SALT LAKE CITY – A year ago, Rudy Gobert, wearing a red Santa hat, smiled softly as he walked slowly through a room of the Utah Jazz practice and saw dozens of children opening Christmas presents that had been provided by Gobert and his children’s foundation.
Gobert couldn’t play Santa in person this year, but that didn’t mean there weren’t any gifts to give.
Earlier this month, Gobert packed three loads full of coats, boots, gloves, and toys and delivered them to Utah Community Action’s Operation Chimney Drop. Gobert’s contributions went to help 120 young people.
“One of the great things about Rudy was like actually driving to our location and unloading the clothes and toys. He arranged everything for us,” said Carla Frein of Utah Community Action. “He was very interested in asking me questions about what we do, how many children we serve, how we make the Christmas presents.”
Gobert cares about the details. The Jazz All-Star center hasn’t gotten rich – far from it. He shared a two-bedroom apartment with his mother and his two older siblings and there was even a time when the family had to go to a local charity to get presents for Christmas.
That Christmas made a lasting impression on him – he even remembers the gift: a military Lego set – and it contributed to the desire to give back. However, he not only wants to hand out money, he also wants to help create moments and memories. He wants to inspire.
“He’s the most endearing, engaging, giant of a man with these kids,” said Lindsay Marriott, Rudy’s Kids Foundation manager. “It’s the most fun to watch. It’s all in his element. He’s having a lot of fun. He’s one on one. He’s really sweet to just be involved and invested. And he just has genuine care and concern.”
With COVID-19 limiting contact, those special moments were more difficult to create. Still, Gobert has tried to give things a personal touch.
In May, Gobert donated $ 20,000 to “For The Kids” to address food insecurity due to school closures. His donation provided meals for more than 250 families from five schools in the Salt Lake City School District. In normal years, Gobert would have taken the time to meet the children and the families. While this has been far from a normal year, he still wanted to find a way to personalize things.
He helped pack the meals, then left a special surprise for the kids. Each of the packed lunches contained a signed Rudy Gobert card.
‘He is quiet about it; he doesn’t need people to post about it, ”said Marriott. He’ll just go down and do it and no one will ever know that he went in and packed those boxes for those kids. Thinking about them during the time. He always tried to put in a little extra special effort if he could if he couldn’t see them physically. ‘
It’s a way for Gobert to thank a community that he believes has embraced him since coming across as a wide-eyed young man from France. When the Jazz traded in for him on tour nights in 2013, he had never lived in the United States and was self-conscious about his ability to speak English. But when he arrived in Utah, he immediately felt a connection.
“Whether it was when I went to the supermarket or of course people from the Jazz. I always felt like people were hugging me, and people were very happy that I was part of the community,” said Gobert. “I didn’t speak English very well – I still don’t speak English very well – but I felt at home and my family always felt the same. There has always been respect; there has always been gratitude. I came here and felt right at home.”
It is his home. It’s his community. He wants to help the people who made him feel welcome.
That’s why Gobert donated $ 20,000 to Serve Refugees, an organization that supports the Utah refugee community. The funds bought backpacks filled with school supplies, COVID cleaning kits and computers for the families.
And so, on a December day, he packed up three car loads of toys and clothes to donate to families in need. Families, who in some cases had never needed it before.
“Some of the customers who receive these gifts are getting services for the first time, they’ve never been in this situation,” said Frein.
It’s a situation that Gobert knows firsthand – that’s why he will continue to help.
“I wish people could see what we see every day – that he genuinely has this love and care and concern and really just wants to inspire and motivate in every way possible,” said Marriott. That’s the legacy he wants to leave behind. He’s a great basketball player, but he’s an even more beautiful person. ‘
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Ryan Miller