On the road for at least 41 games each season, NBA players work to stay connected with friends and family. For Rudy Gobert, the Utah Jazz center from France, the distance between home and work presents additional challenges. However, the 5th-year NBA player has found an interesting way to remain connected with friends and fans alike: video game, Destiny 2.
“I have friends around the world that I don’t see very often, because they play basketball in different countries. We get together by playing the game. It’s great, because we’re all competitive, so we can not only talk to each other, but also compete,” Gobert told THE HUFFINGTON POST.
During the season, Gobert turns to gaming as a way to unwind, noting, “When I have a free moment or can’t sleep, I get online and text my friends to try to play together. It’s a way for me to relax.”
Gobert’s passion for gaming is well-known amongst the Utah Jazz. This season, the team launched a digital game for fans featuring Gobert portrayed as a video game character, Super Rudy Block. Gobert admits he took some flack from his teammates for his portrayal in the game, but notes it’s probably because, “they couldn’t beat my score.”
While Gobert is quick to note his dominance in Super Rudy Block, he admits that the Jazz’s best gamer is Jonas Jerebko, who Gobert says, “plays a lot of games on the computer.” As for which player enjoys playing video games the most, Gobert quickly gives that title to Dante Exum, who Gobert says, “Is the one who is very into gaming. He just got hurt and has a long injury, so he’s playing a lot. It’s a good way for him to have fun.”
In fact, Exum’s playing Destiny helped draw Gobert into the game. While Gobert enjoys competing against Exum and even Exum’s brother, who lives in Australia, he credits the game to helping him make new friends worldwide.
“I have made a lot of friends online that I’ve met playing Destiny. They don’t know who I am, but I’ve been playing with some of them for almost two-years,” Gobert remarked.
Does he ever reveal his identity to Destiny competitors?
Laughingly, Gobert explained, “Sometimes we’ll talk about basketball and I can tell who the NBA fans are. Sometimes I will ask what they think of the Utah Jazz. I let them say what they think, but will say, ‘I know somebody who plays for them, so be careful!’ Usually they’re impressed and sometimes they’ll ask me questions. The basic question they ask is who’s the hardest guy to play against. It’s nothing crazy.”
As the 2017 NBA blocks leader and a former All-NBA first team member, Gobert’s basketball career is bright. He does have interest, though, in entering the esport space.
“I want to invest and get more involved in esports. My teammate owns a team called the Renegades and we are talking. I’m definitely going to get involved in the space,” he said.
This holiday season, Gobert looks forward to sharing his passion for gaming with fans who follow him on Twitter by giving one random fan a signed Destiny 2 game and signed jersey.