Team France center Rudy Gobert and coach Vincent Collet had conflicting explanations over why he played less than four minutes in Tuesday’s semifinals win against Canada at the Paris Olympics.
Gobert, who was yanked from the starting lineup for reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama, told reporters he had surgery on his left ring finger Monday — and was grateful he was even able to play during France’s 82-73 victory.
The 32-year-old big man had his two fingers taped together on his left hand when he told reporters he suffered an unspecified finger injury during practice prior to the quarterfinal matchup.
Collet told a much different story, stating Gobert did not have surgery on his finger and was cleared by the team surgeon to play Tuesday.
“They [Canada] play small ball. I wanted Wemby [Wembanyama] to start at five, that’s why I put [Guerschon] Yabusele at four,” Collet said. “The other change was Isaia Cordinier for Evan Fournier because I wanted a defensive starting five.”
Collet went on to explain Gobert had an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.
“It was not surgery. It was just a shake (a slight dislocation),” Collet said. “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.”
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Collet did explain the injury was “the main [reason]” for the lineup shuffle.
“He’s a good player. I know he has pain in his finger despite the surgeon saying he could play. He didn’t know exactly, but finally, this morning, he said, ‘I can play,’” Collet said.
“My idea was to protect him if I could do it. I wanted to leave him on the bench. As it was working well with the other big men, I preferred to keep him on the bench. He will be ready for the next game.”
It’s unclear if Gobert and Collet had some sort of miscommunication about his treatment.
France will face Germany, which features NBA players Dennis Schröder, Franz Wagner, Daniel Theis and Moritz Wagner, in the semifinals Thursday.
