While some believe that exceptional athletes are not born made, it has become a known fact that talent without hard work does not matter much. Rudy Gobert is an exceptional athlete who has excelled for most of his life; not only by his outstanding size but also by his outstanding talent on the basketball court. Even at a young age, he showed many prospects of becoming the celebrated player he is today. Although a little rough around the edges, he is known for his diligence, toughness, tenacity, and passion for competition.
All his hard work culminated in the outstanding career he enjoys today in the NBA. He has won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2018 and 2019. This achievement makes him one of the 10 players who have won this award at least twice in NBA history. He also plays for the French national basketball team and was named French Player of the Year 2019. As Rudy continues to break records and set a new precedent, the French-born player is definitely at the peak of his career.
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Early Life and Career Inception
Born on 26 June 1992 in Saint-Quentin, France, Rudy Gobert discovered his love for basketball at an early age. His love of the game may have been inspired by his father, who was once a professional basketball player. While growing up in his hometown, he started playing for the club JSC St-Quentin in 2003. Later he joined the club Saint-Quentin BB.
In 2007, he was admitted to the training center for the cadet categories of Cholet Basket. As his hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed, he was accepted into the French U-18 national team in 2010. With this team, he participated in the FIBA Europe U-18 Championship. During the championship, he was voted best rebounder and best scorer of the team. From 2009 to 2013 he played for both the Cholet Basket Junior and Senior teams.
How Rudy Gobert Became A Successful NBA Star
With an outstanding amateur career, Rudy Gobert has declared for the NBA Draft 2013. He was elected by the Denver Nuggets on June 27, 2013, as the 27th overall selector. On the draft night, he was then switched to Utah Jazz, where he played in the 2013 NBA Summer League.
With a height of 7 feet 1 inch and a wingspan of 7 feet 9 inches, he quickly earned the nickname ‘Stifle Tower’. While playing, he continued to improve his game and also finished third in the NBA Most Improved Player Award for the 2014-2015 season.
By 2016, after his original contract expired, he signed a 4-year extension for $102 million, making him the highest-paid French athlete at the time. That same year, he had a career-high of 22 points in the 112-105 win over the Phoenix Suns. His other career highlight came in 2017 with 27 points and 25 rebounds in the 112-107 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
He had another career highlight in March 2017 with 35 points and 13 rebounds in a 108-101 win against the New York Knicks. Other major highlights of his NBA career include the NBA Block Leader 2017, the All-NBA Second Team 2017 and 2019 and the three-time NBA All-Defensive First Team from 2017 to 2019.
His Parents Influenced His Career From Different Angles
Rudy admitted not to have experienced much racism while growing up, even though he was born of a white mother and a black father. His mother Corinne Gobert raised him in Saint Quentin. He has described his humble beginnings quite vociferously and admits not to have much, but a place to sleep and a mother who was willing to do anything for him in his early years.
His father, Rudy Bourgarel, was a French basketball professional from 1988 to 1994. Apart from the nationality of his parents, Rudy has chosen not to speak deeply about his childhood. He has repeatedly hinted that he was raised by his mother, which implies that his parents were not together when he grew up. By all indications, his father seems to be a part of his life, since he shared what his father told him when he started playing basketball.
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His father advised him not to play basketball because of him and should always remember to have fun playing. He also admitted how proud his father was that he played in the NBA, a dream he had but never realized. Sports analysts keep pointing out the similarities between Rudy and his father, as they both have excellent physical characteristics with good size, strength, good length, and the ability to run the ground.
Does Rudy Gobert Have a Girlfriend?
Rudy has done everything to focus on his professional career, which has paid off. At the moment there is no information about who he is with or if anyone is in the picture at all. The amazing basketball prodigy was not photographed with any woman other than his family, which makes it difficult to determine if he is in a relationship. Right now, the basketball star is concentrating on reaching the peak of his career.