UTAH JAZZ

Dennis Lindsey Clears Air About Gobert And Mitchell Relationship

May 5, 2020, 4:17 PM | Updated: May 11, 2020, 12:57 am

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz Vice President of Basketball Operations Dennis Lindsey spoke about the relationship between Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell for the first time. In a call with the media Tuesday, Lindsey acknowledged the rift that exists in the Gobert and Mitchell relationship.

“They are ready to put this behind them, move forward, act professionally,” Lindsey said. “The COVID-19 night of March 12 was really unprecedented, it brought a microscope to our team.”

Gobert was the first major American athlete to test positive for the coronavirus. As a result, the Jazz matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder was canceled just minutes before tipoff. Then, hours later, the NBA season was suspended.

The next morning, Mitchell’s test results came back positive for the virus as well. Soon after, reports emerged that the Jazz guard was unhappy with Gobert’s cavalier attitude towards the virus.

“We look forward to moving forward,” Lindsey said. “They’ve said their peace to each other. They’ve both visited at the ownership level and management level at the coaches level with each other.”

The Jazz have used the time away from the game to converse on Zoom meetings to stay united as a team.

“They are fully participating in our zoom workouts,” Lindsey confirmed. “There’s going to be another level for the whole team to get back to each other. And frankly, I think our gratitude towards each other will be deeper.”

Gobert and Mitchell Relationship Healing

In mid-April, Gobert told broadcaster Taylor Rooks he and Mitchell and spoken about their relationship over the phone.

It’s true that we didn’t speak for a while after this. But we spoke a few days ago. We’re both ready to go out there and try to win a championship for this team.” Gobert said, “It’s not about being unprofessional, everyone has got different relationships — it’s never perfect. People that are married, it’s never perfect. Me and my teammates, it’s far from perfect but at the end of the day, we both want the same thing — it’s winning. We’re grown men, and we want to win.”

Though Mitchell has spoken only briefly about the feud, it appears the third-year guard is ready to move forward.

“We’ve moved on, I’m ready to hoop,” Mitchell told rapper Fat Joe.

Moving Forward

Though the team seems comfortable with the status of the Gobert and Mitchell relationship.

“We fully expect the team to come together in a great way and continue to move forward as a group,” Lindsey said. “I think at the most basic level they know they need each other to accomplish the goals they want to accomplish as the last team standing in the NBA.”

The league could open its practice facilities to select players as soon as Friday. However, Lindsey wasn’t committed to a single date as of yet. The league may prefer to hold off on opening it’s doors until more data is available.

 

 

  • Utah Jazz Scoreboard

  • Utah Jazz Team Leaders

  • Utah Jazz Standings

Utah Jazz

Keegan Murray #13 of the Sacramento Kings drives toward the basket as Walker Kessler #24 of the Uta...
Ben Anderson

Kessler Career-High Not Enough As Jazz Fall To Kings

Walker Kessler scored a career-high 31 points but it wasn't enough as the Utah Jazz fell to the Sacramento Kings 121-113. 
2 days ago
Kelly-Olynyk-Utah-Jazz-NBA...
Ben Anderson

Jazz Fall To Kings In Battle Of Shorthanded Rosters

The Utah Jazz fell to the Sacramento Kings 121-113 despite a career-high 31 points from rookie Walker Kessler.
2 days ago
Walker-Kessler-Utah-Jazz-NBA...
Brian Preece

Walker Kessler Scores Career-High, Utah Jazz Battling Kings In Third

After scoring 19 points in the first half, rookie center Walker Kessler has a career-high 25 points against the Sacramento Kings.
2 days ago
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler dunks...
Brian Preece

Rookie Walker Kessler Leads Utah Jazz To Halftime Lead In Sacramento

Rookie center Walker Kessler continues to grow by leaps and bounds, outplaying All-Star Domantas Sabonis in the first half.
2 days ago
Jarrell Brantley - Utah Jazz - San Antonio Spurs...
Brian Preece

Jarrell Brantley Keys Second Quarter Run, Utah Jazz Lead Sacramento

Jarell Brantley is showing why the Utah Jazz brought him back to the franchise where he made his NBA debut with in 2019.
2 days ago
Johnny-Juzang-Utah-Jazz-NBA...
Brian Preece

Utah Jazz Rookie Johnny Juzang Gets Second Chance Bucket

Utah Jazz rookie forward Johnny Juzang picked up his own mess before finishing at the rim against Sacramento.
2 days ago

Sponsored Articles

High angle view of the beautiful Rose Bowl Stadium...
KSL Digital Sales

How to Prepare for the 2023 Rose Bowl

Everything you need to know to plan your 2023 Rose Bowl trip in Pasadena, California. This year, the Utes will face Penn State.
Jordan-Clarkson-Utah-Jazz...
KSL Digital Sales

Notable Moments From The Utah Jazz Season… So Far

At the beginning of the season, the Utah Jazz were second to last. Now they rank in the top 10 teams in the Western Conference.
Football soccer ball on grass field on stadium...
KSL Digital Sales

Everything You Need to Know to Watch the 2022 World Cup

Find out where and when to watch the upcoming games and final match for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, including where to find live updates.
ksl sports logos...
KSL Sports

KSL Sports Newsletter: Sign Up Now

Sign up today for the KSL Sports newsletter. Get the latest Utah sports news delivered to your inbox.
jimmy-buffett-tour-art...
KSL Sports

Win Tickets Wednesday: Jimmy Buffett

Get your Hawaiian shirts ready.
Iron Maiden tour...
KSL Sports

Win Tickets Wednesday: Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden returns to Utah in 2022 with The Legacy of the Beast tour.
Dennis Lindsey Clears Air About Gobert And Mitchell Relationship