The Jazz center said his French pals have not pressured him into joining them next month in Brazil, although that would certainly increase France’s chances of medaling.
“They know I want to play,” Gobert said. “They know.”
Gobert feels good about his decision to not participate with the French in the Olympic qualifying tournament.
For one thing, his right ankle, which he injured in that critical loss to the Mavericks late in the 2015-16 season, needed time to heal.
Gobert also committed to work on his body’s strength this offseason, something that will help the 7-foot-1 big become an even more dominating force inside the paint for the Jazz on defense and on offense.
“It was to work on my body, you know. It was too early for me. I wasn’t ready to play,” Gobert said of the Olympic qualifier. “I really wanted to spend some time at P3 to get stronger and have a good summer after.”
The 23-year-old struggled somewhat at the beginning of last NBA season because he expended so much of himself for a couple of months with the French national team. He never had adequate time to rest his body before Utah’s training camp began in the fall.
Gobert said this June and July was “the perfect time” to do strength work.