the world who can do what Karl does!”
.
Read alsoNBA: Wembanyama and Coulibaly selected for the Rising Stars in Indiana during the All Star Game
I'll laugh about it during my Hall of Fame introductory speech.
Rudy Gobert
And continued:
“I'm able to be really happy for the guys, Karl has been through so much, and so has Anthony.
They worked.
I'm happy that the team is rewarded and I know what it means to Karl, so I'm very happy for him.
For me, there are other, higher goals.
I may never have the respect I deserve, but that's okay, I know my value, what I bring.
I will laugh about it during my introductory speech to the Hall of Fame
.
Of which act.
Remember that in the event of a forfeit, it is up to Adam Silver to designate the replacement.
With his almost triple-double average, Domantas Sabonis (19.9 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists) would probably not be far off the mark if an interior player were to finally give up on the West.
Rudy Gobert will follow all this from his sofa or... a deckchair, before tackling the second part of the season, with dreams of the coronation in his head.
All before putting on the French team tunic again for the Paris Olympics next summer.
As for the title of best defender, he extends his arms to him.
Right now, he's his.
Big favorite.
It would be his fourth, a record.
And that’s worth all the All Star Game selections.