Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert in tears after All-Star snub
Saturday 2 February 2019 08:08, UK
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert was in tears on Friday after his All-Star Game snub.
Gobert was not included on the Western Conference team when All-Star reserves were announced on Thursday.
He has averaged 15.0 points and 12.8 rebounds per game this season, and is the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Addressing the snub with reporters at practice on Friday he covered his face and walked away crying, describing Thursday as a difficult time after learning he was not going to Charlotte for the February 17 All-Star Game.
"My mom called me crying," Gobert said. "It was tough. It is what it is."
Steve Starks, Utah Jazz president, lent a show of support via social media soon after the All-Star reserves were announced Thursday.
"Rudy deserved to be named an All-Star," Starks wrote. "Complete nonsense and we need more integrity and accountability. If the coaches vote (then) their ballots should be made public."
Gobert will miss out on a $1m contract bonus since he was not selected, according to ESPN.
He will not receive the bonus if selected as an injury replacement, and being added to the All-Star Game roster in that fashion might not do a whole lot to cheer him up anyway.
"It's still not the same as being selected," he said.
Western Conference reserves: Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis, LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard, Klay Thompson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Russell Westbrook.
Dirk Nowitzki was a special team roster addition Friday.
Other productive players not added to the Western Conference roster include the Mavericks' Luka Doncic, the Clippers' Tobias Harris and Gobert's Jazz team-mate, Donovan Mitchell.
