With the retirement of Tony Parker from international competition last summer, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert has become the crown jewel of France’s national basketball program. However, when Les Bleus take the court later this year for EuroBasket 2017, they’ll do so without the Stifle Tower.
In an interview hitting newsstands on Saturday, Gobert told L’Équipe that he will forego joining the French national team in August and instead focus on recovering from the grind of the NBA season and working on his body.
From L’Équipe, translated from French —
“It was a tough decision for me, but considering my recent knee injury in the playoffs, the long season and discussions with my club, I need to work on my body this summer.