“I’m Really Proud of [Jaden]” | Rudy Gobert Practice Sound | 05.21.24

“I’m Really Proud of [Jaden]” | Rudy Gobert Practice Sound | 05.21.24

Rudy Dallas does some different things even than the last two opponents so these are things that you haven’t seen for like a month so what’s it like kind of preparing for things you’ve done during the season but haven’t done for so long in just like one practice I think every matchup has been unique you know from Phoenix to Denver and not Dallas you know they obviously each of these teams have some unique players and some unique ways of of playing basketball so it’s uh it’s always a test for our abity to adapt to different situations and different um different ways of playing defense but at the same time stable we are you are you’re always looking to be aggressive on the offensive class is that heightened though when the other team has like guys who like to be shop blockers uh don’t matter who we play It’s one way for me to really uh uh impact the game put a lot pressure on the other team and and uh and also um make winning plays for our team so um yeah regardless of who we play I’m going to try to put pressure on the pass it’s it’s really key for us were you ever surprised at this stage of your career and the playoffs KN teams and players as well do they ever surprise you with strategies and whatnot at this stage or do they throw everything they throw at you have you seen before and you anticipate I I mean I I think we I’ve seen it all in terms of coverages I mean there’s not million coverages that we can do in basketball you know that uh teams have been try to switch they been try to uh either be back in the drop or or also be up you know also depends of who I’m playing with uh most of the time but um yeah with me I know that teams that try to be physical try to you know uh not letting me get anything easy under the basket and try to really take away uh try to minimize what I do best you know so it’s really uh that doesn’t mean that I’m not going to do it you know and not try to do it and not try to be the best uh really that I can be and and also do what my teams need me need me to do uh to u to help them win Ry given how recently you played Phoenix kind of knew how the matchups and kind of how that was going to work and then you played Denver so many times this is a team that changed after the trade deadline you haven’t you haven’t really played them so going into a game one do you guys have a good feel for how this is going like the matchups and stuff like that will work or is it kind of you figure that out in the course of the game I mean they’ve been playing some amazing basketball uh since the deadline they you know top top four offense top defense um they are I think they won 75% of their games I mean they we haven’t faced that team yet we faced some some of these guys obviously but that group together we haven’t faced it yet so uh it’s a big challenge for us but we also uh believe in who we are believe in our strength and uh we believe in our ability to try you know try to slow them down and then uh and also offensively in our ability to to find good shots you know for for our team so uh we know it’s going to be really tough you know we know these guys are incredible team you know they’re here for a reason uh but we everyone is believes and uh he’s ready for that challenge probably not a big surprise to you that you’re on all first team all defense but was it cool to see also that was the most important for me you know just uh uh see him get his his first uh that’s his first on defensive team so uh he wants to be in the first team and he I think he’s a top five defender in this league but it’s good to get your first one and then uh you know and now I gets to show the world who he is every night uh on the biggest stage so it’s uh I’m really proud of him you know the work that he puts in the the growth you know the maturity that is is shown uh throughout the year and like especially even now in the playoffs uh you know we definitely wouldn’t be there without him so it’s uh you know sky is the limit but it’s good to get his first one I’m happy for him oh you’re big still first team spots yeah I mean we you know bigs have been those guys have been you know uh who was the first team ad W you bam and then her Jones is the only n big yeah so I mean those those three other bigs I’ve had great years you know so uh they deserve their credit you know that that they’ve impacted the game uh in a really good way for their teams defensively and uh and help drums you know also had a good year so um I mean I’m happy for all these guys you know it’s I have a lot of respect for uh all the players that you know take pride in you know being great on on that end on the floor because you don’t us really get as much cred that you know the other hand of the floor and you don’t get as much attention and Al so you face the greatest players in the world every night you know in a very offensive mining league so it’s uh L respect for those gam really speaking of of Defense so what is that out to you about Carl’s defense in the playoffs and you think that’s been another level that you’ve seen yeah you know I mean he he he’s to that challenge you know and he knows that uh and I keep reminding him that to try to motivate him that team is going to try attack him and go at him and then uh you know and he’s been uh not just taking that challenge it’s been a huge Plus for us defensively I mean the way he got yic uh was incredible you know and it’s you know he takes that challenge every night and and uh it’s fun to to to watch you know it’s it’s I really love to to uh to see the competitive mindset that he has and also how much he wants to win you know he realized that we need him to be not just good but to be great and uh and he’s been doing it Ry for a young player like an who has so much of his career ahead of him what do you think it does for like his legacy to be at this stage of the Western Conference Finals at this stage of his career I mean I think it’s it’s incredible you know for him uh 22 years old being in the Western Conference Finals um I don’t even know how many of those is going to have you know but uh I also know that those don’t come as easily as you would think you know Mike Mike was actually saying that in the locker room he said last time he was in the Conference Finals it was I think 12 years ago or something like that so you never know when you’re going to have the opportunity so it’s uh for for me I try to tell him that you know you got to make the most of that moment you know and uh know 22 years old you Anthony Edwards you you uh you know you fourth year in the league you know you very mature and you you can help a team win a championship right now so uh you know it’s been amazing taking that challenge and uh and not just being content with the success that he already has you know he wants more he wants to be a champion and uh you know and he’s putting the work to do so so it’s been a yeah it’s been fun it’s been fun to be a part of this group and to be uh yeah to be able to help him TR achieve that and and push him every day to be the to be the greatest version of himself you know and he’s been getting more mature you know every almost like every game you know we’ve played and uh and it’s uh I’m really proud of him you know the the maturity the growth that he’s shown is uh carries over to our team and and uh you know and I can’t wait to to watch him keep growing every day how much are you embracing Rudy this opportunity I mean you’re in your third right I mean this is a great opportunity for you I mean it’s my dream you know I’ve always dreamed about being a champion um it’s always been my goal you know we a Championship uh you know whether it was in Utah since I got in the league you know and uh and when uh when I got traded here you know the first thing that I say is that I believe you know I believe in this organization I believe in the group that you know that I believe in the the thing that team and these guys will try to build and uh I’m really great F to be that they believe in me to to try to help this this team get to the next level and you know for me and for this organization we are now in a territory that we’ve haven’t been before I mean for this team this group and um yeah I’m enjoying the moment you know there’s nothing I want more right now than Championship so I’m going to do whatever it takes y said that Mike was the most underrated player in the NBA what’s it going to take from Mike can just be properly R I don’t think he ever will but I think a championship will definitely uh you know um we definitely uh put some respect on his name a little more and uh and um you know when you win nothing people can say at the end of the day you know so uh I know how bad he wants to win and and I know how much it means to this team to this group uh so I I just want it really bad for him too you know and he’s I mean he’s 36 now so you know he’s the one that’s probably uh the most aware of how uh precious these moments are you know and this opportunities are and uh uh and he’s showing it every day in practice and on the court you talk a lot about continuing to be yourselves as a team but when the stakes get higher what’s the challenges kind of like staying in moments staying to yourselves as the stakes just continue to be high that’s a great question I mean the challenge we all we know our team we know ourselves the and we’ve said this from the beginning you know the our biggest competition uh a lot of times is is is ourself you know it’s uh um the maturity you know the distractions uh the praise critics you know the noise all that uh that can pollute our mind and and get in our own way you know and we’ve seen it you know a couple times uh I mean not a couple times a lot of times you over the last two years and we’ve really matured as a group you know now we we are aware of it we able to anticipate those things and and also guys have been really uh locked in you know they really uh trying to get you know everybody wants to come home come see you play everybody when it come to your house your friends your family everyone want to be a part of of that when you’re winning you know but um but you’re winning because you also locked in and you able to be in your own bubble so um I think everyone is on the same page now and understands that everything we need is in this locker room and uh and through adversity or through Great Moments uh you know we’re going to leave that uh with the people in his L you’re such a routine guy have you been able to kind of get back to to your R routine given what you’ve just had go on in in your personal I mean I have an incred B uh girlfriend you know she’s been really uh like allowing me to get some sleep and you know she’s taking a lot of the UH responsibilities even though also uh you know spend a lot of time you know with them but she’s the sleep you know for me is the most important and she’s been doing that so I’m really grateful for that you know and uh and yeah I mean it’s uh I think it’s also a great balance for me you know uh in the midst I’ve always been been so driven uh on my routine and on success and winning and all these things that uh having that balance of you know sometimes just turning that off and spending just some some real genuine moments you know with my kid and with her um just helps me being even better when I come back into you know work mode and uh it’s been uh yeah it’s been an amazing you know few weeks of you and Aunt compare notes on fatherhood or where you at we what you and Aunt talking fatherhood much because you’re both new fathers and yeah we do a little bit we do an is uh I mean the way it is with his daughter is just uh uh it’s amazing to see you know you can see how much love he has and and I know he’s going to be a great that too so uh and if he doesn’t I’m make sure slap him on the wrist but I know he will you know and uh I mean he’s younger than me obviously so he’s he’s uh everyone’s in a different uh stage in their lives but uh I know an is you know he’s going to be a great dad and he has a lot of love you know for for his daughter so that’s that’s the most important your last series in Utah was against Dallas you know that didn’t go great for you guys does this feel a little bit like a full circle moment in that sense there’s a lot of full cirle moments happening you know uh I mean that’s one of them you know facing a team that uh I wasn’t able to beat in the playoffs in the past facing uh Alex Jensen that’s was with me for 10 10 years in Utah uh 9 years n or 10 but uh you know it’s a lot of Full Circle moments uh happening uh and I’m you know I’m just focused on every step of the way you know every day uh enjoying every practice every workout um just every minute of it and uh when it’s time to play just be me you know and give all I have to give to this team and uh and enjoy it really anything want it all about who might own the team after the season uh that’s that’s all my pedigree you know um the most important thing for me right now is to focus on making sure that we try to accomplish our goal and then you know we’ll see what uh what happens you know above us but um yeah whatever needs to happen we happen

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