Rudy Gobert Fights Back Tears After All-Star Snub
Feb 1, 2019, 1:10 PM | Updated: 1:25 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – One day after being snubbed by the NBA coaches when he wasn’t selected as a reserve to the 2019 NBA All-Star game in Charlotte, North Carolina, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert publicly addressed his feelings after being left off the All-Star roster.
Rudy Gobert expressed his frustration with getting snubbed for the #NBAAllStar team but immediately shared what he is grateful for. #teamiseverything #utahjazz #nba pic.twitter.com/NnRE8dodHX
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) February 1, 2019
Gobert was emotional during the media availability at shootaround as the Jazz get ready to face the Atlanta Hawks at Vivint Smart Home Arena. At the end of the media session, the Jazz big man turned his head and covered his eyes before walking off in tears.
On Thursday night, when the All-Star reserves were revealed, Gobert’s mom called him and was crying. He said it was a “rough night.”
Rudy Gobert gets emotional during this morning’s shootaround while taking questions about being snubbed for the #NBAAllStar team. The video starts with him discussing a phone call from his mother during a “rough night”. #teamiseverything #utahjazz #nba pic.twitter.com/7DwOpoqHys
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) February 1, 2019
President Steve Starks tweeted out that the coaches should be held accountable and that the ballots should be made public.
Rudy deserved to be named an All-Star. Complete non-sense and we need more integrity and accountability. If the coaches vote than their ballots should be made public.
— Steve Starks (@StevenStarks) February 1, 2019
Jazz players showed support for Gobert on Twitter. Donovan Mitchell said that they will prevail together.
Together we will prevail big fella🙏🏾 #robbed #uhoh pic.twitter.com/fCWdvNe9Z4
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) February 1, 2019
Joe Ingles expressed his frustration on Twitter saying that the league should have voted Gobert as an All-Star because of his presence defensively.
For a game that preaches defense wins championships, @rudygobert27 deserves to be an All-Star. There’s no one like him in the league. Whilst being super efficient on offense! 🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️ #robbed
— Joe Ingles (@Joeingles7) February 1, 2019
The big men who were voted in as reserves from the Western Conference includes San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge, Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl Anthony-Towns, Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic and New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis.