Minnesota Timberwolves center, Rudy Gobert, has been a fixture of the French National Basketball Team for a long time. On Tuesday, he was removed from the starting lineup in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics, under pressure from local fans.
Not long after, a finger injury was reported by multiple outlets, who also noted that surgery was required to fix the finger. Gobert didn’t start, but he did play three minutes in today’s game. France ended up winning in upset fashyion, over up and coming basketball power, Canada.
Rudy Gobert, Franch head coach at odds over benching
But in the hours since Gobert’s benching, and subsequent finger injury, were reported on (around 11:10 CDT), the real story behind what happened is shrouded in a confusing cloud of mystery.
In a tweet that has since been deleted, Ben Golliver (Washington Post) — who is on site in Paris — was told by the France head coach Vincent Collet that Rudy was benched because of “matchups”, not because of a finger injury.
At pretty much the same time, Jeff Zillgitt (USA Today Sports) was told by Gobert that his finger injury was indeed the main factor in why he was pulled from the starting five. Having fun yet?
Gobert didn’t even have surgery?
Good, because that isn’t where this detective case ends. Moments after, Sam Amick (The Athletic) listened to Gobert blame the finger injury for his reduced minutes, he walked over to France’s coach, who doubled down and added another layer of controversy.
Not only is Gobert lying about why he was benched, Collet claims, but he’s lying about the entire “surgery” angle. Rudy’s own head coach told reporters gathered that all he had done on his finger was an exam, which included an MRI. No surgery, though.
The French coach went on to explain that Gobert’s finger injury was a factor in why the 33-year-old center wasn’t in the starting lineup today, but not THE factor.
I mean… I don’t want to pile on top of Rudy Gobert today. But this is not a good look, for a lot of reasons. What motivation would your own head coach have to throw you under the bus, in this situation, with a lie?
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In other words, one person has to be lying, in this scenario. It’s difficult to look at this situation without bias, and see Rudy as the truthful one. Lying about how your benching went down? Blaming a surgery that never happened. Is your ego that fragile? If so, it’s time for another darkness retreat, maybe two.
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Man… that would be a cringe worthy look, especially given all the hate Gobert already gets. Then, France goes on to win, in large part thanks to him being pulled from the starting lineup. He played just three minutes and scored zero points. His replacements visibly dominated.
Could head coach Vincent Collet be to blame?
It is important to note that there has been controversy brewing within the French National Team, prior to today. Apparently, Gobert isn’t the only player (both old and young) who has been called out by head coach, Vincent Collet.
In all likelihood, this will go down as a blip on Rudy Gobert’s French National Team history, which is storied. The Olympics will come to a completion, and he will join Timberwolves training camp in a couple months.
This season, he will play a huge role in leading a very, very good Wolves team toward what they hope is a 2024-25 NBA Finals run. For the next week or two, though, handling the French media won’t be fun. Just be real, people.
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