Rudy Gobert has sensationally compared making his first ever three-point attempt to losing his virginity after France beat Montenegro in an exhibition match ahead of the start of the FIBA World Cup later this month.
The Minnesota Timberwolves center was overjoyed after his country’s 80-69 win on Wednesday night and made his feelings clear afterward, according to the French national team’s Twitter account, which shared the player’s quote in French.
The atmosphere from inside the arena in Montpellier, France, was buzzing as soon as the basketball dropped into the net. Los Angeles Clippers and French forward Nicolas Batum shared courtside footage of Gobert’s shot on Twitter and even poked fun at his teammate. ‘Those scouting reports about to be different,’ he wrote as a caption to the video with a laughing emoji.
‘Tonight, I feel like I lost my virginity,’ said Gobert – a three-time NBA All-Star. The seven-footer was lurking at the top of the arc for an inbound bass from under the basket before receiving the ball and releasing it, with the crowd suddenly getting excited as fans anxiously waited for the shot to fall.
Gobert, 31, has 10 NBA seasons under his belt and is known for having won three Defensive Player of the Year awards during his time in the US.
Last season’s NBA rebounding leader has yet to convert a three-pointer in the NBA, however, having taken 14 attempts in the league over the course of his career. What’s more, is that Gobert has the most points without ever converting a three-point shot over the last decade in the NBA, according to StatMuse.
Gobert was traded to the T-Wolves from the Utah Jazz during the last offseason in exchange for Pat Beverley, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, and the draft rights to center Walker Kessler in addition to four first-round picks and a 2026 first-round pick swap.
France’s big man averaged 13.4 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game last season on the T-Wolves. Minnesota ended up losing in the first-round of the 2022-23 playoffs to the Denver Nuggets, who went on to become NBA champions, after finishing the regular season as the No. 8 seed with a 42-40 record.
