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Utah Jazz: Rudy Gobert honored as the best baller in French hoops

By Ryan Aston

BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Rudy Gobert No. 27 of Team France (and the Utah Jazz) celebrates after his nation won a bronze medal at the 2019 FIBA World Cup at the Cadillac Arena on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China. Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 15: Rudy Gobert No. 27 of Team France (and the Utah Jazz) celebrates after his nation won a bronze medal at the 2019 FIBA World Cup at the Cadillac Arena on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China. Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Utah Jazz star and native Frenchman Rudy Gobert has officially been selected as his home country’s best basketball player for 2018-19.

Adding awards to the trophy case is becoming something of a habit for Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert. He’s a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, he’s got All-NBA and All-Defensive Team honors and has won no less than three medals at the highest levels of international competition.

On Friday, he picked up another shiny statuette, and this one probably deserves a special spot on the mantle.

The French Federation of Basketball (FFBB) — or Fédération Française de Basketball in the native tongue — announced the winner of this year’s Alain Gilles Trophy, which honors the best male or female player in French hoops and it was the Saint-Quentin, Aisne-born Gobert who took home the prize.

https://twitter.com/ffbasketball/status/1182732599095111680

One can definitely debate whether or not the honor came a year or two late (Gobert finished second in the voting last year) but there’s no argument to be made about Gobert being a worthy recipient now.

Last season, the Stifle Tower put up 16 points, 13 rebounds and more than two blocks per contest for the Jazz, who made a run to the postseason for the third straight year. Along the way, he led the NBA in field goal percentage, screen assists and defensive box and real plus/minus.

He also set a new single-season record for slam dunks with 306 (3.8 per game).

His contributions to French basketball were important as well. At the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Gobert helped France to its first international medal since 2015 and second-ever FIBA Worlds medal. In the end, Les Bleus bested a tough Australian squad aided by Gobert’s Jazz teammate Joe Ingles to capture the bronze.

Also: he did this to fellow Jazz star Donovan Mitchell and USA Basketball in the quarter-finals  —

For Gobert, winning a trophy named after Gilles is likely no small thing. France’s “Monsieur Basket” enjoyed a playing career spanning two decades, which included eight French League championships and two French Cups. He also won both a league championship and national cup as a coach. That’s Bill Russell territory.

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In any case, Gobert ran away with the vote this year, beating out former two-time winner Nando de Colo 114 to 81. Six of the 16 members on the voting panel chose Gobert as their top pick.

Now, if Western Conference coaches could just pull their heads out and vote him into the 2020 NBA All-Star Game all would truly be right with the basketball world. Am I right or am I right, Jazzland?

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