What we did with Rudy was to project to a certain degree that he could finish, rebound and that he could not only be a presence, but a shot-blocker. Did we know he could do all these things to this degree? No. – Utah Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey
SALT LAKE CITY — Chanel. Chevalier. Monet. Depardieu. A few of the famous French.
And now, Gobert.
Coco Chanel was raised in an orphanage before becoming a fashion designer. Maurice Chevalier was an unpaid café singer when a theatre member took note. Claude Monet’s paintings were at first derisively called “impressions.” Actor Gerard Depardieu went to prison before being discovered by a talent scout.
Then there’s Rudy Gobert, an emerging artist in his own right.
Who discovered him?
It’s no coincidence the Jazz’s record since the All-Star break has paralleled the rise of their 7-foot-1 center. Thanks to him and fellow big man Derrick Favors, the team is tied for third in the NBA in blocks per game.
So here he comes, the Stifle Tower, the French Resistance or — as Napoleon was sometimes called — the Nightmare of Europe. But Gobert isn’t just tall. He’s lithe, light and can glide for his size. In the last month he has discovered himself, becoming far more aggressive. Against Memphis, last week, he roared up the lane for a power dunk, and followed up moments later with an even more violent left-handed stuff. Windows rattled in Nashville. He finished the game with 24 rebounds.
And people say the French are pacifists.
He has had 25 games with at least three blocks. Talk about a siege. In 1799, the Turks defeated Napoleon at Acre. Not this time. Enes “Big Turk” Kanter could score and rebound, but once Gobert got going, the battle was over. The Jazz traded Kanter on Feb. 19.
“What we did with Rudy was to project to a certain degree that he could finish, rebound and that he could not only be a presence, but a shot-blocker,” general manager Dennis Lindsey says. “Did we know he could do all these things to this degree? No.”
Suddenly everyone’s speaking French. Not Go-BERT; Go-BEAR. With announcers, it’s Rudygobert, one word in rapid succession. Jazz fans haven’t enjoyed enunciating a name so much since Sundiata Gaines. But while Gaines had his day, Gobert is playing like an All-Star. He sends shots back, postage due, wipes the glass squeaky clean. And he can score enough to warrant attention. Before Friday’s game against Philadelphia, he tallied in double figures in five consecutive outings.
While the Jazz deserve credit for foresight, having watched him since he was 16, they weren’t alone. There’s not a scout alive who will ignore rumors of a 7-foot teen.
“By and large, the average NBA scout, executive or coach all like the same players for the same reasons,” Lindsey says. “So that’s not real hard. What gets real hard is when you have 100-plus prospects and have to put an order to it.”
When Jazz staffers are making their draft lists, each names his No. 1 pick, then second, etc.
“I know you’re going to roll your eyes, but it really was an organizational collective decision,” Lindsey says. He credits ownership Greg and Steve Miller, senior adviser Kevin O’Connor, global scouting director Rich Sheubrooks, player personnel vice president Walt Perrin, former coaches Tyrone Corbin and Jerry Sloan and operations director Richard Smith among those who scouted and/or watched the workouts. Lindsey was key in the acquisition, though he says he doesn't recall all the details of the process, which took several years.
Gobert visited the Jazz's practice center to shoot free throws late on the night before his pre-draft workout. When the next day arrived, the Jazz were “pretty taken back by how well he did and how hard he played.”
Afterward, Lindsey teased Smith about how low he had Gobert on his draft list before the workout.
“Smitty comes in and significantly changes his list by moving Rudy to the top of his draft order,” Lindsey says.
All the Jazz had to do after that was work a deal with the Nuggets, who drafted Gobert 27th in 2013, then sent him to the Jazz for Erick Green and cash.
When opponents get within 5 feet of the rim, and Gobert is in range, they make just 38 percent of their shots — lowest in the NBA. Golden State’s Andrew Bogut and Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka are next best. Noted Indiana center Roy Hibbert is seventh.
But it wasn’t just a matter of projecting Gobert’s gifts, Lindsey says. They traded a second-round pick and significant cash considerations for the rights.
“We thought he would be a good player but we didn’t know it would happen this soon, to this degree,” Lindsey says. “No one had a crystal ball to say this is what he’s going to do in his second year.”
Yet here he is.
France again rules.
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