Minnesota Sports Forum

kekgeek wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 10:11 am I will say there is a big difference the summer compared to last.

This Fiba tournament ends a month before training camp starts and the Euro tournament ended 9 days before training camp started.

Also last offseason Rudy had 9 days to acclimate to a new organization and city. This year he has over a month and is familiar with the organization and city.

I don’t think those 2 factors should be overlooked

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 8:50 am

TheFuture wrote: ↑Mon Jun 26, 2023 10:41 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 26, 2023 10:26 pm I like national pride and admire athletes wanting to compete for their countries. But the issue with Rudy is a simple one. Rudy himself claimed that playing for France last summer wore him down and negatively impacted his play for the Wolves. The team that pays him $40M believes Rudy was worn down from playing for France and they told him they’d prefer it if it didn’t play for France this summer. If it negatively impacted his play last year at age 30 it’s reasonable to believe it will do so again at age 31.

Personally I don’t believe playing for France last summer contributed to Rudy’s subpar season with the Wolves, but Rudy and the Wolves organization both believe it did. If Rudy had never competed for France before or we were talking about the Olympics, then I’d feel differently. But I see Rudy’s decision as selfish, not admirable patriotism. He’s playing basketball - a game - for his nation’s team. He’s not serving in his nation’s military or national guard.

Yeah, he is one of the top players from his country and feels compelled to compete for them for the couple of months a year he can. He competes for Minnesota the rest of the year. I don't see the issue. I think it is a shame more of our top players don't feel compelled to do the same.

It’s interesting that you don’t see the issue, Future. Rudy Gobert actually sees the issue and that’s all that matters. It was Rudy who said competing for France last summer wore him down and contributed to what he acknowledged was a subpar season for him. The Wolves front office has said the same. The issue couldn’t be more simple or more obvious. If I’m right and Rudy was just using last year’s Euro competition as an excuse, then I don’t care that he’s playing in Europe again. But if Rudy and the team are, in fact, using last year’s Euro competition as an excuse for Rudy’s sub part performance last season, then that’s a whole other issue.

TheFuture wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 6:46 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 8:50 am

TheFuture wrote: ↑Mon Jun 26, 2023 10:41 pm

Yeah, he is one of the top players from his country and feels compelled to compete for them for the couple of months a year he can. He competes for Minnesota the rest of the year. I don't see the issue. I think it is a shame more of our top players don't feel compelled to do the same.

It’s interesting that you don’t see the issue, Future. Rudy Gobert actually sees the issue and that’s all that matters. It was Rudy who said competing for France last summer wore him down and contributed to what he acknowledged was a subpar season for him. The Wolves front office has said the same. The issue couldn’t be more simple or more obvious. If I’m right and Rudy was just using last year’s Euro competition as an excuse, then I don’t care that he’s playing in Europe again. But if Rudy and the team are, in fact, using last year’s Euro competition as an excuse for Rudy’s sub part performance last season, then that’s a whole other issue.

Because I don't care enough about an entertainment sport (that gives two shits about me as a fan) that he takes $40 mil from a many many multi billionaire corporation, and also decides he wants to represent his country while he still can.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 6:53 pm

TheFuture wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 6:46 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 8:50 am

It’s interesting that you don’t see the issue, Future. Rudy Gobert actually sees the issue and that’s all that matters. It was Rudy who said competing for France last summer wore him down and contributed to what he acknowledged was a subpar season for him. The Wolves front office has said the same. The issue couldn’t be more simple or more obvious. If I’m right and Rudy was just using last year’s Euro competition as an excuse, then I don’t care that he’s playing in Europe again. But if Rudy and the team are, in fact, using last year’s Euro competition as an excuse for Rudy’s sub part performance last season, then that’s a whole other issue.

Because I don't care enough about an entertainment sport (that gives two shits about me as a fan) that he takes $40 mil from a many many multi billionaire corporation, and also decides he wants to represent his country while he still can.

Fair enough, Future. I care because, if playing in Europe this summer negatively affects Rudy’s performance for the Wolves next season (as Rudy said it did last season), then it negatively impacts me as a fan and my investment as a season ticket holder. I don’t care about Lore’s bank account. But I do care about the impact of a player’s actions on the team I root for, put a lot of time into and spend a lot of money on. Every fan should care. You can support Rudy’s decision to play for France this summer, but you have to acknowledge that by Rudy’s own admission, it risks redounding to the detriment of the team that we’re pulling for. And if it weren’t for all of us attending games and watching games on TV, Lore wouldn’t have the $40 million to pay Mr. Gobert.

TheFuture wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 7:28 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 6:53 pm

TheFuture wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 6:46 pm

Because I don't care enough about an entertainment sport (that gives two shits about me as a fan) that he takes $40 mil from a many many multi billionaire corporation, and also decides he wants to represent his country while he still can.

Fair enough, Future. I care because, if playing in Europe this summer negatively affects Rudy’s performance for the Wolves next season (as Rudy said it did last season), then it negatively impacts me as a fan and my investment as a season ticket holder. I don’t care about Lore’s bank account. But I do care about the impact of a player’s actions on the team I root for, put a lot of time into and spend a lot of money on. Every fan should care. You can support Rudy’s decision to play for France this summer, but you have to acknowledge that by Rudy’s own admission, it risks redounding to the detriment of the team that we’re pulling for. And if it weren’t for all of us attending games and watching games on TV, Lore wouldn’t have the $40 million to pay Mr. Gobert.

Lore had the $40 mil per year to spend before he bought the team. Are you getting any kickbacks as a ticket holder because the team spends more money. Why are there local blackouts? No, they hike shit up on you with the narrative that it is the only way to field a competitive team. Meanwhile Lore will see his investment increase incredibly quickly with a new TV deal, and I'd bet soon after demand to have help with a new arena.

Rudy and the FO said whatever PR stunt they said. This idea that playing high level competitive basketball, which by all accounts is more nuanced than the developing NBA street ball type basketball, is a detriment to improving one's game is stupid. He is 31 and a 7'2 slight built non-agile big. He is only going to slow down from now on.

I live in a different state now. My allegiance is where I was born and raised - MN. His job allows him to go show his appreciation for that. I think it is great.