In the last couple of years alone, Rudy Gobert has taken Draymond Green’s constant verbal barrages, Terance Mann exposing him in the playoffs, and the fallout from Microphonegate 2020 all in stride. But Gobert appears to have finally reached his breaking point due to what the Dallas Mavericks said to him during Monday’s game.
The Utah Jazz center expressed anger at some trash talk from the Mavs bench after his team’s 111-103 loss to Dallas.
“There were a lot of things being said that wouldn’t be said outside of a basketball court,” said Gobert, per Eric Walden of the Salt Lake Tribune. “A lot of things that I would never say. I’m not perfect but I don’t say things to guys on the court that I wouldn’t say to their face outside the locker room. It’s a lot of talk.
“You’ve got guys on the bench that don’t play that just keep talking and saying some stuff,” Gobert added. “The officials can hear and they don’t do anything. As a man, it’s like, is it worth being suspended? We shouldn’t have to ask ourselves that question … If someone’s disrespected, at some point, as men, we’re gonna ask ourselves: Do we want to stay on the court, or penalize our team and stand up for ourselves? I usually take the first option.”
Gobert would not repeat what was said. But it was a very chippy game where multiple technical fouls were handed out. Gobert also had an incident with Mavs star Luka Doncic during the second quarter.
Utah and Dallas could end up facing each other in Round 1 of the playoffs as they are currently fourth and fifth in the West, respectively. If that matchup does come to pass, expect Gobert to pull up with a bit more fire in his eyes.
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
