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Rudy Gobert, depending on your point of view, either learned an important lesson this week or he imparted one.
The Jazz center spoke his mind, some would say too openly, in the wake of a frustrating loss to a potential playoff opponent, calling out some of his teammates — though none by name —for their lack of effort and interest in doing the dirty work that wins games.
"We've got guys that compete, but some of us don't compete," Gobert said after that loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday. "Some of us just think about scoring. That's what it is."
Is that a faux pas, or a man facing facts? An unfortunate overshare, or an uncomfortable truth?
Either way, something encouraging was made clear in that moment: Gobert wants to assert himself as a leader in the locker room.
"I'm still working on being a better leader," he said later. "I talk to my teammates. I'm getting better at it. It's like everything on the court … I'm trying to get better at it."
The once dismal free-throw shooter, the guy teams would intentionally foul, is now a solid bet from the charity stripe, the product of extra hours on the court. The former offensive liability is now one of the NBA's better screen-and-roll men, the product of his dedication in the weight and film rooms.
And if Gobert is going to transform himself into a force in the locker room, that too will take some practice.
The pointed remarks may have momentarily ruffled some feathers before the Jazz held a team meeting to clear the air. Point guard George Hill said Gobert's remarks "could've been a little immature-ish."
"That's what bad teams and bad teammates do," Hill said.
That, however, may be overly simplistic.
Plenty of the game's greats have had no trouble calling their teammates onto the carpet. Ask Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant or Karl Malone.
Gobert, of course, isn't in that company — but perhaps the Jazz should be encouraged that he seemingly wants to be.
"Maybe it wasn't the best way to do it," Gobert said. "But it was just about winning. It was just about us as a team. I just want to win. I want us to be a better team."
And the once lanky and awkward rookie, who bounced between the NBA and the D-League, is now a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year and All-NBA. His words will carry some weight, if they don't already.
The Jazz had been in search of leadership in recent years. Gordon Hayward is the team's all-star, its leading scorer and its best all-around player, but he hasn't always been a naturally vocally leader in the locker room. That role has fallen mostly to the 30-year-old Hill this season.
Hill, however, will be a free agent this summer and may not be around to fulfill those duties next season.
"Gordon's definitely leading by example," veteran forward Boris Diaw said when asked to describe the Jazz's leadership. "We've got George as an experienced point guard being a leader."
And Gobert?
"He's fiery," Diaw said.
The Jazz need that fire, though some would prefer it be channeled in other ways.
"To have players that have passion is a good thing," head coach Quin Snyder said. " … I welcome our guys challenging each other. I'd prefer we do it in ways that I think are more constructive."
"That's the challenge of being a good team is pulling [the best] out of each other," Snyder added. "That's clearly what Rudy was trying to do. I know where his heart is. I know how he feels about his teammates."
Gobert feels they can be better than good.
"We know the hardest part starts now," he said. "We have to keep getting better, be there for each other. I think we can do great things."
At a team meeting this week, Gobert apologized for going public with his criticism. Hill said "everyone accepted it." "It's over with," forward Joe Ingles said.
But, watching the Jazz against the Pelicans on Monday, you could be forgiven for thinking Gobert's words still had an impact.
"We felt the energy tonight," Gobert said after the win, a game in which he led the way with 20 points, 19 rebounds and five blocked shots. "Everybody was communicating. Everybody was active."
Everybody — no questions about it — competed.
Twitter: @aaronfalk —
Jazz at Kings
P At Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, Calif.
Tipoff • 8:30 p.m. MT
TV • ROOT
Radio • 1280 AM, 97.5 FM
Records • Jazz 45-29; Kings 29-45
Season series • Jazz lead, 2-1
Last meeting • Utah 110, Sacramento 109, March 5 at Sacramento
About the Jazz • The Jazz have a 1.5-game lead on the fifth-place Clippers with eight games to play. … On Monday, Rudy Gobert became the first Jazzman with at least 20 points, 19 rebounds and five blocks since Andre Kirilenko did it in 2005. … Joe Ingles went 5 for 5 from deep Monday and is now second in the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage.
About the Kings • Lost to the Jazz on a tip-in in overtime back on March 5. … Have been a pain in playoff teams' sides of late, beating the Clippers and Grizzlies in their last two games. … Rookie Buddy Hield is averaging 16 points per game over his past 10 contests.