Centre Rudy Gobert has agreed to a five-year, $205-million extension with the Utah Jazz, the team announced Sunday.
The deal, which reportedly contains a player option in the final year, is the third-largest in NBA history, surpassed only by the supermax extension reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo just signed (five years, $206.8 million) and the contract Russell Westbrook signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017 (five years, $205 million).
It is also, consequently, the largest deal for a centre ever.
On Sunday, after the deal was announced, Gobert referenced both his past in Utah as well as his now-long-term future.
“I have grown as a player, but most importantly, I have grown as a man over the last 7 years. You have seen me through the good times, you have also seen me through struggles and mistakes, and you have been patient while watching this French kid grow,” Gobert said in a written letter to fans. “Throughout, you have always supported me, and taken me in as one of your own. For that, I have always been grateful and it’s why my family and I are proud to continue to make this our home.”
The Jazz locked up both of their All-Star franchise cornerstones to long-term extensions this offseason. Shooting guard Mitchell, 24, signed a five-year maximum extension of his rookie contract worth a guaranteed $163 million, with a 30% escalator clause that would increase the overall value of the deal to $195 million if he is selected to an All-NBA team this season.
Gobert, who is entering the final season of a four-year, $102 million contract, has been an All-NBA selection in three of the past four seasons and was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2017-18 and 2018-19. He has averaged 14.7 points, 12.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game during the Jazz’s streak of four consecutive seasons with postseason berths, having been a pillar of the franchise’s transformation from a 25-win team his rookie year to a perennial playoff squad.
