If the recent rumblings about discord between Utah Jazz stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were the first rumblings, it might feel like less of a problem. Sometimes, NBA players speak to reporters, and quotes become viral before they’re contextualized. Hopefully, that’s all that happened when Rudy Gobert spoke with reporters on Friday.
“When I watch some of these other teams like the Suns or the Warriors, those guys are a step ahead of us in terms of winning habits,” said the 3x Defensive Player of the Year.
“They take every game personally. Devin Booker is playing his a** off defensively”.
It was the second part of that quote that has incited speculation across the National Basketball Association. Is the implication that Donovan Mitchell is not playing his a** off?
Utah Jazz stars have a history of tension
It seems likely that nobody would be making that inference if the relationship between Gobert and Mitchell had been historically smooth. It hasn’t.
Back in the spring of 2020, Gobert became the first player in the NBA to test positive for COVID-19. We wish we could say that the Utah Jazz star handled the situation with grace.
We can’t. It’s ancient history by now, but Gobert infamously touched those microphones, indicating that he didn’t take the virus seriously. It was widely reported that he didn’t, as he was allegedly careless in limiting his exposure to his teammates.
Mitchell tested positively shortly after. It was alleged that he blamed Gobert. It created a division between the two most important players to the Jazz franchise. Luckily, as time passed, it seemed like every bridge between the two players was repaired.
Until now.
Utah Jazz stars getting cryptic on social media
Salt Lake Tribune reporter Eric Walden tweeted the quote with the caption “Rudy Gobert subtweet?”. For the less internet savvy readers, a subtweet occurs when someone refers to somebody without directly mentioning them. Donovan Mitchell “liked” the tweet. If you don’t know what that means, frankly, we can’t help you.
Gobert’s comments could have been made in the spirit of leadership. It’s far from a given that he was referring directly to Mitchell. Drawing that conclusion on the simple grounds that Booker and Mitchell are comparable players is fraught with fallacy.
Regardless, he could have chosen his words more carefully. Furthermore, Mitchell could have avoided fanning any flames by ignoring Walden’s tweet. Now, it feels like a direct conversation between the two stars is necessary.
Hopefully, it’s all much ado about nothing. For as much as winning cures all, losing can be a disease in an NBA locker room. Once this Jazz squad returns to full strength, it should provide the team with a much-needed cure.