The relationship between Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert has come under focus again with the Utah Jazz struggling over the past few weeks. “Gobert and Mitchell have been at each other’s… I don’t know if I can say at each other’s throats,” said Brian Windhorst. “It’s back to being passively aggressively awkward,” interjected Tim MacMahon “It’s the most underplayed story in the league, I think,” continued Windhorst. “The Jazz are struggling a lot. This team had big expectations and they’re getting passed by frankly. They are not on the level they were a year ago. Donovan and Gobert, even though they’re both under long-term contract, are under each other’s skin. There’s all kind of subtweeting and passive aggressive stuff going on.”
Source: RealGM
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Draymond Green criticizes Rudy Gobert over emotional response to 2019 All-Star snub: ‘You can’t cry’ nba.nbcsports.com/2022/02/04/dra… – 11:51 AM
David Locke @DLocke09
LOCKED ON JAZZ — Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert are all-stars and really good, who do we want and the biggest all-star snub – lockedonjazz.net/jazz/donovan-m… – 10:37 AM
Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Dating back to late December (a 20-game stretch), Mitchell Robinson is averaging:
10.6 points (on 82% shooting)
9.5 rebounds,
1.5 blocks.
Only two other players are averaging at least 10.5 points, 9.5 boards and 1.5 swats during this span:
Joel Embiid and Rudy Gobert. – 9:39 AM
Ben Anderson @BensHoops
Rudy Gobert should ask Draymond Green to be the presenter at his Hall of Fame induction ceremony. – 9:33 PM
Eric Koreen @ekoreen
There are exceptions, but I think despite how much coaches talk defence, they gravitate toward voting for guys they have to game plan toward stopping.
In general, it’s harder for a defensive-minded big to break through. Saw it with Gobert, and is case with Middleton over Allen. – 8:14 PM
Monte Poole @MontePooleNBCS
Draymond won’t count out the DPOY despite missing at least 25 games. Makes unnamed reference to Rudy Gobert winning it when playing 56 of 82 games in 2017-18. – 8:06 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
The most fun possible iteration of the All-Star Game would be just picking the captains and letting them draft any player in the NBA.
LeBron using the final pick on Carmelo instead of Rudy Gobert would be the absolute funniest possible Twitter moment relating to the ASG. – 7:36 PM
The Vertical @YahooSportsNBA
The 2022 #NBAAllStar West reserves are in:
🌟 Devin Booker
🌟 Luka Doncic
🌟 Rudy Gobert
🌟 Draymond Green
🌟 Donovan Mitchell
🌟 Chris Paul
🌟 Karl-Anthony Towns
Green announced he won’t be able to participate, so who should replace him? ⤵️ – 7:36 PM
Sarah Todd @NBASarah
Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert named All-Stars https://t.co/WqMoVKaayh pic.twitter.com/9qd5G3Ogb9 – 7:27 PM
Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
2022 NBA All-Star reserves
East
– Jimmy Butler
– Darius Garland
– James Harden
– Zach LaVine
– Khris Middleton
– Jayson Tatum
– Fred VanVleet
West
– Devin Booker
– Luka Doncic
– Rudy Gobert
– Draymond Green
– Donovan Mitchell
– Chris Paul
– Karl-Anthony Towns – 7:22 PM
The Ringer @ringernba
Rudy Gobert is GREAT defensively. The rest of the Jazz … not so much. What can Utah do to improve their perimeter defense? @Kevin O’Connor takes a look on #TheVoidNBA.
📺: https://t.co/mlXSQIFCG8 pic.twitter.com/GOQzyBiGLY – 7:20 PM
Ben Anderson @BensHoops
The Western Conference #NBAAllStar team joining the draft pool with Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert:
Captain: LeBron James
Starters:
Nikola Jokic
Andrew Wiggins
Ja Morant
Steph Curry
Devin Booker
Chris Paul
Draymond Green
Karl-Anthony Towns
Luka Doncic – 7:16 PM
Sarah Todd @NBASarah
Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell selected as All-Star reserves – 7:11 PM
Joe Vardon @joevardon
Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Luka Doncic, Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Draymond Green, and Karl-Anthony Towns are coming to Cleveland as All-Star reserves from the West. Green will not be able to play due to injury. @The Athletic – 7:10 PM
Eric Walden @tribjazz
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and guard Donovan Mitchell have been selected NBA All-Stars for a third straight season. sltrib.com/sports/jazz/20… – 7:10 PM
Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes
The 2022 Western Conference All-Star reserves are Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker, Luka Doncic, Rudy Gobert, Draymond Green, Chris Paul and Donovan Mitchell. – 7:08 PM
Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
2022 NBA West All-Star reserves: Devin Booker, Luka Doncic, Rudy Gobert, Draymond Green, Donovan Mitchell, Chris Paul, Karl-Anthony Towns. – 7:07 PM
Paul Garcia @PaulGarciaNBA
7 West All-Star reserves:
1. Booker
2. Luka
3. Gobert
4. Draymond
5. Mitchell
6. Paul
7. KAT – 7:07 PM
Ryan Miller @millerjryan
Donovan Mitchell joins Gobert as a Western Conference reserve. Mitchell’s 3rd appearance in 5 seasons. – 7:07 PM
Eric Walden @tribjazz
And Donovan Mitchell has been selected as an All-Star as well. – 7:07 PM
Andy Larsen @andyblarsen
Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell both named NBA All-Star reserves. – 7:06 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Donovan Mitchell makes his third consecutive all-star game – 7:06 PM
Sarah Todd @NBASarah
Donovan Mitchell clears concussion protocol is available to play against Nets on Friday https://t.co/WRUZDpdKAR pic.twitter.com/hnNs6dNVIM – 7:05 PM
Ryan Miller @millerjryan
Rudy Gobert makes his 3rd straight All-Star Game. – 7:05 PM
Eric Walden @tribjazz
Rudy Gobert is official as an NBA All-Star reserve – 7:05 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Rudy Gobert makes his third consecutive all-star game – 7:04 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
My All-Star choices
East:
G: Fred VanVleet
G: Zach LaVine
FC: Jimmy Butler
FC: Jayson Tatum
FC: Khris Middleton
WC: James Harden
WC: Jrue Holiday
West:
G: Chris Paul
G: Devin Booker
FC: Rudy Gobert
FC: Draymond Green
FC: Karl-Anthony Towns
WC: Donovan Mitchell
WC: Luka Doncic – 6:32 PM
Ben Anderson @BensHoops
Jazz Injury Report (as of 2/3)
OUT – Rudy Gobert
OUT – Danuel House
OUT – Joe Ingles
QUESTIONABLE – Jordan Clarkson
QUESTIONABLE – Hassan Whiteside
*Donovan Mitchell has officially cleared the NBA concussion protocol* – 6:26 PM
Ryan Miller @millerjryan
Mitchell is available for tomorrow’s game against Brooklyn.
Rudy Gobert is and Danuel House remain out. Hassan Whiteside and Jordan Clarkson are questionable – 6:25 PM
Sarah Todd @NBASarah
Donovan Mitchell has cleared the NBA concussion protocol – 6:24 PM
Andy Larsen @andyblarsen
Jazz Injury Report:
OUT – Rudy Gobert (Left Calf Strain)
OUT – Danuel House (COVID)
OUT – Joe Ingles (ACL)
QUESTIONABLE – Jordan Clarkson (Knee Soreness)
QUESTIONABLE – Hassan Whiteside (Low Back Strain)
And: Donovan Mitchell has officially cleared the NBA concussion protocol – 6:24 PM
Ryan Miller @millerjryan
Donovan Mitchell has cleared concussion protocol. – 6:24 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Donovan Mitchell has officially cleared concussion protocol – 6:24 PM
Eric Walden @tribjazz
Donovan Mitchell has cleared the concussion protocol. – 6:24 PM
Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahon
Jazz star Donovan Mitchell has cleared the NBA’s concussion protocol and is available for tomorrow’s game vs. Nets, per team. Rudy Gobert (calf) remains out, but sources tell ESPN the All-NBA big man hopes to return early next week. – 6:23 PM
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
Donovan Mitchell has cleared the league’s concussion protocol, Jazz say. – 6:22 PM
Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
Jerami Grant and Harrison Barnes are two of the players the Jazz have had trade talks for, league sources say. With one week to go until the trade deadline, Utah is targeting wings that can defend. Here’s my video on Utah’s need for more quality defenders around Rudy Gobert: – 2:07 PM
The Ringer @ringernba
Without Rudy Gobert in the lineup, the Jazz are doomed. @Kevin O’Connor explains why Utah’s main priority ahead of the trade deadline is to find strong wing defenders. #TheVoidNBA
📺: https://t.co/mlXSQIXe4I pic.twitter.com/bjtF4Tsvhh – 1:10 PM
More on this storyline
“There’s looking over your shoulder,” said Tim MacMahon. “Here comes Danny Ainge who is the primary shot caller and a part time employee. Justin Zanik is still doing all the day-to-day GM work. “Justin Zanik, who is excellent at his job by the way, admitted he didn’t even know Danny Ainge right?” added Windhorst. “Danny Ainge is Ryan Smith, the new owner, is his guy,” said MacMahon. “They’re friends…” “When you bring in a guy in the middle of the season who doesn’t have relationships [with the front office],” said Windhorst. “Zanik reports to Ainge and Ainge and Ryan Smith make the decisions,” said MacMahon. -via RealGM / February 4, 2022
Windhorst and MacMahon added that Dwyane Wade and Donovan Mitchell had a large influence over the franchise. “And the other thing is, when you talk about the Jazz culture, part of the culture of this franchise right now is to to kiss Donovan Mitchell’s butt at every turn,” said MacMahon. -via RealGM / February 4, 2022
Eric Walden: Don, on Rudy seeming to call the team out publicly: “We all as a group hold each other accountable. That’s his way, I guess. I’m not too concerned about it. His just happened this way. Cool.” -via Twitter @tribjazz / January 15, 2022