younggunsmn wrote:I didn't follow closely the stuff in Utah, about the all-star game snub or relationships with teammates or reputation as a whiner around the league.
Some perspective from a Jazz fan (sorry this ended up very long winded):
Rudy when he was younger could be very reactionary and blunt with comments. Coach Snyder would often mention how he would have to help Rudy with communication and how he handled his feelings and frustrations vocally. Early on he wasn't a great vocal leader because of how he communicated or how he said things. He's improved over the years, but he's a passionate guy and sometimes his emotions get the best of him- either verbally or physically (as you guys have seen too). He wears 27 because that's where he was drafted and he's salty about that.
The last year or two of the Gobert/Mitchell era, Rudy's frustration as being the only player willing to defend and rebound was becoming more noticeable. He commented on how even Devin Booker is trying on defense, so why can't his guys try too. Which was an obvious dig at Mitchell.
The Jazz were also playing selfish hero ball and he was often wide open for dunks or cuts to the rim and was ignored in favor of contested pull up 3's or long 2's. That's where his comments on wanting to be more involved on offense came from- he's working his butt off on defense and would like to not be ignored on offense when he has clean open looks.
So Rudy can have a mouth and let his feelings be known- not always in a professional manner. That just rubs people the wrong way.
Add in getting emotional and crying about something, well, society says men aren't allowed to do that, especially in sports, so if you get snubbed and cry a little, the world looks down on you. Anytime a player gets emotional or shows tears they are memed and made fun of- drives me crazy.
I get why he's not liked- I don't think his personality meshes with everyone, people and players don't like defense, especially if the defense is personally affecting their stats. They are not capable of admitting another player affected their game, and when that player isn't likable? Even more so.
As fan, I've loved Rudy. Top 3 Jazz player all time for me. He was always great to the fans and willing to do team sponsored meet and autograph signings. I went to one and the jazz employees commented on how nice he was and how cool it was to see a player of his caliber still willing to do these when other players weren't (a dig at Hayward).
He also was willing to poke fun at some of his in game outbursts (he did a handful of commercials and one focused on reinacting one of his ejections which was hilarious and cool of him to do).
He was an idiot with the covid thing, but was genuinely remorseful afterwards and donated a decent chunk of change to the employees of the arena who were out of a job due to the shutdown.
He busted his ass for the team for all the years he was there- many of those years being the only guy to rebound and play defense- he was the Jazz best player his entire career by miles- but Mitchell and Hayward got the credit, while he got the unfair blame for the team's failures (even before the contract) when he had nothing to do with the failures. He was the only reason the Jazz were an annual top 5 seed and made the playoffs, and the only reason they were a top 5 defense. Jazz would have been a 10/9 seed without him. Their record and rating with him vs without him is ridiculous.
The Jazz were solely relevant because of him- but he doesn't put up fancy points or box score stats. The average fan doesn't notice defense that is not blocks or steals, and they definitely don't notice players who drive to the paint, see Rudy, change their minds and pass or shoot a long jumper somewhere else on the court instead.
I hope Rudy continues to be great for you guys (I think he is arguably your best player if not a very close second) and as a fan, I would love for him to get his number retired by 2 teams.