Rudy Gobert’s return to Utah began with a tribute film and concluded with an apparent violation of unwritten rules.
Gobert, who spent nine seasons with the Jazz before being traded to the Timberwolves in the offseason, returned to Vivint Arena for the first time as an opposing player for the first time, getting primarily cheers until the final seconds, when boos were heard.
The Minnesota center made an uncontested basket with 2.4 seconds remaining in a game that had already been decided, bringing jeers from Jazz fans and triggering a confrontation with Utah’s Malik Beasley after the Timberwolves’ 118-108 victory against the Jazz on Friday night.
Beasley, who was involved in the Gobert transaction, referred to the insignificant bucker as “disrespectful.”
Rudy Gobert dunks in the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz on December 9, 2022 at Vivint Arena.
Getty Pictures
“I informed him that that is an unwritten rule of basketball,” the guard told reporters.
Beasley confronted Gobert, and the two, along with Utah’s Jarred Vanderbilt, exchanged words for many minutes. There were no shoves or blows thrown, but Gobert was annoyed that the incident hindered him from joining up with former colleagues.
“I’ve been instructed to play basketball till the very end. Gobert informed reporters that he never intended to offend anyone after scoring 22 points against his former team. “These men who walked in front of me had no intention of doing anything. Not being able to shake hands with my teammates somewhat ruined the moment.
“As it is, so it is. Some men only desire attention.
Gobert may have recalled their first meeting of the season on October 21, when Vanderbilt dunked in the last seconds of a game the Jazz had already won.
Nonetheless, many considered that a line had been passed.
Mike Conley Jr., who played alongside Gobert in Utah, told reporters, “Everything has its unwritten rules.” “Obviously, we did not enjoy what transpired towards the conclusion of the game, but such is life. It occurred. We would rather win the game than worry about it. It is what it is, but we clearly dislike it.”
»Rudy Gobert was chastised by Malik Beasley of the Utah Jazz for violating a “unwritten rule.”«