By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Rudy Gobert was picked with the 27th overall pick back in the 2013 NBA Draft. The French center wasn’t exactly happy after being snubbed by 26 teams before the Utah Jazz selected him, so he used his emotions as motivation.
“I got drafted 27. I was a little frustrated to be drafted so low. So I thought it was a great reminder to myself and to everyone that didn’t draft me,” Gobert said in an interview with Bleacher Report.
Six years after the 2013 Draft, Gobert is widely considered the top defensive player in the NBA. He won DPOY in 2018 and is the frontrunner for the award in this season as well.
The Jazz big guy averaged 15.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 2.0 assists in the 2018-2019 regular season.
Regarding the 2013 Draft, Gobert actually remembers most players that got picked before him. And he thinks one of them should be MVP this season.
“I would pick Giannis. Because he plays defense and because of the impact that he has.”