The Dallas Mavericks were not exactly saying “blessings to your family” to Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert during their recent game. One of the culprits though is coming clean about what actually was said to Gobert.
In an interview this week on the “Locked on Mavericks” podcast, Mavericks guard Theo Pinson revealed what his team said to tick off Gobert during the Dallas-Utah matchup on March 7.
“We didn’t even say nothing crazy,” said Pinson. “He did a hook shot and it hit Jerry West [the NBA logo] on the backboard. We was like, ‘Rudy, what was that?’ I promise you, we didn’t say anything crazy to that man. Nothing. I think it got in his head that we were like, ‘What was that?’
“We had him for the rest of the game,” Pinson added. “He was done. It was over then. We was like, ‘Bro, you hit Jerry West. What did he do to you?’ And Jerry West is at the corner of the backboard, bottom corner.”
Pinson didn’t even play during the game in question, but he and the rest of the Dallas bench definitely took out some free real estate in Gobert’s head. The Mavericks also went on to win the game 111-103.
Based on Gobert’s fiery comments afterwards blasting the Mavericks bench, it seemed like the trash talk was a lot worse than Pinson claims here. But in any case, the No. 4 seed Jazz and the No. 5 seed Mavericks are a likely first-round playoff matchup, so Gobert may have his day for revenge soon.
Photo: Feb 24, 2020; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) warms up before the game against the Phoenix Suns at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
