SGA’s and Canada’s run for Gold concluded as they lost to France in the quarterfinals with a final score of 82-73. Just before the game, a piece of eye-opening news surfaced that suggested Rudy Gobert was to be benched by the head coach. Although it was said that the Timberwolves vet was sidelined because of his poor display against Spain, Vincent Collet passed the Center duties to Victor Wembanyama. But was the real reason?

The French center did play for 3 minutes and 41 seconds, to be precise, against Canada, a surprising move given his usual prominence. This sudden demotion for Rudy Gobert’s game time was thoroughly questioned and, as the game went on, it became clear that the decision was not only a tactical choice but was influenced by an issue affecting Gobert’s performance. The real reason for his limited playtime was a finger injury that he sustained leading up to the knockouts.

Earlier deemed ‘unspecified’, the player last clarified that he suffered a slight dislocation during a scrimmage, which required two fingers on his left hand to be taped together. However, despite the reduced playtime, Gobert remained a pillar, demonstrating his calmness. “I have full trust in my teammates and coaches,” the veteran stated. “It worked. You saw the way we started tonight. The guys were ready to play. They set the tone for the whole game.” His confidence in the team’s ability to perform without him on the court was evident, and this strategic approach also helped ensure France’s victory without aggravating the injury further.

The decision highlighted the team’s depth and adaptability, which are essential factors in the home team’s continued success in the tournament, alongside the rise of Wemby. On the other hand, there has been some confusion about Rudy’s health and surgery and many fans did not hesitate to put their doctors’ cap on, confusing everyone further. However, let’s clear everything once and for all.

Did Rudy Gobert undergo surgery or not?

As France continued their run for gold, additional confusion arose as there were differences in the statements on Rudy’s injury by coach Vincent Collet and the player himself. The boss says that the veteran didn’t go through any surgery. Meanwhile, some reports suggest that Rudy himself told some reporters that he had undergone surgery. So, the difference in both statements sparked confusion and speculation among fans and media, were they trying to hide something or was it just miscommunication?

“French big man Rudy Gobert, who played less than four minutes tonight, just told a few of us reporters that he had surgery on his left ring finger yesterday and was thankful he was able to play at all in this win over Canada,” Sam Amick reported. Gobert, mentioning the word surgery raised questions about the extent of his recovery.

However, Coach Collet has denied these claims. The head coach said, “It was not surgery. It was just a shake (a slight dislocation). He had the ball coming at his finger and it got opened. It was not a surgery. He had an MRI to be sure he’s ok, but it’s not surgery.”

Collet further detailed that the doctors had cleared him for play but the veteran was still facing a lot of pain on the game’s eve. However, despite Rudy Gobert assuring the head coach that he could play on the morning of the Canada game, “my idea was to protect him…I prefer to keep him on the bench and he will be ready for the next game,” Vincent clarified.

As the French team continues its Olympic campaign, clarity on Gobert’s health status will be crucial. The discrepancy between Gobert’s claim and Collet’s denial underscores the importance of accurate information and transparency regarding injuries. For now, fans will have to navigate this situation with the understanding that the exact details of Gobert’s health remain somewhat ambiguous.

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