Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama pause friendship in NBA playoffs
French basketball stars Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama have temporarily put their decade-long friendship on hold as their teams, the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs, battle in a tense NBA play-off series tied at 2-2.
The second-round match-up is delicately poised as it heads back to Texas for Game 5 on Tuesday.
Tensions recently flared when the San Antonio rookie caught Minnesota forward Naz Reid with a vicious elbow, resulting in a flagrant foul.
When asked if the Timberwolves’ physical defensive approach had frustrated his compatriot, the 31-year-old veteran offered a blunt response.
“I don’t know,” Gobert smirked. “Ask him.”
Master and apprentice collide
The 7ft 1in defensive stalwart has long been an inspiration to the younger generation of French talent.
He serves as the perfect sounding board for the towering 20-year-old prodigy, given their shared nationality and similar physical stature.
Before the series commenced, the Spurs centre acknowledged the profound impact the Minnesota star has had on his rapid development.
“He’s played a huge role in my journey,” Wembanyama stated.
“[He] has been a role model, has inspired me in so many ways that should actually inspire more people.”
Championship ambitions halt communication
Despite a shared history dating back to a youth tournament in 2017, all communication between the pair has ceased during the post-season.
Gobert is desperately chasing his first NBA championship, having recently delivered an imposing defensive performance against the Denver Nuggets.
Meanwhile, his former protégé is eager to fast-track his own path to greatness by accumulating silverware early in his career.
The veteran confirmed that their usually active text message exchanges have been silenced for the duration of this second-round clash.
“Not right now,” Gobert explained. “[We talk] in regular times. We say ‘hi’ [on the court]. Our families see each other. But we are focused.”