Gobert Agrees To Contract Extension With Utah Jazz
Dec 20, 2020, 7:45 AM | Updated: 9:22 am
Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz dunks during a game against the Orlando Magic at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 17, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz and center Rudy Gobert have agreed to a contract extension. The Jazz and their All-Star center have a deal in place that will keep Gobert in Utah for the next several seasons. The deal was first reported by Grant Afseth of SportsKT and confirmed by KSL Sports.
According to Tim MacMahon from ESPN, the deal will be for $205 million dollars for the next five years.
Rudy Gobert has agreed to a 5-year, $205M extension with the Jazz, he told ESPN. It’s the biggest contract ever for a big man. Gobert: “It means they believe in me. They believe in what we’ve been building over the years with this whole organization.” https://t.co/hPJwYMdSS5
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 20, 2020
Gobert was set to hit unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2021, but the two sides can now avoid the process with an extension in place.
Had Gobert remained unsigned, he would have been free to negotiate a contract with any team in the NBA next offseason. Instead, the Jazz can now count on the All-NBA center to anchor the team’s defensive unit for years to come.
According to a league source, Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert is expected to sign a long-term deal before the Dec. 21 deadline.
Gobert’s deal with the Jazz is expected to be for five-years and worth in the ballpark of $200M in total salary.
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) December 20, 2020
Gobert is eligible to sign a five-year deal worth up to roughly $250 million. KSL Sports was unable to confirm the financial numbers reported by Afseth.
Earlier this month the Jazz signed fellow All-Star Donovan Mitchell to a five-year, $163 million extension with a bonus structure that could increase the value to $193 million.
The Jazz made a splash when free agency opened by re-signing guard Jordan Clarkson to a four-year, $52 million deal. Former Jazzman Derrick Favors will return to Utah to back up Gobert on a three-year, $27 million deal.
It's official! Derrick Favors is back with the @UtahJazz. #TakeNote https://t.co/bacZHwIlZS
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 25, 2020
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Gobert was originally acquired by the Jazz on draft night 2013 after a trade with the Denver Nuggets. The French big man has career averages of 11.7 points and 11 rebounds, and was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019.
Gobert has been named to four consecutive NBA All-Defensive First teams, while earning All-NBA honors in three of the last four seasons.
The Jazz open their season on Wednesday on the road at the Portland Trail Blazers.
