Rudy Gobert might be wondering if, back in the day, his father hadn't returned to France but had fulfilled his NBA dreams, would he still have the chance to make it to the NBA now?

Similar to Gobert, his father, Rudy Bogler, possessed remarkable athletic abilities and stood tall at seven feet.

During his college days, Bogler showcased his skills in basketball, averaging 10.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game in the NCAA.

The following year, Bogler contemplated entering the NBA draft. Had it not been for a destined arrangement, he could have become the first French basketball player to make it to the NBA.

Back then, several NBA teams expressed their interest in the seven-footer from France, inviting him for tryouts. Additionally, the French national team was keen on having Bogler represent France.

As a result, Bogler returned to France at the national team's request, consequently missing all the NBA tryouts and the draft that year.

However, Rudy Gobert may owe a debt of gratitude to the French national team's intervention, as it led Bogler back to France, where he eventually met Gobert's mother.

A few years later, Bogler's wife gave birth to a baby boy named Rudy Gobert Pogler.

When Gobert was merely three years old, a disheartened Bogler left France, while his mother undertook the challenging role of a single mother.

In 2013, Gobert, standing at 7 ft 1 in with a wingspan of 7 ft 9 in, was selected by the Utah Jazz as the 27th overall pick in the first round. At that time, his father Bogler had already been away from the NBA draft scene for 24 years.

Upon entering the NBA, Gobert diligently focused on his physical development, working hard to gain strength and improve his defensive abilities. Despite not being the tallest player in the league, Gobert's relentless dedication allowed him to steadily grow into the NBA's most formidable interior defender.

Over the course of ten years in the NBA, Gobert has achieved remarkable success, earning the Defensive Player of the Year award three times and becoming an All-Star.

He has established himself as one of the league's premier interior defenders and continues to be recognized as the best defender in the NBA.

In many ways, Gobert feels that he has fulfilled his father's unfinished dreams, cementing his legacy as a dominant force in the NBA.