Utah Jazz star center Rudy Gobert unveiled the outdoor basketball court for his upcoming Gobert Academy in Levallois-Perret, France this past Thursday.
More than just an athletics program, the Gobert Academy will offer youth lessons in English, writing, music and community outreach. The Academy aims to provide a well-rounded experience for students with a wide array of interests. Gobert tweeted that establishing the Academy was “a dream come true”.
Gobert has already established himself as a socially conscious philanthropist as the founder and namesake of Rudy’s Kids Foundation, an organization that supports charities through education and recreation. In keeping consistent with his principles of social awareness, the court that the Utah Jazz star unveiled on Thursday was built exclusively with recycled materials.
The court was built over a decaying basketball court that already existed in the area. It features a multitude of bright colors a well as a mural of Gobert characteristically blocking a shot attempt that stretches nearly from baseline to baseline. His image is surrounded by skyscrapers and accompanied by the inspirational phrase “write your own story”.
Indeed, it seems that Rudy Gobert is intent on doing just that. His philanthropic work goes beyond the bare minimum expectations of an NBA superstar. Through his work with underprivileged children, Gobert has become a global ambassador for the Utah Jazz.
“We are very happy to have welcomed (Gobert) on the occasion of the inauguration of the basketball court and the launch of its Academy” tweeted Levallois mayor Agnes Pottier-Dumas on the occasion of the courts unveiling.
The court itself was a partnership program with Nike, while the Academy partners with Etendart, a French organization that provides internships for students in Europe during holidays, to provide the educational resources.
With this project, Utah Jazz star center Rudy Gobert represents his Utah Jazz and native France in a manner befitting his oversized on-court impact.