If you believe in superstitions, Rudy Gobert could be in for a huge and healthy year

Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz has nearly had a healthy career season every other year since entering the NBA.

To make my point easier to understand, I’ll bring up an old friend: Gordon Hayward. The former Utah Jazz star had something odd happen to him on a year-to-year basis. He’d shoot a certain percentage for one year, but always followed it up with a decrease in efficiency the next year. Here’s what I mean.

Hayward’s Shooting Percentages

2010-2011:                         48.5 Percent

2011-2012:                         45.6 Percent

2012-2013:                         43.5 Percent

2013-2014:                         41.3 Percent

2014-2015:                         44.5 Percent

2015-2016:                         43.3 Percent

2016-2017:                         47.1 Percent

As you can see, Hayward’s shooting percentages year-by-year were a bit bipolar, to say the least. As for Rudy Gobert, he’s dealing with something similar in a totally different way. Instead of shooting percentages, Gobert is alternating healthy career seasons every other year. Again, here’s what I mean.

Gobert’s year-by-year numbers (excluding rookie year):

2014-2015:                         8.4 PPG, 60.4 percent shooting, 9.5 RPG, 2.3 BPG, 82 games

2015-2016:                         9.1 PPG, 55.9 percent shooting, 11.0 RPG, 2.2 BPG, 61 games

2016-2017:                         14.0 PPG, 66.1 percent shooting, 12.8 RPG, 2.6 BPG, 81 games

2017-2018:                         13.5 PPG, 62.2 percent shooting, 10.7 RPG, 2.3 BPG, 56 games

Judging by the pattern, Gobert should play in at least 80 games during the 2018-2019 season. That’s if you’re superstitious, though. I wouldn’t let this alter my point of view, but it definitely is bizarre how it happens and how long it can go on for in certain situations.

Gobert’s 2015-2016 campaign wasn’t a disappointment, but it would have been nice to see him at least average double-figures. He suffered a Grade II sprain of his MCL during that season. Remember, the Jazz were just one win away from making the playoffs that year.

In 2016-2017, Gobert was absolutely special. He was an All-Star snub, and I believe he was also snubbed of the Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged career highs everywhere and appeared in all but one game during the regular season. Then, 20 seconds into his first ever NBA Playoff game, Gobert hyper-extended his knee and suffered a bone bruise. He later returned to help the Jazz knock off the Los Angeles Clippers.

Then, last season, Gobert dealt with multiple injuries. The first incident came when Dion Waiters controversially dove into Gobert’s knee, hyper-extending it. He missed 11 games.

The next incident was in the parquet of T.D. Garden, home of the Boston Celtics. Derrick Favors fell into Gobert’s knee. Again, a hyper-extension. Gobert also suffered another sprained MCL. He missed 15 games with that ailment. Overall, Gobert played in just 56 games. At least he won his first Defensive Player of the Year Award, though.

If you believe in superstitions, you should be pretty stoked about the Utah Jazz. In general, they’re already a top team in the West. But if Rudy Gobert can stay healthy and play even better than he did in 2016-2017, the Jazz will be insanely hard to beat.