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Rudy Gobert's conversations with his new teammate weave between English and their native French. So at any given moment, that means Boris Diaw is acting like his frère aîné or his older brother on the hardwood.
It's a role Utah Jazz officials have been happy to see Diaw embrace since they acquired the veteran forward in a trade over the summer.
"You can have an overbearing big brother that's not allowing you to grow," Jazz coach Quin Snyder says, assessing the relationship of his team's French connection, "[or] you have somebody who knows things before you know them."
The latter is best, of course, especially when big bro is also an eager teacher.
"I'm trying to tell him what I expect as a passer," the 34-year-old Diaw said of his frequent on-court conversations with the 24-year-old Gobert, "what I would want him to do to get the ball as far as getting the right position and being available."
Few big men are as smooth as the 6-foot-8 Diaw, who loves to be a playmaker from the power forward spot. Diaw sees the floor as well as anyone, and this year he expects to see Gobert scoring more than ever.
"I think he can be very efficient," Diaw said. "Any time he catches the ball inside the paint, he's a threat to the other team. It's always good to find ways to get him the ball close to the basket."
A season ago, Gobert averaged more touches per game at the elbow (7.3) than in the post (4.7), as the Jazz tried to get the center involved in the offense without relying heavily on him under the hoop, where he has had troubles controlling quick passes and maintaining possession in traffic.
"Maybe he's not used to getting so many touches," Diaw said. "Sometimes he's not expecting the ball as fast as it's coming. But it's also on the players to adapt to the game, to his length, where you've got to give him the ball and how fast you've got throw him the ball."
Through four preseason games, Gobert is averaging a little more than 14 points per game. The 7-footer has done a lot of his damage from the free throw line, knocking down seven per game. But Snyder also believes Diaw's presence in practice and in games has helped ease Gobert into a larger offensive role.
"I think Boris does have an impact on him," the coach said. "Any young player that's in a new system, you can get going really fast, and Boris has a bit of a calming effect on him."
Now Gobert is hoping to build on his 9.1 points per game average and he believes the chemistry he has with Diaw from their time playing for the French national team should translate well.
"It's a totally different game, the NBA game and the FIBA game," Gobert said. "And there's more space in the NBA, so it's easier for him to find me."
Diaw has made a concerted effort to find Gobert in the paint in exhibition games, something he'd like to see continue into the regular season.
"We know once we get the ball under the basket," Diaw said, "it's either a foul or a basket."
And "basket" means the same thing in English or French.
Twitter: @aaronfalk —
Career statistics
Boris Diaw (991 games) • 8.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.5 apg
Rudy Gobert (188 games) • 7.2 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.1 apg