Rudy Gobert is a professional basketball player from France. In 2022, he started playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the National Basketball Association. He has also played for the Utah Jazz and the NBA G-League team the Bakersfield Jam.
Player Profile and Personal Life
Rudy Gobert-Bourgarel was born on June 26, 1992, in Saint-Quentin, France. He stands 216 cm tall and his weight was last listed at 117 kg. He is right-handed and he plays center. Gobert has been given the nicknames The Stifle Tower, The French Rejection, The Gobert Report, and Gobzilla.
His father played basketball in college for Marist College in New York.
| Team |
Minnesota Timberwolves
|
| Position | Center |
| Height / weight | 2.16 m / 117 kg |
| Born | 26 Jun 1992 |
| Nationality |
France
|
| Playing Style | Right Handed |
| Nickname | The Stifle Tower |
| Team History | |
|
Minnesota
|
2022 - present |
Utah
|
2013 - 2022 |
|
Utah
|
2013 - 2020 |
| Bakersfield Jam | 2013 - 2014 |
| Cholet | 2011 - 2013 |
Gobert started playing basketball at a very early age. He joined the JSC-St. Quentin club when he was 11 years old. By 2010, he took part in the French U18 national team and competed in the FIBA Europe U18 Championship.
Professional Career
Gobert’s professional career began when he played for Cholet Basket from 2009 to 2011. It was only in 2013 when he declared for the NBA draft. By June 27, 2013, he was selected by the Denver Nuggets as the 27th overall pick but was immediately traded to the Utah Jazz.
He then signed his rookie contract with the Jazz on July 6 and took part in the NBA Summer League. From then on until the present, Gobert is still playing for the Jazz, earning several recognitions while doing so.
In 2022, Gobert was traded from the Jazz to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
From 2020 to 2022, he was named an NBA All-Star. Also in 2022, he led the NBA in rebounds. He has also been named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
In addition to his professional career, he also represented France internationally, most recently at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where he helped lead the team to win the Silver for men’s basketball. Gobert has also represented France in the World Cup and EuroBasket. In 2019, he was named the French Player of the Year.
Career Highlights
- 2020–2022 - NBA All-Star
- 2017 - All-NBA Second Team
- 2019–2021 - All-NBA Third Team
- 2018, 2019, 2021 - NBA Defensive Player of the Year
- 2017–2022 - NBA All-Defensive First Team
- 2022 - NBA rebounding leader
- 2017 - NBA blocks leader
- 2019 - French Player of the Year
Medal record, Men’s basketball, Representing France
- Silver - 2020 Summer Olympics Tokyo
- Bronze - 2014 World Cup Spain
- Bronze - 2019 World Cup China
- Silver - 2022 EuroBasket Germany
- Bronze - 2015 EuroBasket France
