After nine seasons of good and loyal service in the colors of the Jazz, Rudy Gobert arrives for the first time in Salt Lake City with another jersey on his shoulders, tonight at 3am. Emotional sequence in anticipation, enough to remember the achievements of the Stifle Tower in Utah.
Ah, the reunion in the NBA. Whether happy or stormy for the principals concerned, they are at least always joyful for us, the fans and observers. And for Rudy Gobert, it’s time to return to lands he knows more than well. After spending nine years in Salt Lake City, Utah is like a second home for Rudy, who confided to Rémi Reverchon that he “instantly loved the landscapes and the mountains around” and that life there had allowed him to “connect with nature”. And no, for those who are wondering, our national Rudy is not talking about a trip to Kathmandu here.
“I spent nine years of my life here and I have lots of memories. I’ve made a lot of deep relationships with people I love, who have given me a lot of love over the years. It might be a little weird going into the ‘visitors locker room’ but I imagine this return will be full of joy and love.” Rudy Gobert for ESPN
Ah that, in terms of nature and wide open spaces, the giant of Saint-Quentin should not be out of place in Minnesota. At the game level either, we can not say that things have changed greatly. Contrary to the most optimistic predictions, D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards are not particularly more generous in passing than Donovan Mitchell was on the Jazz side. Spida him, that Rudy has already had the opportunity to find at the start of the season, on the other hand, seems to be enjoying himself in Ohio where he leads the Cavs third in the east. At Wolves, the party is less often at the rendezvous: a balance sheet barely balanced, a defense still not in place despite the arrival of the triple DPOY and automatisms which do not come.
The Jazz, which still prances among the top 6 of the Western Conference to everyone’s surprise, will undoubtedly roll out the red carpet to Rudy Gobert (we can imagine the tribute videos and the nice messages from Jazz fans in the room), but not question of giving a gift to Gobzilla and his wolf cubs. Still deprived of Karl-Anthony Towns, the Timberwolves will have to rely on the Frenchman to remind Walker Kessler who has been the boss of this Jazz for the past decade. Rudy himself admits in any case anticipating a return strong in emotions.
Rudy Gobert said he is anticipating “a lot of emotions” when he returns to Utah for the first time as a member of the Timberwolves.
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The long construction of the Jazz project, the hopes of greatness after a season at the top of the League, then the successive disillusions and the end of the course. Rudy Gobert will have been there, in Salt Lake City, from the beginning to the end of this adventure. He returns tonight to see his ex with whom, we hope, he will be able to stay on good terms. And this even when the Jazz take Minny out in the first round of the play-in.