Minnesota Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert is at the center of the news for France in the 2024 Olympics . However, it's not the starring role that anybody would want to be involved in.
After starting the Les Blues' three group stage games, Gobert has seen just nine minutes of total game action in France's quarterfinals and semifinals assignments combined. Head coach Vincent Collet later revealed that he pulled Rudy out of the starting lineup because he wanted to open the game with a defensive starting five.
According to Former Washington Wizards All-Star guard Gilbert Arenas , Gobert's benching on the French National team proves that he isn't even considered a good defensive player in his country, contrary to how the American journalists who voted him as the NBA's DPOY four times view him.
"It's clearly showing you that the defensive thing that we keep on saying," argued Gil. "He is a liability. We've been watching it over and over. He's considered the best defensive player. But when you need him to be there defensively, he's being pulled off the floor, so it's a contradiction to his awards."
Gobert did not finish games for the Timberwolves
Rudy is coming off winning his fourth NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. However, this year's voting was perhaps the most debated among his four Hakeem Olajuwon trophies, as many didn't think Gobert deserved it.
The French big man ranked second behind Domantas Sabonis in rebounding while also finishing 6th in blocked shots. However, Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch, time and again, kept Gobert on the bench during crucial stages of ball games because he is a defensive liability. That to Agent Zero is also what Vincent Collet had in mind.
"So they're clearly saying, we want to think defense. We need to bench this nig**. That doesn't even makes sense to his awards," added Gil. "It's a disrespect to his awards. I'm not gonna yell out defense and take out the Defensive Player of the Year."
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Boogie said Rudy shouldn't have won the 2024 DPOY award
One of Gobert's staunchest critics during the 2024 DPOY race was former NBA All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins. During an episode of his Bull Ball show, Boogie said Rudy should not win DPOY because he doesn't finish games for his team .
"If you're the best defender on the best defensive team, you should never be off the floor," said Cousins. "There should never be a scenario where you're not able to fit into the scheme. That doesn't make sense. So, how do we keep awarding this guy who can't even stay on the floor in the playoffs? We seen it time and time again. This is mind-blowing to me."
France takes on Team USA in the Olympic gold medal game on Saturday, and it will be interesting to see what role, if any, coach Collet gives The Stifle Tower. Most likely, he's going with the rotation that's given his team the most success in the tournament, and that's the lineup where Gobert is barely part of the rotation.
Related: France coach refutes Rudy Gobert's statement that he had finger surgery day before game vs. Canada
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