By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Rudy Gobert went back to the 2024 Olympic Games, revealing his greatest regret.
Dealing with an injury during the tournament held during the offseason in his home country of France, his role was limited. Over six games played, he averaged 3.3 points and 4.0 rebounds en route to capturing a silver medal.
“I was proud of my teammates,” he described the most recent experience with the senior national team, before a clash opposite Victor Wembanyama in the 2024-25 Regular Season on NBA Sundays, per Basket USA, “I tried to give the national team everything I had, both on the court and especially off the court, as a leader, and on the bench when I was not playing. If such a situation happened years ago, I might have reacted differently, with more ego.”
“I am convinced that I could have contributed more,” he added on playing 12 minutes in the gold medal game against the United States, “My finger was a little better than in the Quarterfinals and The Semifinals. The Final is my biggest regret, not having the chance to come back on the court in the fourth quarter. We will never know but we learn and continue to move forward.”
“As a competitor, watching the fourth quarter from the bench, in a game I dreamed of since I was a kid, is tough,” he continued, “We beat the United States for the first time in the 2019 FIBA World Cup and I was on the court. We beat them again in 2021 and I was still on the court. This summer, it was frustrating not to be there again. This is a coach’s decision and I respect him.”
“He had always trusted me”
Playing under Vincent Collet through several major international tournaments, Gobert previously captured silver in the 2020 Olympics and the 2022 EuroBasket, His contributions amounted to bronze in the 2014 and 2019 editions of the FIBA World Cup, and the 2015 EuroBasket.
“I have a lot of good memories,” he referred to his relationship with the former selector of Les Bleus, “I will not only remember this last tournament because he gave me my chance when I was 22 against the Gasol brothers. Few people would have trusted me then.”
“Until the Final of the Olympic Games, he had always trusted me in difficult moments. And we had escaped impossible situations. We must not forget the six medals we won together. He was always there to help me develop and to coach me. I am still grateful.”
“The perfect opportunity”
With Frederic Fauthoux taking over, France is near a berth in the 2025 EuroBasket after four wins in as many games of Group E of the Qualifiers.
“It depends on many factors, my health, how I feel at the end of the season. I want but I am not 22 anymore,” he previewed a potential participation in next summer’s tournament, “If I play for the national team, it has to be at my best and to be able to be myself on the court.”
“I would love to have that gold medal at some point,” he switched to representing his country at the 2028 Olympic Games, “It would be the perfect opportunity to get it.”