“Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell are at each other” - Brian Windhorst on deteriorating relationship of Denver Nuggets stars
The Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and shooting guard Donovan Mitchell were both announced as reserves for the 71st NBA All-Star Game. The game, which is scheduled to be held on Feb. 20, will be hosted by the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
They join the other reserves selected by NBA coaches for the Western Conference, including Draymond Green, Chris Paul, Karl-Anthony Towns, Luka Doncic, Devin Booker and Chris Paul. However, Green will sit out this year due to a back injury. The reserves will complement Western Conference starters led by LeBron James.
The Jazz are currently ranked fourth in the NBA Western Conference standings with a 32-21 record. However, according to Brian Windhorst, the Jazz's top duo - Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell - are said to be in troubled waters as they can't seem to get along.
Report: Donovan Mitchell’s relationship with Rudy Gobert is back to being ‘passively aggressively awkward’: ‘There’s some drama here’ ahnfiredigital.com/nba/utah-jazz/…
Windhorst claims that both players have been going at each other on social media passively, sub-tweeting and the like. He suggests that Rudy Gobert blames Mitchell for their poor defensive run this season.
"There's all kinds of sub-tweeting and passive aggressive stuff going on. They were the number three defensive team in the league last year. Gobert has been really clear that he is blaming Donovan for that."
Utah Jazz defeat Brooklyn Nets without their talisman Rudy Gobert
Rudy Gobert is having a stellar season, leading the league in total rebounds and rebounds per game. But the center has had to sit out the Jazz's last six games due to a calf injury. In that time, the franchise has gone 2-4, with a four-game losing streak before defeating the Denver Nuggets and, more recently, a breakout win over the Brooklyn Nets.
Reports suggest that he is to make a return next week. He averages 16 points, 15.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, shooting 70.7% from the field and 69.0% from the free throw line.
JAZZ WIN!!! https://t.co/G3iTkf5jOO
Udoka Azubuike stepped in for "The French Rejection" in the Jazz's last two victories, leading the team in rebounds in both games. He posted a double-double last night against the Nets, posting 10 points and 11 rebounds. As did Bojan Bogdanovic, recording 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Mitchell led the team with 27 points, three rebounds and six assists.
The Jazz recorded their 32nd victory of the season, trumping the Nets by a 23-point differential.