Coming into the 2019 FIBA World Cup ranked No. 3 in the world, the expectations for the French national team are high. And while the star power on its roster certainly merits the lofty goals, much of the praise given to France is thanks to its star big man, Rudy Gobert.
Gobert, a 27-year-old center for the Utah Jazz, is an accomplished player in the NBA who is primed for a breakout FIBA performance. He’s a rare talent these days as a traditional big man, especially in international play, but it doesn’t stop him from controlling a game.
Last season, Gobert finished second in the NBA in rebounds (1,041), second in blocks (187) and fourth in defensive rating (100.4). He also had the highest shooting percentage (.668) and finished 10th in Player Efficiency Rating (24.6).
Gobert’s defensive tenacity has earned him back-to-back NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards and NBA First Team All-Defense honors three years in a row.
Success in the NBA is just one part of Gobert’s dreams, as he’s outspoken about his goals in FIBA basketball.
“It has always been a dream to win either the Olympic gold medal or the World Cup,” Gobert said in a July interview with FIBA.basketball. “It has always been a dream, and it still is. We know it’s hard, but that’s our goal, that’s what we want to aim for.”
That dream almost became a reality in the 2014 World Cup, when France upset host Spain, 65-52, in the quarterfinals before nearly pulling off a 12-point comeback with seven minutes remaining against Serbia in the semifinals.
“For me, the key moment was when we beat Spain at home in the quarterfinals,” said Gobert. “We were the underdogs and we knew they had a full team. They were at home and they hadn’t lost a game. For me in my young career, that was the turning point and the key moment. It was a great feeling.”
Rudy Gobert (#12) helped lead France to a third-place finish at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain with a win over Lithuania, but seeks gold this time around. (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
Gobert’s presence in the post alone is enough to make France a contender in this year’s World Cup, as his size and athleticism makes him one of – if not the best – defensive anchors in the game today. To say he will likely be a force for France on both ends of the court in China would be an understatement.
“Something good, too – a huge plus – is that now we have Rudy Gobert back with us,” France forward Nicolas Batum said in an August interview with FIBA.basketball. “He was here in 2014, and having him in the paint is great. In 2014, we were able to be very solid defensively, and that is the main reason why we went that far into the tournament.”
Blocks, rebounds and second-chance points are just a few of the areas in which France will probably dominate in thanks to Gobert. However, opponents may try to counter Gobert’s strengths by spacing the floor and forcing him to play around the perimeter.
As a result, opponents might not get as many easy scoring opportunities at the basket, but if a team gets hot from deep, they might be able to outscore Les Bleus without beating them in the post.
Gobert can certainly do his best to defend the perimeter when he needs to, but his fellow teammates Nicolas Batum (Charlotte Hornets), Evan Fournier (Orlando Magic), Frank Ntilikina (New York Knicks) and Elie Okobo (Phoenix Suns) all have experience defending some of the top offensive perimeter players in the NBA. Regardless of what’s thrown at France, taking them down won’t be easy.
Other countries with France in Group G include the Dominican Republic (No. 18), Germany (No. 22) and Jordan (No. 49). While no wins are guaranteed in the FIBA World Cup basketball, France is considered the heavy favorite to advance. If they do, France will have an excellent chance to win it all.
For France to make it over the hump, a few things will have to go their way. Shots will have to fall, of course, but if a close game comes down to rebounds and second-chance points, their All-NBA center certainly seems to give Les Bleus the slight edge.
