NBA Draft 2013: France’s Rudy Gobert Player Profile
By Nathan Giese
Here we continue to examine the top prospects for the 2013 NBA Draft. Today we examine:
Rudy Gobert, PF/C, France, 7’1”, 235 lbs
2012-13 International Stats: (stats courtesy of DraftExpress.com)
8.1 points, 71% field goals, 70% free throws, 5.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks
The Skinny:
The first international star likely to be taken in the 2013 NBA Draft should be Rudy Gobert out of France. The 20-year-old has displayed supreme athleticism in the French league during the 2012-13 seasn, but has also shown some room to grow. Gobert’s stock has elevated with the numerous big-name prospects returning to school and is a surefire lottery selection come June.
Strengths:
One of the greatest assets Gobert has to offer an NBA team is his length. Already standing at 7’1”, Rudy also has a 7’9” wingspan to help alter opponents shots and make himself an offensive threat. Having a big guy in the middle with some shot-blocking ability is something NBA teams love to have with all the athletes in the league driving to the basket.
Gobert moves very well without the ball for a man his size. He’s agile enough to cut into the lane and finish at the rim, a rare attribute for 7-foot tall basketball players. Most of the time, you’ll see these taller basketball players who move slowly and lethargically. Gobert is not one of those guys. He can move and isn’t afraid to be aggressive while doing it.
Most of Gobert’s assets have to do with his length. The man barely has to jump in order to throw down a thunderous dunk. Combine that with his raw athleticism and Gobert has the makings for quality big in the NBA.
Check out some highlights of Rudy Gobert during his time in France:
Weaknesses:
Gobert is an enigma. He’s only 20 years old and playing just less than 22 minutes a game in France. He’s got some nice numbers for his small amount of playing time, but nothing really jumps out at you in terms of “star power.” His efficiency is there, yet his overall skill set has some retooling to be done.
One of the big questions with Gobert is whether he’s NBA ready. There are many foreign players that enter the NBA Draft, but return to their homelands to play until they are ready for the big time. Gobert is one who could possibly return back to France for two years or so until he feels he’s NBA ready, much like the Timberwolve’s Ricky Rubio did when he was selected in the 2009 NBA Draft. Whichever team that selects Gobert may be taking a risk for a year or two before he joins the league.
Potential Landing Spots:
With some big names such as Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State) James Michael-McAdoo (North Carolina), Isaiah Austin (Baylor) and the Michigan duo of Mitch McGary and Glenn Robinson III all returning to school, Rudy Gobert’s stock has gone from a low first-round choice to a potential top-10 pick this year. It will be interesting to see which team takes the gamble on the Frenchman.
Teams That Make Sense:
Portland Trail Blazers: The Bobcats would receive the Blazers’ first-round selection if it falls outside of the top 12 picks, so this is going on the perception that Portland keeps its first-round pick.
With the amazing display from Damian Lillard this season, Portland can focus on building around Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge. J.J. Hickson is currently Portland’s lead man at center, but he is an unrestricted free agent this sumer. If he does not re-sign, the Blazers would likely use Meyers Leonard as their starting center. However, picking up Gobert would give the Blazers some leeway either way.
Say the Blazer do re-sign Hickson, then bringing in Gobert, who could potentially go back overseas to strengthen his game, then the Blazers have an investment. Now, if the Blazers don’t re-sign Hickson, they could bring in Gobert and hope he sticks around. Then again, Portland might be weary after the Greg Oden debacle.
Atlanta Hawks: Atlanta has two first-round picks, likely in the middle of the round. They have their own pick as well as the Brooklyn Nets’ pick which is top-14 protected. Since the Nets made the playoffs, the Hawks will receive that pick.
Atlanta’s main objective this offseason will be to re-sign Josh Smith. After that, they should look to add some depth in the post. Al Horford is their go-to guy downlow, but it’s never a bad idea to add some protection for bigs. Since the Hawks have two likely back-to-back picks to play with, they could take the gamble on Gobert.
Overall Synopsis:
Rudy Gobert brings a unique skill set to this year’s draft that few other players in the 2013 class have. He’s lengthy, quick and raw. While he isn’t a fully established player yet, given some time, Gobert could be a great asset to a number of teams in the NBA.