(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) defends Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris (14) as the Utah Jazz host Denver Nuggets in their NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena Tuesday, April 9, 2019, in Salt Lake City.
All-Star center Rudy Gobert will continue to cast his long shadow in the paint for the Jazz, and in the state of Utah, in the future.
The deal falls short of the “supermax” deal Gobert deserved. The total of $ 205 million represents a compromise between the 30% cap that most players with Gobert experience can earn and the 35% cap that the supermax would represent – the five-year guarantee , $ 228 million Giannis Antetokounmpo signed for the Milwaukee Bucks last week. Gobert’s contract represents about 31.5% of the cap over the contract.
But without a doubt, it is a huge sum of money for the big man – in fact, the largest ever for a center, and the third largest contract ever. Only Antetokounmpo’s contract and Russell Westbrook’s $ 208 million deal signed in 2017 are bigger NBA contracts.
Gobert’s expansion came with one quarter left on the last contract he signed, a 4-year, $ 102 million extension introduced in 2016 that the French center did well. In 2019-20, he averaged 15.1 points per game and 13.5 rebounds per game; no NBA player has had more rebounds in the season than Gobert. However, after winning the award in the previous two seasons, he lost defensive player of the year to Antetokounmpo.
However, Gobert felt that the turbulent 2020-21 season showed promise.
“After the bubbles, I really felt I could win a competition with Donovan,” Gobert told ESPN. “I think we’ve both grown a lot, and we’re going to keep growing. I am thrilled that we will be able to continue this journey together. ”
The agreement also ensures that Gobert and teammate Donovan Mitchell have long-term commitments to stay in Utah, taking the heart of the team long into the 2020s. Although reports of a disorder were circulated in the summer of 2020 after the pair tested positive for coronavirus, putting the NBA season into a hiatus for months, the two men have repaired their relationship and they will work together for years to come.
“I have grown as a player, but importantly, I have grown as a man over the last 7 years. You have seen me through the good times, you have also seen me through strife and mistakes, and you have been patient while watching this French child grow up, ”said Gobert. the written letter to fans. “Through it, you have always supported me, and introduced me as one of your own. For that, I’ve always been grateful and that’s why my family and I are proud to do this as our home. ”
This story will be updated.