Rudy Gobert has made his feelings be known a few times about his distaste for how former Jazz star and current Boston Celtic Gordon Hayward handled his decision to leave the Jazz in free agency this summer.
He has also made a comment in the media and shared a classic petty social media post which was a (not very) veiled shot at Hayward…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccCceAEKRLk
He expanded upon what upset him specifically about the decision with ESPN’s Zach Lowe:
“I could feel it,” Gobert says. “I was texting him a few days before [Hayward’s July 4th decision], and he wasn’t texting me back. That’s what I didn’t like. Just tell me. After five years, trust us, say what you are going to do. But I respect his choice.”
I understand where Gobert is coming from, playing alongside Hayward for years and considering him a friend, to not even receive a response from him would be upsetting.
I understand where Hayward was coming from as well though as he was clearly conflicted with his decision and was trying to figure it out with his family and closest confidants and not be swayed by a teammate.
You also have to consider the social media driven, 24/7 news cycle that exists today where virtually anyone could be a source and Hayward had to be careful about not letting the decision get out before he could craft the message in his own way, which he kind of messed up even without tipping his hand to any of his Jazz teammates.
Any way you slice it, moving on from an organization in free agency that has built its organization around you and is doing whatever they can to retain you is always going to lead to some tough decisions and hurt feelings along the way, such is life in the highly-competitive, mercenary profession that is being an NBA basketball player.
Unfortunately Gobert won’t be able to let out his frustrations on Hayward with a vicious block at all this season as both are currently on the shelf with injuries.
