Rudy Gobert's Parents: His Mom Raised Him Alone after Dad Left Them When He Was 3 Years Old

NBA superstar Rudy Gobert has come from humble beginnings to being one of the big names in the global game. He was raised by a single mother, Corinne Gobert, after his father, Rudy Bourgarel, left them when he was still a toddler.

Since his difficult childhood, Rudy Gobert has gone from strength to strength. After starting his basketball career at a local club aged 11, he rose through the ranks, joining Cholet Basket before being drafted into the NBA at 21 in 2013. He was selected 27th overall by the Denver Nuggets.

However, the imposing figure that is Rudy Gobert was on the books of the Utah Jazz for nine seasons until 2022. During that time, his family's financial struggles disappeared, along with much of the discrimination he faced as a child. He has also maintained close relationships with both his parents despite the divorce.

Rudy Gobert’s Childhood without His Dad by His Side

Rudy Gobert was born on June 26, 1992, in Saint-Quentin, Aisne, where his father played for the town's basketball team. He is the only child between his father and mother but grew up with two older siblings from his mother's past relations. His siblings' names are not known publicly.

Rudy Gobert's parents were together until 1995 when they went their separate ways. Bourgarel left his family and moved to Guadeloupe. Rudy remained with his mother, who had to raise him as a single parent. Although he would visit his father occasionally, his mother was responsible for his daily well-being.

She worked as a hairdresser to cater to her children's needs while also helping establish his basketball career. Rudy Gobert said, "For my mom, it wasn't easy. She sacrificed a lot for me to be able to do the things I wanted to do." Growing up as a mixed-race child in France was also tricky for the NBA star.

Rudy Gobert Is Carrying Out His Father's Unfulfilled Desire

Rudy Bourgarel had a dream to play in the prestigious NBA. The French-born basketball player did all he could to make that dream a reality, including doing trials, attending camps, and playing for development sides. Still, he came closest to playing in the NBA when he featured for Marist College, New York.

At Marist, Bourgarel played for three seasons between 1985 to 1988. During that time, the team qualified for the NCAA tournament twice, the only time they did so in their history. One of Bourgarel's teammates and fellow European, Rik Smits, went on to star in the NBA for the Indiana Pacers, becoming an All-Star in 1998.

Unfortunately for Bourgarel, he never made the cut to play in the league despite having the physique to succeed in the NBA. His failures in the United States meant he had to return to France and launch his professional career. It was during his return that he also met Corinne Gobert and had Rudy Gobert.

Hence, his son reckons that it was fate that he failed; otherwise, he would not have been born. Nevertheless, Rudy Gobert is sympathetic to his misfortunes but acknowledges that it was also a blessing in disguise. Although the father and son duo lived far apart, their mutual passion for basketball kept them close.

Now that Rudy Gobert has made it to the NBA, he sees himself fulfilling his father's wishes. He said, "In a way, I feel like I am fulfilling his dream. It's not something I talk about a lot. No one really knows this, really. But it means a lot to me to be able to fulfill his dream, too." Bourgarel watches his son's games on television from France.