Utah Jazz: Rudy Gobert, Boris Diaw Going for Olympic Gold
By Ryan Aston
Utah Jazz big men Rudy Gobert and Boris Diaw will both be in uniform for the French national team in their pursuit of a medal at the Rio Olympics.
With Gordon Hayward withdrawing from USA Basketball and the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this August, Utah Jazz fans can rest easy knowing that he’ll be home, safe from the risks of injury, the Zika virus and all of the other clouds that are hanging over the games this year.
However, fans looking for something Jazzy to latch onto at the Olympics will still have something to look forward to.
Jazz center Rudy Gobert, as well as the newly acquired Boris Diaw, will be in Brazil next month, playing for the French national team as they look to unseat the Americans as Olympic champions.
Les Bleus punched their ticket to the summer games this past week, winning the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in the Philippines. Although Gobert wasn’t with the team for the OQT, Diaw was in action for the French, giving Jazz fans a preview of things to come over the course of four games.
The 34-year-old averaged eight points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal for Team France during the tourney and remains a key component to the French attack.
Meanwhile, Gobert reenters the FIBA fold after opting to spend the early part of the summer in Salt Lake City, working out with the Jazz. The Stifle Tower broke the news of his participation on Twitter in his native tongue–
https://twitter.com/rudygobert27/status/752611321619685377
Translation–“It is with great pleasure that I announce that I will be present in Rio with my brothers to defend the colors of the France!”
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Of course, Gobert and Diaw aren’t the only Jazzmen who will be defending their colors on international hoops’ grandest stage. Joe Ingles will be suiting up for the Aussie Boomers, while Raul Neto will take the floor for host nation of Brazil.
So while Jazz fans won’t get to see Hayward don the red, white and blue, there will still be plenty of Jazz players in action to tide them over until the start of the 2016-17 NBA season.
Australia and France join the United States in Group A and will begin preliminary competition on August 6, followed by the Brazilian squad and Group B the following day. All have the potential to make a run for the medal podium, but Team USA remains the heavy favorite to capture gold.