Draymond Green, Rudy Gobert (Image Credits: Getty Images)
The 2024 Paris Olympics basketball competition is approaching its conclusion, with strong teams making their mark on the court. France secured an impressive 82-73 victory against Canada, propelling them to the semifinals. However, during the game, the 2024 NBA Defensive Player of the Year played for a shorter time than expected. Rudy Gobert, who was recently trolled by Shaquille O’Neal, only played for 3 minutes and 41 seconds, prompting criticism from Draymond Green, a four-time NBA champion and power forward for the Golden State Warriors. Green shared his thoughts on whether benching Gobert was a tactical mistake for France during a recent episode of the Draymond Green Show.

“France had a very interesting plot twist going on. Big Rudy Gobert said he had surgery on his finger or something. France’s coach said he thought the matchups were an issue. And so Rudy didn’t start because of the matchups. We don’t know what’s true. I don’t think we have any reason to believe Rudy’s lying, except for the coach saying that it was for match-ups. And in the three minutes that Rudy played, Shai started getting off.” Green said.

Green wasn’t sure what Rudy Gobert meant when he claimed to have had surgery on his finger or something similar. However, the French coach stated that he believed the matchups was a problem.

Green noted that Wembanyama faced challenges after the French coach expressed concerns

France’s key player, Victor Wembanyama, finished with seven points, three steals, five assists, and twelve rebounds against Canada. Green said that Wembanyama had a tough time because the French coach told him that he couldn’t afford for both Gobert and Wembanyama to perform poorly.

“Wemby had a rough night. Coach said, ‘I can’t have both of my bigs not playing great.’ Well, you decide who gotta go… But to be taken out of the lineup on any other team in the Olympics as an NBA player, not named Team USA is kinda crazy.” Green added.

France’s next game is against Germany in the semifinals of the 2024 Paris Olympics basketball. The game is scheduled for August 8th. It will be fascinating to see the outcome.