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'Can't stop laughing': Player's 'embarrassing' NBA act mocked by fans

Chris Young
·Sports Reporter
·4-min read
Utah Jazz centre Rudy Gobert was ridiculed on social media after a comical attempt to draw a technical foul minutes after he fouled out of game on against the Memphis Grizzlies. Pictures: TNT

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert has been heavily criticised by fans after attempting to draw a technical foul on a Memphis Grizzlies rival after he'd already fouled out of Monday's game.

After claiming the top seed in the Western Conference the Jazz, who were without injured star Donovan Mitchell, were stunned by the Grizzlies 112-109 in the first game of their first round NBA playoff matchup.

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Defensive player of the year candidate Gobert had a torrid time, fouling out in the dying stages of the fourth quarter and finishing with 11 points and 15 rebounds.

However, it was a moment with Grizzlies forward Kyle Anderson minutes later which saw the Frenchman draw the ire of NBA fans online.

After teammate Derrick Favours drew an and-one from Anderson, Gobert wandered a long the baseline and had words with his Memphis rival, who gave Gobert a light push as he walked back onto the floor.

Gobert though, comically tumbled to the ground with his arms outstretched, seemingly looking for the referees to penalise Anderson.

No such whistle would come, and instead all Gobert got was a round of mockery from fans online.

Making matters worse for Gobert, in addition to the Jazz's upset loss, was the fact that he had fouled out for the first time all season.

It couldn't have come at a worse time, with the top-seeded Jazz now facing an uphill battle to prove their worth in the playoffs after a spectacular regular season.

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Utah opened strong, riding its third-ranked defense to a 24-17 first-quarter lead.

But as the Grizzlies found their rhythm, Utah's normally potent offense went cold without Mitchell, and Memphis closed the first half on a 17-2 run.

Shooting guard Dillon Brooks led the surge en route to 31 points and seven rebounds as Memphis extended a 49-43 halftime edge to as much a 97-82 midway through the fourth quarter.

A Jazz team that led the league with 16.7 3-pointers per game struggled to find its shot with its leading scorer in street clothes.

For the game, Utah shot 12 of 47 (25.5%) from 3-point distance and 42% from the field.

The Grizzlies didn't run away with the game thanks to a surging Bogdanovic, who finished with 29 points after going scoreless in the first half. But Morant countered for Memphis, scoring 10 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter.

The Jazz had a chance to tie the game late with the ball in Bogdonavic's hands trailing 110-107 in the final 10 seconds. But Memphis wisely fouled Bogdonavic on the floor before he had a chance to connect on his fifth 3-pointer of the half.

He hit both free throws, but Brooks found a wide open layup on the other end to secure the final margin as Rudy Gobert watched from the bench after fouling out late in the fourth quarter.

It was a disappointing start to the playoffs for the Jazz, who played in front of a home crowd of more than 13,000 fans allowed inside Vivint Arena amid loosening COVID-19 restrictions.

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