Rudy Gobert is a name that matters in the NBA microcosm, and has been for several years. Despite this, there is a legend who can boast of having discovered it before everyone else and of having jumped on the hype train at the first stop. As early as 2015, a Hall of Famer predicted a great future for him.
This is the case in all sports, being a legend in a discipline is not necessarily synonymous with great knowledge of it. If Michael Jordan undoubtedly understands basketball better than anyone else on the court, he was never a great leader in Washington or Charlotte, proof that he lacked something in understanding the position.
For example, his repeated failures in the Draft show that he does not necessarily have an eye for detecting and developing talent in young players. As a reminder, he is the man behind the selection of Kwame Brown in 2001, when Pau Gasol was available, or behind that of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist ahead of Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard…
Dikembe Mutombo’s compliment to Rudy Gobert
Fortunately, not all Hall of Famers have this problem, and some even have an incredibly keen eye for seeing potential. This is particularly the case of Dikembe Mutombo, who made a big prediction about Rudy Gobert in 2015, when he was only playing his second season with the Jazz and he was not yet a potential starter. He spoke at the time for the Denver Post :
Players who exude a defensive presence similar to mine in the NBA? I will say that there are several talented young people who are coming to the forefront and who will continue to progress in the coming years. But above all there is a young pivot who plays for the Utah Jazz, this Frenchman. He really does a great job.
At the time of this interview, Rudy Gobert was not yet known to the general public, both in the United States and in France, and yet, Dikembe Mutombo already saw him as his potential successor. It must be said that with 8.4 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks on average, the Frenchman was already showing very good things on the court. And then a few months after this compliment, he totally exploded:
Let’s take a look at some early 2015-16 Rudy Gobert blocks. This is what I mean when I say NO ONE attacks Rudy straight on anymore, hence his low block numbers nowadays. Players now learned to steer clear. Generational Deterrence pic.twitter.com/V6cUz13sZR
— Stifle-Tower27 (@Stifle_Tower27) January 27, 2023
Rudy Gobert is often criticized by fans, but legends know how valuable he is on the field. The proof, as early as 2015, Dikembe Mutombo designated him as his potential successor and it could not be more accurate.
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