Rudy Gobert With An Extra 25 Pounds

By Clint Peterson | Mar 19, 2015

Mar 18, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) keeps Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (4) away from the ball during the first quarter at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

The Utah Jazz lost a close bid for seven straight wins with the Washington Wizards clipping them. Afterward, Rudy Gobert said he was pushed around a bit by Marcin Gortat, which in turn led to a local post-game broadcast co-host saying the 7’1″ 220 pound center needed to add 25 pounds of muscle this offseason.

Whoa there. Pump the brakes a bit. 25 pounds? In one offseason?! That’s freakish, not to mention almost unheard of.

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Putting that much weight on a frame that tall can also often lead to more injuries for knees and feet that take extra punishment bearing the heightened load. Extra weight, even muscle, can compromise athletic ability as well.

It might seem like Rudy Gobert is too skinny, weak, but don’t be fooled by the amount of muscle on his frame. When a human being is noticeably taller than average — tall enough to stand out in a crowd — they may often appear relatively weak.

Rudy Gobert’s bicep

Tall humans don’t lack muscle so much as that it’s just spread out over a longer frame, deceiving perception. Ectomorphs, as a tall, skinny body type is called, are gaining muscle and strength, it’s just not a noticeable as it would be on a smaller frame, such as that of the average man.

In France, Rudy Gobert’s homeland, the average male is 5’7″ tall, as of 2013.

Rudy Gobert next to the average French male

What happens to Rudy Gobert’s frame when his muscle mass is shortened to the average French man’s height?

Rudy Gobert’s frame if he were the height of the average French male

Suddenly, Rudy looks a lot more buff. One more look, for perspective.

Rudy Gobert vs the average French male, if he were 5’7″ instead of 7’1″

Does Rudy Gobert need to add some strength? Sure. But not 25 pounds in a single offseason. That would just jack up his game and potentially his body and athleticism, one of his biggest assets on a basketball court. And Gobert will be expected to play a lot of minutes.

Consider Gordon Hayward, who came into this season looking like Adonis compared to his former frame. That was like nine pounds of muscle.

Gordon Hayward after adding nine pounds of muscle

Rudy Gobert has plenty of time to add strength to his game without compromising other facets that are equally as important. Some summer time at the Jazz’s preferred offseason facility, P3, will take care of that.

And no one wants to see Rudy Gobert with a freakishly small head relative to his body.

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