Tested positive for the coronavirus last March and the cause of the shutdown of the NBA, Frenchman Rudy Gobert scored the first and last points of the first game of resumption of competition, Thursday.
The word “equality” replaced his last name on the back of his jersey. But it is with another very strong symbol that Rudy Gobert relaunched the NBA season on Thursday in the Disney World bubble in Orlando. The Frenchman, whose positive coronavirus test on March 11 caused the competition to stop, scored the first points of the resumption meeting, during Utah’s victory against the New Orleans Pelicans (106-104) .
He wanted to move on after the controversy
It was also he who scored the last matches of the meeting as a snub to the critics who had followed the announcement of his test. He had been accused of recklessness with a bad joke a few hours after the disclosure of his exam results. “I’m at a stage where I have to go to a higher level, he told RMC Sport on Wednesday. I think that everything that happened has helped me psychologically to take another step. be up to me to show it over the next few months. Am I being revenge? In a way, yes. I feel that Rudy Gobert can move to another level, it’s up to me to continue to progress. “
He kept his word during a close match where his team took the advantage four minutes from time to never let go. The 28-year-old pivot finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Rudy Gobert has the first bucket for the NBA restart pic.twitter.com/MIQULizyTG
– Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 30, 2020
Gobert sinks the game-winning free throws in the first game of the restart.Jazz W. pic.twitter.com/2801zREI0o
– Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 31, 2020
Gobert sends Zion’s shot ✋ pic.twitter.com/KreK40Ak1T
– Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 31, 2020
Before this closed-door meeting, the players and coaches of both teams, as well as the referees, all gathered along the sideline, knelt down to protest against racial injustices and show their support for the movement ” Black Lives Matter “in the wake of the death of George Floyd, asphyxiated during his arrest on May 25 in Minneapolis.
The last two free throws registered by the French gave a short but precious success to the Jazz, 4th in the West. Full-backs Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley each scored 20 points, the sixth man Jordan Clarkson adding 23. The Pelicans, 10th in the West and fighting for 8th qualifying place for the play-offs, did not go far from make a nice shot. But they lacked skill at the worst time, at the end of the 4th quarter that Zion Williamson did not play.
The rookie-phenomenon was nevertheless effective with 13 points (6/8 on shots) in 15 minutes, but his preparation having been disrupted by a departure from the Orlando bubble for family reasons, he still lacks pace and endurance .
