Report: Jazz C Rudy Gobert, F Rudy Gay clear health and safety protocols
The Utah Jazz are getting back their All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year center, as well as a 16-year NBA veteran to fill key minutes off the bench.
Utah (28-14) has gone 1-4 in the five games that Gobert has missed and has seen the red-hot Memphis Grizzlies (30-14) overtake them for third place in the Western Conference standings. Gobert -- who infamously touched multiple microphones and recorders of media members during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly two years ago -- is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and has captured three of the last four awards.
The Frenchman is averaging 15.5 points and 2.3 blocks per game, and leads the NBA with career-highs in rebounds per contest (15.1) and field goal percentage (.706). Gobert has led the league in field goal percentage twice in his career, including during the 2020-2021 campaign when he shot 67.5%.
Gay is in his first season with the Jazz and has played in 25 games thus far. The former UConn star is averaging career lows is points (9.2) and minutes per game (19.9), while posting 4.6 rebounds per contest and registering a .429/.377/.805 shooting line.
This is the first time in Gay's career that he is averaging either less than 10 points or 20 minutes per game.
The Jazz will play the Denver Nuggets at 8:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.
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