Gobert Says Goodbye To Jazz Fans On Instagram
Jul 1, 2022, 11:12 PM | Updated: 11:25 pm
Rudy Gobert during Spain vs France friendly match of basketball at Palacio de los Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena in Malaga prior to Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Final Score; Spain 86:77 France. (Photo by Francis Gonzalez/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
(Photo by Francis Gonzalez/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Rudy Gobert said goodbye to Utah Jazz fans on Instagram after he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
The French star took to social media to issue his farewell after nine seasons in Utah.
“Utah!!! I was just a kid from France when I got here 9 years ago but I felt embraced and supported since day one,” Gobert captioned the post. “I’ve grown as a man and as a player before your very eyes and I’m thankful from every single moment. Utah and its community will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you! Forever grateful. The journey continue… Much love.”
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During his time in Utah Gobert developed into one of the premiere big men in the NBA, and one of the greatest defenders in the history of the game.
The Jazz sent their franchise cornerstone to Minnesota in exchange for a massive haul of assets including five players, four future draft picks, and the rights to swap picks in 2026.
Since 2016, Gobert has been named to six consecutive All-Defensive first teams, he’s earned four All-NBA honors, three All-Star nods, and has won the Defensive Player of the Year award three times.
During the stretch, he averaged 14.8 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. He led the NBA in field goal percentage three of the six seasons, led the NBA in blocks per game in 2016-17, and led the league in rebounds per game last year.
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“Thankful for it all… the doubters, the supporters, and more importantly my teammates and all the amazing people around me that push me to be better every day,” Gobert added in a separate Instagram post. “It’s been an amazing journey with a lot of ups and downs and I wouldn’t want it any different. We only getting started.”
As of Friday night, the trade hadn’t been made official by either the Jazz or the Timberwolves.
