By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert feels that it was wrong that he was presented by the media as the cause for the NBA’s suspension on March 11. Gobert was the first NBA player to test positive for coronavirus, a discovery that occurred before the tip-off of an away game of his team against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“The media portrayed it like I caused the NBA to shut down,” Gobert said in an interview with the Washington Post. “Instead of saying that it’s a pandemic and Rudy Gobert tested positive. For a lot of people who don’t think further than what’s put in their faces, they really thought I brought the coronavirus to the United States.”
Gobert received a lot of criticism after appearing in a video touching reporters’ microphones and cellphones in a presser. “It was hard for me to see so many people question my character based on one video. That was a big learning experience. I know who I am. People around me know who I am. Everyone is going to have a different perception and opinion of you. If I start putting my energy into that, I’m going to be living a very painful life.”
Here’s what Gobert also said on:
His relationship with Donovan Mitchell that was reported to be initially strained after the latter was also found positive for COVID-19.
“When everything happened, [Mitchell] was frustrated. I was frustrated. I really wanted to make sure that he was fine. It wasn’t really about going into a conflict or arguing. [After time passed], I was able to call him and tell him what was on my mind and he did the same. I think that’s what men should do. Don’t put the business out there in the media. People were seeing this as something that could destroy the group. I see it as something that could make the group even stronger. If you’re able to come back from that, we won’t be worried about a team beating us or a bad defensive quarter. It gives perspective.”
Dealing with the coronavirus away from his mother:
“The toughest part was that I was away from my mom,” Gobert said reluctantly, noting that mother and son are in the midst of the longest separation of his life. “I didn’t want her to come over because I didn’t know if I was still contagious or not. I still haven’t seen my mom since everything happened. It’s something I don’t really like to talk about, but she’s supported me a lot since I was very young. Just knowing how worried she was and knowing she wasn’t able to be with me, it was pretty tough mentally.”