He had not appeared on the court since his team’s victory in New Orleans on January 3. Tested positive for Covid-19 at the start of the year, Rudy Gobert has since been subject to the health protocol of the North American League and placed in isolation at home. But obviously the French international had ants in his legs and arms.
After 5 missed games – and four defeats for his team – “Gobzilla”, one of the Frenchy’s nicknames, made his return to play overnight from Sunday to Monday. A remarkable and shattering return to the game.
The 29-year-old was one of the major players in the awakening of his team, which won (102-125) in Denver, with an impeccable line of stats (18 points, 19 rebounds and 2 blocks). Even winning his duel at the top against the MVP of the League, the Serbian pivot Nikola Jokic who still managed a nice raid on his side with 25 points, 15 rebounds, 14 assists.
But while we know him for his powerful dunks and authoritarian counters, Gobert also stood out for another gesture against Denver. Rare at home!
At the very end of the first period of the game, on the fallout of yet another rebound in his racket, the French Olympic vice-champion swung the big orange ball into the opposing basket. A gesture of quarterback of more than 20 m, which he carried out with disconcerting ease and ease as if the ball did not weigh heavier than a tennis ball. But the joy will have been short-lived for him and his partners.
The basket is indeed finally refused for… A fraction of a second, the pivot sent the ball just after the half-time buzzer. This shot could have been historic for the triple best defender in the NBA. Rudy Gobert has never attempted a three-point shot since the start of his career across the Atlantic.
Within a second he could have scored his very first award-winning shot on his first attempt. His buddy Evan Fournier, who had launched one day that he would retire the day Gobert would register his first 3-point shot, was hot. But obviously his friend now has a new string to his bow.